A new week in soccer unfolds with anticipation for the revamped Club World Cup. Before that begins, the past weekend provided significant matches worth reviewing.
USMNT Suffers Another Defeat
The U.S. Men`s National Team, under coach Mauricio Pochettino, has now lost three consecutive matches – a first for the team in a decade. While the recent 2-1 friendly loss to a strong Turkiye side was less severe than the performance in the Nations League, it underscores the considerable work needed with the World Cup on home soil just a year away and the Gold Cup starting shortly.
Looking closer, the starting lineup in East Hartford was not representative of the team expected next summer. Key players like Christian Pulisic were rested after their club season, Antonee Robinson and Folarin Balogun were injured, and others such as Weston McKennie and Giovanni Reyna were involved with the Club World Cup. The match saw four players make their debut. Despite a bright start and a brilliant curled strike from Jack McGlynn, Turkiye quickly took the lead before the half-hour mark through Arda Guler and Kerem Akturkoglu. Although the USMNT created more chances in the second half, only Malik Tillman came close to scoring. Ultimately, the game was decided by effectiveness in both penalty boxes.
Beyond the final score, Pochettino found positive aspects:
`The gameplan was [for] Diego [Luna] to go inside, being very close with Malik [Tillman] to control with Luca de la Torre and Johnny [Cardoso] and then with Jack staying a little bit on the side but [he] can go inside, in the way that he scored the goal or the possibility, after, to have the freedom to associate… For the first time, we tried it [after] a few days and then you need to go and compete [against] a team like Turkiye. I think what we got, playing this way, is to control the possession, control the game.`
Pochettino highlighted the aggressive pressing, a trademark of his style, and the team`s ability to control 60 percent possession. The hope is that this summer will allow the current squad, featuring core players like Tyler Adams and Chris Richards, to become familiar with the coach`s demands. This process could integrate returning stars like Pulisic in time for the World Cup. For the US to make a significant impact in the World Cup, they will need to consistently perform well against teams of Turkiye`s caliber.
Portugal Claims UEFA Nations League Title in Shootout Victory
Across Europe, Portugal became the first nation to win the UEFA Nations League twice. The exact prestige of this title is debatable, but defeating rivals is always a positive achievement. Roberto Martinez`s team followed their semifinal win over Germany by overcoming strong favorites Spain in a penalty shootout.
Spain largely dominated possession, territory, and chances throughout the match. However, Portugal demonstrated admirable fighting spirit, twice coming from behind through goals from Nuno Mendes and Cristiano Ronaldo. After both sides missed late opportunities to secure a win in regular time, Portugal held their composure in the penalty shootout, with Spain`s Alvaro Morata being the only player to miss. This victory marks Portugal`s third major title in nine years. While this is a different squad from the Euro 2016 champions, they have equally strong credentials as contenders for major international trophies.
Martinez reflected on the team`s characteristics:
`When we work for over 30 games, we start to see confidence, resilience, trust, and quality. Quality plus the other values helps you win trophies. We don`t just have a team; we have 16-17 players on the same level, and, as a coach, I have many options and can change concepts. It`s a different team to when I started; we have more character and confidence.`
Martinez might even be understating the depth, given the impressive mix of youth and experience in the Portugal squad. Standout performers include left-back Nuno Mendes, who was named player of the tournament after a strong season, alongside talents like Vitinha and Joao Neves. Experienced players such as Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, and Ruben Dias provide a solid core, complemented by dynamic options off the bench like Rafael Leao and Diogo Jota. Even 40-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo appears to be integrating more effectively than he did at the 2022 World Cup. Given their recent form and squad quality, it`s surprising that Portugal isn`t more widely considered a top favorite for the next World Cup; their performance suggests they deserve to be.
