HARRISON, New Jersey – E be like say USMNT coach, Mauricio Pochettino, don dey feel the heat as e try to ginger his boys ahead of the 2026 World Cup wey dey come sharp sharp. Last Saturday, dem gree South Korea give dem sharpy 2-0 loss for friendly wey many pipo go fit call wahala. This na plus seven defeats for Pochettino photobook since e take over di gaffer job less than one year ago.
For di match, the Americans try show say dem fit perform well, but e no convert to win, as dem outshoot South Korea 17 to 5, but wetin dem get? Goals no enter di net. Pochettino still dey talk say im boys try, but dem need to settle down, and gather better coordination as dem dey prepare for di big show.
“Overall, I think we were better than South Korea, but we no dey clinical in our box and no dey enter dia box,” Pochettino yarn after di game. E dey clear say di coach still dey look for di right players wey go fit carry di team waka for di World Cup. As dem dey try to bond and gel, him still dey mix and match players like say na jollof rice wey no get particular recipe.
Di heavyweights like Christian Pulisic and Chris Richards don return, but wetin dem go fit do when e matter? Pochettino still dey figure out im best XI, and fans don dey tire as dem dey see different lineups match after match. Last Saturday, na 14th formation wey dem try out of 17 games. E no be surprise say di fans dey ask if dis coach fit hold finish for di big day.
As e dey prepare for di next game against Japan, Pochettino sabi say time no dey wait for anybody. Him don promise say some new faces go shine for di lineup. But many dey wonder if dis approach go pay off before di World Cup shine like shine shine bobo.
Meanwhile, some former players wey don see am all don dey raise eyebrows. Legend Landon Donovan and Tim Howard dey chop di concerns, dey ask why Pochettino no just pick his solid 15 or 20 players dem? “We no fit dey play with hope!” dem dey shout as people don dey think say maybe na only di regulars fit push forward. Don’t forget say e still get players wey dey wait for dem chance dey shine like diamonds.
Pochettino, on im part, don dey stand strong with im decision. E don explain say na to test players be di plan now – no be say things dey easy. E want make sure say if anyone fall sick or out for di final list, dem go get plenty options to sub. But fans wan hear better results, not just better excuses.
Pochettino dey proud of di competitive edge e wan build among di squad, but as di clock dey tick down to World Cup, e sure say victory fit give dem di momentum to spark joy for di nation. Di next game na away to Japan on top Tuesday, and we go see if dem fit shake di table or dem go just dey mope like dem get bad news.
For now, na waiting go happen next wey go matter. Pochettino dey assure di fans say better days dey ahead, but some don dey wonder if di coach sabi wetin e dey talk or e just dey ginger us with sweet mouth.
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