INGLEWOOD, Calif.— As motorized carts drove back and forth inside SoFi Stadium late Friday night, their noise interrupting a postgame news conference, U.S.
men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino did not try to hide his annoyance.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.“Call FIFA,” he told a moderator.
It was, remarkably, about the only thing that did not go his way during an otherwise dream debut coaching the U.S.in its first World Cup on home soil since 1994.In a dominant 4-1 win over Paraguay, the U.S.
scored its most goals in the World Cup.Folarin Balogun became the first U.S.
men’s player since 1930 to score multiple goals.And the winning margin of three goals tied for the largest in U.S.
men’s history.“It was a great match, was amazing for our fans to see, to watch this type of game,” Pochettino said.
“I am so proud, and we are so proud, because I think we are winning a lot of fans.”Pochettino, a 54-year-old Argentine, may have gained a few more among the U.S.fanbase himself, too.
Although he had been on the job for 20 months, Friday’s game was unquestionably his biggest opportunity to make an impression on a wider fanbase tuning in to watch the U.S.for the first time.
That exposure, however, cut both ways.With no other World Cup games taking place at the same time, the entire soccer world would be scrutinizing the play of the U.S.“I don’t think I’m surprised,” said Christian Pulisic, who set up the first two goals with his attacking down the left side of the field.
“Today the effort, everything was there.To me, not a huge surprise but the things were definitely clicking.”Pochettino isn’t the first foreigner to coach the U.S.
national team.In fact, he’s the 22nd to attempt to take a lifetime of soccer knowledge learned abroad and improve the U.S.
But like every predecessor in his role, his results had been mixed, with a record of 15-10-1 headin...