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Jeff Carlisle
ST. LOUIS – United States supervisor Mauricio Pochettino lauded the bond that’s creating among the many gamers and employees forward of Wednesday’s Gold Cup semifinal in opposition to Guatemala.
Pochettino was particularly requested about how the group caught up for Malik Tillman after he missed a penalty within the quarterfinal in opposition to Costa Rica, and was the topic of some trash speak from the Ticos afterward.
“Which means loads. It signifies that we’re related, that we care about [our] teammates,” mentioned Pochettino concerning the united entrance the gamers have proven. “And that must be pure, in between them and that’s the reason [they] deserve the entire [praise]; the skilled gamers, but in addition the younger gamers that take heed to the skilled gamers. That is a vital factor.”
Pochettino added, “We will choose 26 gamers, however then to be a group is a unique factor. You possibly can have 26 gamers that play in particular person method and it is troublesome to have one of these habits. That’s as a result of they care, as a result of they made the hassle, not solely on the sphere [but off] the sphere to attempt to care.”
The previous Chelsea and PSG coach famous that he sees the camaraderie being fashioned even at group meals, the place it seems like they’re all sitting at one desk.
“That’s what we would like. That’s how we really feel, how we need to signify our nation, and we need to struggle for our flag and for our shirt,” he mentioned.
The U.S. is anticipating a troublesome match in opposition to Los Chapines, who upset Canada within the quarterfinals in a penalty shootout. Guatemala’s lineup contains ahead Rubio Rubín of the USL’s Charleston Battery, who scored the equalizer in opposition to Canada, and D.C. United defender Aaron Herrera.
Rubin had beforehand represented the U.S. at senior degree, and was U.S. Soccer’s Younger Male Athlete of the 12 months in 2012 earlier than switching to Guatemala in 2022. Herrera performed with USMNT midfielder Tyler Adams for the U.S. on the 2017 FIFA U20 World Cup.
“It is all the time a bit of bit unusual clearly while you play with them within the youth nationwide group after which now, they’re enjoying for Guatemala, and also you’re enjoying in opposition to them in a Gold Cup, nevertheless it’ll be a extremely distinctive expertise,” mentioned Adams. “We all know how robust Guatemala is. There is a cause that they are within the semifinal, so we will not take that without any consideration the chance to play them.
“And Rubio Rubin clearly was a excessive degree participant arising by the nationwide group, so plenty of gamers regarded as much as him rising up and yeah, he is carried out very well for himself so it will be thrilling to play in opposition to him.”
Pochettino mentioned he’ll determine on Wednesday if midfielder Johnny Cardoso will probably be obtainable. Cardoso missed the match in opposition to Costa Rica with an ankle damage, and whereas he practiced with the group for a portion of Wednesday’s coaching session, Pochettino mentioned he nonetheless feels some discomfort.
“It is an uncomfortable state of affairs, and we’ve got 24 hours to evaluate and see if [Cardoso] could be obtainable to be chosen or not,” the U.S. supervisor mentioned.
The coaching session additionally noticed an unidentified drone that seemed to be watching the observe, and had USMNT employees attempting to determine the place it got here from. A U.S. Soccer spokesperson mentioned that as of Tuesday afternoon, the drone remained “unidentified” however that because it was current solely in the course of the open portion of observe, it was not a priority.
“If somebody desires some clips we are able to ship [some], it isn’t an issue,” Pochettino joked. “It isn’t NASA. It is the lads’s nationwide group.”