International Soccer
USMNT vs. Portugal: A Team Still Searching for Itself
For the second straight match, the United States showed that it can compete in stretches against top opposition. Again, however, it also showed why moments are not enough, and the bigger picture is more important.
After the loss to Belgium, the U.S. followed a similar script against Portugal. There were moments of control in the first half, but no end product, and once the game turned, there was no response. Portugal capitalized on key moments, while the U.S. was left pointing to missed chances and small details that ultimately decided the match. Those details matter, but the bigger problem is that this team still does not have a clear identity.
1. Too Much Experimentation, Not Enough Clarity
Under Mauricio Pochettino, the United States looks like a team that is still experimenting rather than preparing, which is disappointing given the roster clarity Gregg Berhalter achieved before his departure in 2024.
The use of a fluid system that shifts between a back five and a back four, combined with frequent changes in personnel and positioning, has created more confusion than cohesion. At the international level, there is not enough time to build something complex, unless you are among the elites. Players arrive from different clubs, playing different roles, and need to understand their system fit quickly. Right now, that clarity is missing, and it shows in the lineups. Seeing players like Aidan Morris, Tanner Tessmann, and Sebastian Berhalter on the field together is a red flag given their profile similarity. At the same time, there was a large portion of the match played without a true No. 9, which only added to the sense that roles are not clearly defined. This is not the stage to be testing ideas at a large scale. It is the stage to establish what this team is and how it wants to play, so they can confidently tackle the group stage.
2. Identity Starts Without the Ball, and It Is Not There
Pochettino has spoken about replicating World Cup runs like Croatia in 2018 or Morocco in 2022. Those teams did not succeed because of attacking talent. They succeeded because they were clear in how they defended and committed to it as a group. That is where the United States is falling short. Defensive identity is not about one player setting the tone. Someone like Tyler Adams can bring energy and bite, but it only works if the entire group moves together. The shifting backline and constant adjustments have made it harder for the players to build that understanding. Effort is not the issue. The players are willing to work. The issue is that the work is not coordinated, and at this level, that makes all the difference.
3. Closing the Gap Is on the Manager
Under Gregg Berhalter, the United States had its limitations, but it had a clear structure. That structure helped the team get through the 2022 World Cup group stage, where they were organized enough to draw England, and disciplined enough to grind out results against Wales and Iran. When they faced the Netherlands, they were outmatched tactically, which is why a change was made. Pochettino was brought in to push the team forward, but right now it feels like the foundation has slipped. The identity that once gave the team a baseline level of competitiveness is no longer as clear, and nothing consistent has replaced it.
The United States is obviously not as talented as teams like Belgium or Portugal. That is not going to change overnight. What can change is how the team closes that gap. That responsibility falls on Pochettino. His job is to give the players a structure that maximizes what they do well and minimizes what they lack. It is also to give them the belief that they can compete even when they are not the better team on paper. Right now, that belief is hard to see. Until that changes, the United States will continue to have positive moments but not positive results.
Looking ahead, the USMNT will compete in two World Cup warm-up matches against Senegal and Germany on May 31st and June 6th. It is their final test before heading into the World Cup, and it will prove to be very competitive. Senegal boasts a very talented yet underrated roster with many players competing in Europe’s top leagues. For the USMNT, the match will be around the equivalent of competing against Turkiye, their strongest group stage opponent. Germany will be a completely different beast, and if the USMNT can provide any sort of spark, it will give them a lot of confidence for what’s to come. Going into those matches, fans will be looking to see a unified team competing as a solid defensive unit. The question is, will Pochettino get the lineup right for them to have a chance at achieving that success?
