Pochettino Unfazed

Manager Pleased With Group Win, Despite Loss in Final Match

Mauricio Pochettino wasn't going to let a last-second loss ruin his mood, even if he had a hard time hiding his irritation with the media afterward.

Speaking at his postgame press conference following the 3-2 defeat to Turkey on Thursday, Pochettino pushed back sharply on questions suggesting the result could dent the Americans' momentum heading into the Round of 32. He pointed out that Germany also lost their final group game and questioned what "momentum" even means in this context.

"I think it's all positive, and I am so positive, and I am happy," Pochettino said. "Maybe I am not showing because your questions are a little bit weird, but I am so happy, and the players are happy because I think we perform, we compete, and we are first."

He also noted, more than once, that nobody in the room had congratulated him for winning Group D. "Sorry guys, we won," he said before standing and leaving.

His rotation strategy was entirely deliberate. With first place already secured before kickoff, Pochettino made nine changes from the side that beat Australia, resting key players like Chris Richards and Folarin Balogun while shielding Tyler Adams and Antonee Robinson from yellow card accumulation ahead of Wednesday's match with Bosnia and Herzegovina. He also used the match to give Christian Pulisic meaningful minutes following the calf injury that had sidelined him since the Paraguay opener.

Reports from ESPN, meanwhile, indicate that Pochettino and U.S. Soccer have had positive preliminary discussions about a contract extension through the 2030 World Cup, though no decision is expected until the tournament concludes.