The United States got the Pochettino Era off to a good start by defeating Panama 2-0 in a friendly match held in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, October 12.
The new US coach thus achieved his first victory in his American adventure, which is very good in preparation for the 2026 World Cup, which is precisely the main objective.
Despite the victory, the Argentine coach cannot be satisfied with what he saw, as the Stars and Stripes eleven showed multiple flaws against the Canaleros at the Q2 Stadium in a very disputed and very even game.
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The highlight was Yunus Musah’s first goal for the national team in the 49th minute when he finished off a pass from Christian Pulisic from the left from point-blank range after a one-two with Brenden Aaronson.
Although the cross finished into the net by Ricardo Pepi with a shot between the legs of the Panamanian goalkeeper, after a cross from the left by Haji Wright, was not bad.
However, things are going badly when the best of the Americans was the goalkeeper, Matt Turner, along with the right center Mark McKenzie and the left back Antonne Robinson, in addition to the quality details that Pulisic always provides.
“We have to find a way for them to feel comfortable,” said Pochettino. “We have a lot of talent and we have to work on attacking but the first thing is to not let them score, to be solid and in that way give the attackers the chance to play freely.”
The United States has a core of players who play in the best leagues in the world, 21 of the 25 called-up play in Europe, including their star player Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), who has 73 matches with the national team.
“He is a player who will help us now and in the future to get the team where we want it to be. He is one of the best-attacking players in the world,” Pochettino said about the 26-year-old striker.
“Panama is a team with a very palpable identity,” he said. “It is a team that moves well and runs well around the field, it has strength and defends well with a lot of people, it is difficult to create chances and I think it will be a nice match against a Panama team that is on the rise.”
The worst was Gianluca Bussio, who can never be the central midfielder of this team, and Josh Sargent, who is too big for the center-forward position.
So Pochettino has a lot of work ahead of him, first to fill these two gaps and then to significantly improve the team’s performance.
It is true that Weston McKennie did not play and key players such as Gio Reina, Tim Weah, Folarin Balogun, and Tyler Adams were missing due to injuries.
On Tuesday, the United States will face Mexico in Guadalajara in the second friendly match of this FIFA round, where it is not only important to win but to present a better image, despite the strength of the rival and despite playing away.
Panama will now face Canada in the second friendly of this FIFA date, with its eyes set on the quarter-final matches of the Concacaf Nations League in November, where the Panamanians await an opponent, while the United States will face Mexico in its next friendly match.
