Blame Pochettino if you want, but these USMNT play...
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- Mauricio Pochettino was hired as USMNT head coach at a $6-million-a-year salary, with Citadel's Ken Griffin helping foot the bill after U.S. Soccer fired Gregg Berhalter following a Copa América group-stage exit.
- The USMNT was knocked out in the World Cup Round of 16 on Monday, matching its exit point from the previous three World Cups.
- Under Pochettino, the U.S. posted a 10.15 PPDA, 61.4% final-third possession, and the third-most aggressive field tilt among Round of 16 teams — and dismantled Paraguay 4-1 in the opener.
- Pochettino's tactical system used Alex Freeman as a flexible defender, freeing Sergiño Dest to attack and allowing Weston McKennie and Malik Tillman to vacate central midfield for runs into the box.
- Against Belgium, the U.S. had just 12 touches in Belgium's box versus 22 allowed, attempted only seven shots, and didn't record an open-play attempt until the 79th minute — despite Belgium playing without Kevin De Bruyne.
- U.S. Soccer's 2022 hiring dossier touted "advanced data analytics" and a "battery of practical and psychological testing" that, after six months, led the federation back to retaining Berhalter, the coach it already had; Matt Crocker, who oversaw the search, has since left for Saudi Arabia.
Why it matters: The fourth straight Round of 16 exit confirms a structural ceiling for U.S. Soccer: tactical sophistication can't substitute for the individual talent pool of nations like Belgium, which beat the U.S. even while resting Kevin De Bruyne. U.S. Soccer's $6 million annual bet on Pochettino — partially funded by Griffin's Citadel — bought a system that beat weaker opposition but stalled when American players had to execute one-on-one under pressure.
