{"id":28307,"date":"2026-03-31T10:55:45","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T10:55:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/31\/what-went-wrong-with-the-u-s-national-soccer-team-months-before-the-world-cup\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T10:55:45","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T10:55:45","slug":"what-went-wrong-with-the-u-s-national-soccer-team-months-before-the-world-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/31\/what-went-wrong-with-the-u-s-national-soccer-team-months-before-the-world-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"What went wrong with the U.S. national soccer team months before the World Cup?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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T<\/span>The U.S. national soccer team left the field in Atlanta with more questions than answers after a 5-2 loss to Belgium. The result exposed deeper issues within the team as it prepares to play on home soil in the next World Cup. <\/p>\n
For veteran defender Tim Ream, the problem is more fundamental than talent or tactics. Ream directly pointed to effort and consistency as the root of the team’s struggles. “It’s a matter of overall commitment,” he said, stressing that the problem is not a lack of motivation, but rather an inability to maintain intensity during a match. <\/p>\n
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Bernadine Value’s viral clip shows raw talent that wowed fans online<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
He described a pattern in which teams make an initial attack but fail to follow through on the second, third and fourth efforts required at international level. In his view, that relegation is unacceptable, especially for a team carrying World Cup hopes.<\/p>\n
Pochettino understands what’s going wrong<\/h2>\n
His comments broadly echo concerns raised by manager Mauricio Pochettino. Pochettino acknowledged that the United States showed some promising attacking moves and created chances against Belgium, but made it clear that the real problem was on the defensive side of the ball. <\/p>\n
Specifically, the inability of all 10 outfielders to continuously disrupt the opponent’s build-up, not just along the last line, allowed Belgium to dictate the tempo and exploit gaps. Pochettino’s analysis goes beyond an eye test. Based on internal data, he pointed out that the strength of the “box-to-box” has decreased significantly compared to previous games against Uruguay and Paraguay.<\/p>\n
According to staff metrics, the team’s aggressiveness in winning back the ball and closing down spaces was halved against Belgium. This drop translated into opportunities for the opponents, who were given too much freedom to move the ball through the midfield and into dangerous areas.<\/p>\n
Players need to show effort for 90 minutes<\/h2>\n
The messages from both Riem and Pochettino have been consistent. Effort at this level is not instantaneous, but sustained pressure for 90 minutes. That standard is what separates good teams from elite teams. Pochettino also referred to Carlo Ancelotti’s recent comments that major tournaments are often decided by the team that concedes the fewest goals, rather than the team that scores the most. For the United States, that principle has not yet been reflected on the ground.<\/p>\n
The timing of these concerns is critical. As the World Cup approaches, expectations are high as the United States will play a central role as the host nation. Matches such as the upcoming test match against Portugal will provide a clearer benchmark of where the team stands against elite competition. Even without Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal are still one of the most talented teams in the world and can right the same blunders that were exploited by Belgium.<\/p>\n
For American fans, the loss in Atlanta is not just one result. That’s a warning sign. The team has the technical ability and offensive elements to compete, but those strengths may not be enough without the relentless intensity that Reem described. As the World Cup approaches, the challenge of translating effort into consistency and quality into flawless performance is clear.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n