ST. LOUIS — United States coach Mauricio Pochettino praised goalscorer Diego Luna for being “determined to play” for the nationwide staff after the winger scored twice in a 2-1 Gold Cup semifinal win over Guatemala on Wednesday.
“[His] angle, starvation, need, every thing, after which for certain, the expertise will seem. However that’s what we anticipate from our athletes, that is what we wish,” mentioned Pochettino after the match at Energizer Park.
“Diego was a great instance from January [camp], how he’s determined to play for this shirt, for the nationwide staff and that’s the reason now he is within the stage that he confirmed.”
Luna, 21, scored within the fourth and fifteenth minutes of the semifinal that additionally featured loads of attacking strain from the Guatemalans within the ultimate levels of every half. Following a purpose from the guests within the eightieth minute, the U.S. was left to desperately defend its internet forward of the ultimate whistle.
“I feel we dealt with it very nicely, I feel that it is an incredible expertise. I feel this roster deserves large, large credit score to reach to the ultimate,” mentioned Pochettino. “Now we have to put together for the subsequent sport.”
Luna, who now has three objectives and two assists throughout 5 matches, was effusive in his reward for his U.S. teammates after the match.
“It is the grit, it is the willpower that we have been missing. To be sincere, it is combating to the tip. Each ball, each second,” Luna mentioned after the slender victory. “The sport’s about moments, and I feel that is the place we showcase it.”
Concerning the ambiance that featured a majority Guatemala crowd, Pochettino applauded the guests that turned the St. Louis venue right into a raucous one, saying it was an instance of what soccer tradition is like around the globe.
“An unbelievable vitality. That’s soccer, that’s soccer,” mentioned the U.S. coach. “After we say the connection between the followers and the staff, that’s the connection that we [would] prefer to see within the World Cup.
“You play for one thing extra, you play for emotion, you play [to] be completely happy, be unhappy. I noticed gamers of the Guatemala [team] crying. That’s the manner that we have to really feel, and our followers must really feel the identical.
“It is good for our gamers, as a result of after we speak about tradition, that’s tradition. That is a vital factor that we have to be taught right here on this nation.”
Trying forward, the U.S. will now face the winners of Wednesday’s different semifinal between Mexico and Honduras in Sunday’s Gold Cup ultimate at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
Mexico is the all-time chief in Gold Cup titles with 9, whereas the USMNT is second with seven trophies. Honduras has by no means received the Gold Cup.