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 annual salary, with Citadel hedge-fund manager Ken Griffin helping fund the deal after U.S. Soccer grew tired of its 'data-driven dog-and-pony show' coaching searches
- The USMNT was eliminated in the World Cup round of 16 by Belgium, matching the stage at which the U.S. exited its previous three World Cups under different coaches
- Pochettino's tactical system transformed the U.S. into a pressing team that ranked among the most aggressive in the round of 16, with a PPDA of 10.15 and 61.4% of final-third possession — a 'protagonist' style the program had never employed
- The U.S. annihilated Paraguay 4-1 in its opener and easily handled Australia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, with Weston McKennie and Malik Tillman vacating central midfield to make runs into the box while the press won the ball back
- Against Belgium, the U.S. recorded just 12 touches in the opposition box versus 22 allowed, attempted only seven shots, and did not produce an open-play attempt until Sebastian Berhalter's 79th-minute strike
- Belgium sat Kevin De Bruyne entirely and played Jérémy Doku for only the final 30 minutes, yet still bypassed the U.S. press and created chances almost every time it entered the final third
- Alex Freeman's flexible role let Sergiño Dest attack freely, Tim Ream's passing freed up the midfielders, and the setup occasionally mirrored the back three in which Chris Richards has thrived at Crystal Palace
Why it matters: U.S. Soccer's most ambitious coaching project ever — a $6 million salary backed by a billionaire, complete tactical overhaul, and a style that turned the USMNT into a genuine protagonist — still ended in the same round-of-16 exit that has followed the program for four consecutive World Cups. The source's core argument: Pochettino extracted more from this roster than any coach could, but a depleted Belgium without De Bruyne exposed a talent ceiling no coach can fix.
