Loss to Turkey proved invaluable for Mauricio Pochettinos USMNT World Cup plans

INGLEWOOD, Calif.— Every coach at the World Cup says the knockout rounds are all that matter. Very few are willing to prove it. Mauricio Pochettino did. After the United States had already wrapped up first place in Group D, 10 new starters walked onto the field at SoFi Stadium, with Weston McKennie standing alone as the only player to start all three group-stage matches. The result was a 3-2 defeat that snapped America’s perfect start and denied the hosts something no U.S.

men’s team has ever accomplished at a World Cup: three wins in three group-stage matches. Was it the right call? The honest answer is we won’t know until July 1 at Levi’s Stadium. If the U.S.comes out sluggish against Bosnia and Herzegovina, disconnected and lacking the chemistry that overwhelmed Paraguay and Australia, Thursday will be remembered as the night Pochettino interrupted his own momentum.

But if his first-choice lineup looks quicker, sharper and fresher over 90 minutes because it had an extra week to recover, then this loss becomes little more than the price of thinking several moves ahead. There were undeniable benefits. Instead of rushing Christian Pulisic back from an injured left calf back, Pochettino eased his superstar into the tournament.Pulisic entered in the 58th minute and immediately transformed the American attack.

The passing became cleaner.The movement became more dangerous.

The U.S.suddenly looked capable of creating chances from open play instead of relying almost exclusively on set pieces as they had in the first half. The match also served as an invaluable audition. Sebastian Berhalter seized it, delivering dangerous service on corner kicks and scoring a goal.

Auston Trusty found the net as well and looked composed before rolling his ankle, an unfortunate reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in tournament soccer.Had that injury happened to Chris Richards instead, the Round of 32 could have looked dramatically different. Others didn�...