Washington, United States – If you follow the USMNT (United States Men’s National Team) gist, you go sabi say Mauricio Pochettino never really catch fire since him take over. Fans dey vex, and we no go lie, but as Gold Cup dey come, e fit be say hope dey shine small.
Sunday na dia final against Mexico, and if dem fit win, e go be like blessing from above for Pochettino and him boys (and we go need that trophy like water for dry ground). This one go show say dem fit actually turn things around before World Cup wey go happen for their backyard next summer.
Na now, the US dey suppose make sure everything dey clear before 2026 World Cup, but as e be, di whole thing still dey look as if dem dey build house without foundation. Pochettino don face serious wahala after dem lose to Panama and Canada inside Nations League finals, plus Turkey and Switzerland for Gold Cup warm-up. Na wetin dem dey call bad news!
Even though those last two losses na just friendlies, the fans no dey take am lightly. Dem dey anxious like when you dey wait for your crush to reply your message. Those games na exactly di kinda test wey dem go face for World Cup, and as we fit see, e no clear say dem don sabi anything yet.
With di tournament just less than a year away, and only one more important match to play before then, wetin fit happen? Panic dey begin show face like uninvited guest wey just waka come party! As Pochettino no fit find steady players or consistent results, e dey cause serious palaver. Him don use 55 players since him start, and no be small wahala to build team spirit like dat!
The Gold Cup na di real deal, like our Naija Super Eagles dey take Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Final against Mexico go be last competitive game before World Cup, sabi na why everybody dey anxious before di battle! Pochettino’s squad don show promise even as dem dey miss some important players like Antonee Robinson and Christian Pulisic. Pulisic, why you no join the Gold Cup now? You don dey rest too much!
Matter don dey serious, as di players wey dey on ground don find their groove like dem dey chop jollof rice. Young players like Diego Luna don show say dem no dey play, while Matt Freese don dey catch eyes for di goal post, especially after him heroics against Costa Rica. E don do plenty things wey go position am well for World Cup.
Still, na so life be! No be say Pochettino no dey try, but di final na chance to show say dis Gold Cup no be just practice run. If dem fit win, dem go prove say progress dey, and if dem lose, wahala go start! Shout out to Chris Richards and Jack McGlynn too, di boys dey represent well!
Pochettino still dey believe say dem fit connect with di fans, like how Guatemala fans dey cheer their own. “We wan make people feel di connection wey go make dem fly!” he talk. My guys, if the US fit connect with di soccer fans during di World Cup, e go mean plenty for dem, no be just hosting di tournament.
So, Sunday go be di day of decision. Will di boys hold their ground, or we go start to see pre-World Cup panic? Only time go tell!
