Di US Men’s National Team don already secure first place for dia World Cup group after beating Paraguay and Australia. Now, dem go face Turkey for dia final group stage game, but di match no get real consequence for di Americans. Dem don win di group and fit already look ahead to di knockout rounds.
Coach Mauricio Pochettino talk say e go still take di match seriously, even though dem don qualify. E say e want di team to play like e be di World Cup final. ‘My answer is to be sure that the team wey go dey out there tomorrow wants to eat the grass here in SoFi Stadium and play like it is the final of the World Cup,’ Pochettino tok on Thursday.
With top spot secured, Pochettino get room to rotate im squad. Some key players dey on yellow cards, while others dey nurse knocks and fatigue from di long club season. Di coach go make changes, but e no go treat am as chance for backups. Instead, e go give opportunity to different regulars wey fit step up.
One of di big storylines for camp na di vibes. Di team dey high, even with di match relatively meaningless. Max Arfsten and Matt Freese meet with reporters on Tuesday for di second full session of di week. Arfsten share laugh with Weston McKennie, wey dey moderate press conference. McKennie deflect when give chance to enter conversation, saying ‘I’m just here to moderate.’ Arfsten call am ‘good guy’ and ‘kind of a clown.’
Despite di laughs, di team still get level of seriousness. Di match no be totally meaningless, especially for players wey dey look to seize World Cup dream. GOAL look at five keys to di USMNT clash with Turkey, including how Pochettino go balance rotation with winning mentality.
Pochettino explain say e go provide di team with di best tools to compete. ‘We need to find the way to arrive tomorrow and to provide the team with the best tools to go and to compete,’ e tok. Di coach want to keep winning for momentum and for di American public wey dey start to believe in dis group.
Di USMNT go face Turkey on Thursday at SoFi Stadium. Di match go be test of depth and character for di team wey don already achieve dia main goal. Pochettino don make am clear: e want di team to play seriously, but smartly, with purpose even without stakes.
