Inside USMNT-Paraguay World Cup matchup, plus prediction

INGLEWOOD, Calif.— Mauricio Pochettino took some inspiration from the movie “Miracle,” but he’s not planning to emulate Herb Brooks before the U.S.

men’s national team faces Paraguay on Friday.“I already spoke, I already talked,” the Argentine coach said in front of assembled media Thursday.“Too much.

I said [to players] don’t expect an unbelievable speech Friday.”The moment for such things is over, the need for extra motivation has passed.Pochettino spent much of the year and a half he’s been in charge of the national team wrestling with its culture, trying to get players to treat every call-up as though it were the World Cup.Now it is the World Cup.Pochettino believes camp has gone well.

The vibes have been good.All of that will go out the window if the U.S.

can’t get a result against Paraguay when the eyes of the nation turn to SoFi Stadium on Friday night.The Post breaks down the matchup between Team USA and Paraguay.Some of the USMNT’s best offensive sequences under Pochettino’s leadership came in its last two friendlies.Christian Pulisic, after struggling through the second half of the season at Milan, comes into this World Cup off a pair of terrific performances.Jedi Robinson and Sergiño Dest threatened both wings, Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi were dangerous up front, the ball flowed from side to side and created gaps to exploit.The USMNT did beat Paraguay back in November, albeit in a friendly where neither team was at full strength.

Dest, for parts of that game, wreaked havoc down the right side and figures to be a huge piece of the puzzle here as well.Breaking down Paraguay’s defense, led by Omar Alderete, won’t be easy.But playing in possession is exactly what Pochettino wants to do, and his team should get that chance Friday.The U.S.

has looked vulnerable to pressing sides, and Paraguay can be aggressive when the ball is in the opposing third.Chris Richards’ return from injury should help there, and once the ...