The attack-oriented USMNT is trying to step up at the right time as the World Cup approaches
CHARLOTTE, NC – Christian Pulisic‘ spirits were high, or as he put it, “I felt free but just strong.” Ending a months-long goal drought that helped the US men’s national team’s 3-2 win over Senegal on Sunday undoubtedly played a role, but it was far from the only reason why the buzz was so loud. For the first time in a long time, it felt like things were tilting in the USMNT’s favor – and not just for a moment with the World Cup less than two weeks away.
About 18 months later Mauricio Pochettino took over the reins of the national team, a spell that began with chaos that never subsided, the collective vision was easy to see. The US started in electric form and had a goal in the sixth minute courtesy of Sergino Dest again in Senegal they tried to get back into the game, they didn’t back down. It wasn’t a perfect game, as the score line shows – errors from Miles Robinson and one Chris Bradythe latter received his first cap, to set it up Sadio ManeThe second goal is a sign of that – but it answered a lot of questions about who the USMNT will be at the World Cup at home. The short answer? It’s fun, if everything goes according to plan.
The USMNT has historically never been an attacking juggernaut, although many of Pochettino’s predecessors have been limited by the squad. From his management pepper to come out of In EnglandPremier League with Southampton from 2013 to 2014, however, that style preference has become his trademark. Pochettino’s teams must lead with intensity especially on the wings; It wasn’t always working with the American team, but on Sunday they provided something unusual that could be a winning formula in the World Cup.
“We cannot complain or say anything Paraguay, Uruguay and today, it was the right attitude, the right commitment from everyone,” Pochettino said, referring to November’s 2-1 victory over Paraguay and the 5-1 victory over Uruguay days later. “That’s the attitude we tried to get from day one. Illegal game or legal game, we need to play this way if we want to improve.”
Pulisic himself embodied that sentiment, ending a 22-game scoring drought after a productive week to open the USMNT’s pre-World Cup camp. The striker has always had Pochettino’s vote of confidence, however, with the coach always believing it will only be a matter of time. Like the team as a whole, Pulisic’s outings – including an assist on Dest’s goal – could not have been better planned.
“The performance of A Christian in 45 minutes it was really good,” said Pochettino. “I think he’s still strong, he has a lot to improve but I think he’s been in training since day one and I felt that’s what he needed and how he played 45 minutes was a habit he created last week, training every day with his attitude, with his commitment, with his strength.”
The good thing about the whole team, however, is that the goal-scoring burden will remain the same. Pulisic grabbed the headlines on Sunday though Ricardo Pepi he was right there with him, playing a key role in setting up Dest’s goal and getting an assist from Pulisic. It’s the latest example of Pepi’s growth – almost four years ago, he was left off Gregg Berhalter’s World Cup roster and could have been one of the finalists but he admitted on Saturday that he used the omission as fuel. He arrives at the World Cup in the form of his life and is eyeing the starting spot once the tournament starts despite being seen as a talented player. Folarin Balogun.
“I thought he was really good today,” Pulisic said of his longtime teammate. “Although he was in a lot of good places and he was always coming out of us and getting good plays and making the right decisions and passes and goals will come from him, definitely, because he is in the right places. I was really happy for him today.”
Pepi has scored 19 goals for Dutch champions PSV this season, the best number that could lead him to a Premier League club. Fulham this summer after the deal was almost done over the winter. He integrated himself seamlessly into Pochettino’s attack-minded squad despite little exposure to it, playing one international game in 2025 while battling injury.
“It was difficult because we didn’t have much time to work with him because he was injured in different ways and when he was with us he was not a better person than he is,” said Pochettino. “I think we are now seeing a different player than we have seen in 18 months… I am very happy because I think well, with his capacity, today it is him, Balogun or Haji. [Wright] – who didn’t play today – I think we have a group of attacking players or strikers that I really like.”
Pochettino has a wide range of options available to him in attack with an in-form forward trio of varying skills, which is a good fit for the coach’s style preferences to suit those players. He could be the beneficiary of good form with those three but he decided to run with his own innovation with Dest in particular. Dest is always officially listed as a full-back but his ability is more focused on attack, Pochettino seems to understand the nuances of his tactical game well with the role he gave the player on Sunday. Dest was free to do as he saw fit, his passions allowed the USMNT to go to the races – he pressed high up the field, the whole team coming in to overcome Senegal’s defence. Sometimes he was moving in the central areas, which is why Pulisic took him out of the first goal, Dest came with an end that suited the role he played.
“We know that he is very dangerous in attack [positions],” said Pulisic. “He can defend but he is very dangerous. It causes a lot of problems with his good performance, his passing and entering the box today, it’s a really big quality.”
Even after Senegal equalized early in the second half — and after Pochettino made 10 changes at halftime — the USMNT never conceded. Their third goal came from Balogun and the US ended up outscoring the visitors 15 to seven in shots and 2.66 to 1.74 in expected goals. It marks an exciting renaissance for the USMNT, which looks like Pochettino’s team two years after settling into the middle ground under Berhalter’s watch.
One game doesn’t change the narrative of this US team, especially given their propensity for dramatic and poor performances and results. They went into a different mode this past week, though – with the pressure of making the World Cup squad behind them, the USMNT players seemed more than happy to focus on the job at hand.
“It felt good,” Pulisic said in a lighter-than-usual tone, as he had a businesslike response to his responses. “It’s been fun in a lot of ways. I’m sure the guys are really excited to make the list now and now they can be themselves and try to put it all in and have fun this summer.”
