One year on, Pochettino preaches cultural growth.

Mauricio Pochettino’s Instagram story hinted at the gaffer’s outlook following a productive USMNT window.

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” 

It might be convenient to say that the specifics of Pochettino’s tactics aren’t important to the national team’s success – especially after so much was made of Gregg Berhalter’s shortcomings – but it’s easy to see where the Argentine’s priorities lie after an efficacious international window. 

For the most part, Pochettino pulled the right strings and inched closer to answering a few of the important questions lingering over the player pool. 

Haji Wright cemented his spot on the striker depth chart with his brace in Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Australia, following Balogun’s emphatic performance against Ecuador four days prior. 

Wright’s first goal was an important equalizer. 

The US’s defensive block short circuited moments earlier defending a broken play recycled out of Australia’s throw in deep in.

James Sand’s knocked away the initial throw in, but as the ball bounced towards the box, the US’s defensive scheme broke down around Jordan Bos while he worked towards goal. 

Moments later, Christian Pulisic became tangled up in the midfield and had to leave the match after just 31 minutes. 

Diego Luna was first off the bench, forcing some adjustments in the formation. Those adjustments almost instantly bore fruit, Cristian Roldan quickly grew into the match, and his assists on both of Wright’s goals cemented his place in the USMNT hierarchy. 

“We need a player with confidence.” Pochettino prosed, “a player with self-belief, with a little bit of arrogance, with a little bit of, you know, being naughty, being competitive, and Cristian Roldan is an example. If you want to build a perfect player, he has a little bit of everything."

MLS fans already knew this, Roldan was a key cog in Seattle’s Club World Cup performance, and leads MLS in passes into the attacking third this season. 

Roldan will move up in the pecking order after this one.

If the competition is to find who starts next to Tyler Adams next summer – especially if Weston McKennie is being pulled into the attack – then the Sounders midfielder has to be the top choice in Pochettino’s mind. 

“There was a moment in time where I didn’t know if I was going to play today.” Roldan reflected in the mixed zone. “It’s very satisfying, I think the camp was great overall from the group, and I hope we can continue in this way.” 

It’s becoming more apparent that the final roster will be more shaped by who is healthy and available. 

Cristian Pulisic left with a hamstring injury, Malik Tillman wasn’t available because of a slight knock picked up during his performance against Ecuador, and Alex Zendejas left camp early after picking up an injury in the final match with América before camp. Diego Luna’s biggest strength to the player pool might just be his ability to stay in the lineup. 

That’s what makes it tough to diagnose the best starting XI, especially with Pochettino still trying to find the best use for McKennie during this window. His usage as a withdrawn forward in the 3-4-3 seemed to be the winning ticket. McKennie drifted into the midfield to help build in possession and clear the space for Weah or the wingback to push into the wing. Again, it’s a reminder that Pochettino’s formation and initial lineup won’t dictate where players wind up when the ball is kicked. 

On Wright’s first goal, it’s McKennie pinching back into the midfield to receive the ball, turn quickly, and connect to Roldan pushing into the attack. Roldan’s heads up play on the second goal, to send the ball long on a quick restart with Australia failing to recognize the urgency, is also helped by McKennie pushing centrally to defend before the initial foul. McKennie cleared the space, clearing the wing for Roldan to send the ball long into Wright’s running path. 

The work to create a clear shot is why Wright has to be the second striker on the team sheet. 

The win stamped a productive international window, and maybe the best slate of matches since Pochettino took over last year. It was the first time that the US came from behind under Pochettino to grab a result, and the first time they’ve found results in three straight top 30 matches since the results over Mexico and Canada in June of 2023. 

“For us, it’s working for the World Cup, but also thinking for afterwards.” Pochettino concluded. “It’s our responsibility to create some legacy, or to try and create a core of player that believes in the same way, and that respects our values. We keep talking about culture, maybe it’s taking this core group of player, and after another four years, they can arrive in 2030 in a different position than this World Cup.” 

Pochettino clearly sees something in this group, and the players currently coming up through the system. The talent in the US player pool has never been more apparent, and while that still doesn’t guarantee success in any way – one look at the depth across any top 10 FIFA ranked squad hints at how far the US player pool still has to go – countries have seemingly done more with less volume of players in the pathway.

Culture eats tactics for breakfast. 

The USMNT hosts 39th ranked Paraguay and 15th ranked Uruguay next month in Philadelphia and Tampa Bay, respectively.

Who do you want to see in the next roster? Let me know in the comments.