The Dreamer from Murphy

Manager Pochettino Embraces the Weight of the Moment

There's a certain poetic symmetry to Mauricio Pochettino's current situation. A boy who fell in love with the World Cup watching Argentina lift the trophy in 1978 now stands on the other side of the dugout—not as a player or a fan, but as the head coach of a co-hosting nation with genuine aspirations of doing the same.

That phrase, "why not", has become something of a mantra. When President Trump asked whether the U.S. could win the tournament, Pochettino didn't hesitate. "First, because I believe it," he said. "And second, because when the biggest representative of a country asks… if the coach wavers, I'd kick him out."

The belief is genuine, but so is the nuance. Pochettino has spent his tenure trying to rewire a cultural mindset, teaching a group of players the difference between playing and competing, between participating and refusing to lose. His record with the national team stands at 15 wins, 10 losses and a draw heading into Friday.

He's also been deliberate about shielding his players from outside noise, including the politically charged atmosphere surrounding this tournament. His job, as he sees it, is singular: prepare a team to win football matches.

The lineup for the Paraguay opener remains a closely guarded secret. His players admitted this week there's been little clarity about who starts. For Pochettino, that's entirely by design. The dreamer from Murphy still has a few cards left to play.