The euphoria was absolutely palpable after the USMNT’s 3-0 takedown of Mexico last Saturday night, but man, the exhaustion was just as real for the guys on the field. You’d think after dropping 11 goals on Mexico, Peru, and Chile in this 16-day FIFA window, including that huge win against our arch-nemesis, the squad would be hooting and hollering. But nah, even our own Sounder, Cristian Roldan, and his teammates were sporting tired smiles. Playmaker Gio Reyna, who’s just 23, deadpanned it perfectly when asked how he’d celebrate: “I’m gonna go to sleep.” Mauricio Pochettino’s young U.S. team, with studs like teenagers Cavan Sullivan and Julian Hall already bagging goals, can’t crash just yet though, because Canada is coming to St. Paul.
Battle-Tested But Gassed: The Road So Far
Let’s be real, beating Mexico 3-0, a feat not seen since 1995 when Gio’s dad Claudio scored, is no small thing. The Stars and Stripes looked sharp, dispatching South American foes Peru and Chile with multi-goal strolls before that Mexico demolishing. This young USMNT, under Pochettino, is rolling at 3-0 in this international window. They’ve poured in 11 goals total, showcasing a dynamic attack that’s getting results. Pochettino himself called it “a new chapter” for the team, and you can see why. The roster is almost four years younger than the one he trotted out for the World Cup just this past summer, where the USMNT, Canada, and Mexico all made it to the round of 16 as co-hosts. This is a fresh generation, and they’re bringing the heat.
The North American Rivalry That Won’t Quit
But before our boys pack up camp and head back to their clubs, there’s the other big rival, Canada. This isn’t just any game, folks. The U.S. hasn’t beaten their northern neighbors in six tries since 2021. That Gold Cup shootout in 2023 officially counts as a tie, so yeah, the streak is real. They’ve lost two straight to Canada, including last year under Pochettino in the Concacaf Nations League Finals’ consolation game. So, what’s different now? Well, the Reds have played only two times this window, meaning they’ve done way less travel and are definitely more rested. Pochettino knows it, too. He flat out said, “After three games, [the players are] not in the best condition. But we cannot change the reality. We need to adapt to the reality and be ready to compete.” While the result is “important,” he also noted it’s “not our principal objective.” Canada, led by former U.S. player and assistant coach Jesse Marsch, is a completely different beast: supremely athletic, pressing with abandon, deadly on the counterattack, and clinical with their scoring chances. Pochettino knows Marsch well and respects him, but it’s always tough to play against a coach who knows your squad so well.
This Tuesday night at Allianz Field in St. Paul is more than just another game. It’s a chance for our USMNT, with Seattle’s own Cristian Roldan in the mix, to finally break that five-year winless streak against Canada. Kickoff is at 8 p.m. ET. Even though they’re gassed, you know these guys are going to leave it all out there. Let’s see if they can complete the four-game sweep and finally slay the Canadian dragon!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
Leave a Reply