The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat at the hands of Switzerland in an international friendly at Geodis Park in Nashville, Tennessee. This loss marks the worst performance by the USMNT since November 1980.
Team Changes and Performance
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino made nine changes to the team that lost to Turkey 2-1 last Saturday. This decision backfired as five new players with fewer than five caps entered the lineup. Pochettino stated, "I praised my team’s competitiveness after their win over Turkey, but I criticized myself for making too many changes ahead of Tuesday’s match against Switzerland."
Switzerland dominated from the start, scoring four goals within the first 40 minutes of play. This record-breaking performance marked a dismal day for the USMNT, which has not won a competitive match since October. The team faces high expectations despite several key players missing due to injuries or suspensions.
Tactical Concerns
Pochettino will need to regroup his team and find ways to improve their performance if they hope to bounce back from this crushing defeat. The loss raises questions about Pochettino’s tactics and player selection. Despite his efforts, he was unable to inspire his team on Tuesday night.
In contrast, Switzerland coach Murat Yakin praised his side’s performance, stating, "We were very solid defensively and created chances on counterattacks." Yakin acknowledged the challenges of missing several players due to injury or suspension but added, "It was great that we could give some young players more playing time."
Upcoming Matches
The USMNT will have another chance next month when they face Canada in an international friendly before heading into World Cup qualifying matches against Jamaica and Honduras.
Additional Notes
- The Swiss national football association announced that midfielder Denis Zakaria would be joining Borussia Dortmund on loan until June 2025.
- A group of fans protested outside Geodis Park before kickoff, holding signs reading "Fire Gregg Berhalter," referring to the former head coach who resigned last year following allegations involving his wife, Erika Andiola, during her relationship with former U.S. Soccer general secretary Earnie Stewart.
- Former U.S. soccer star Clint Dempsey participated in pre-game warm-ups but did not appear as a substitute during Tuesday night’s game.
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