“Pochettino sees heavy defeat as a lesson for the World Cup.”

The United States men’s national soccer team, under the direction of coach Mauricio Pochettino, faced a significant setback after being defeated 5-2 by Belgium in a friendly match held in Atlanta. This result marks only the fifth time in forty years that the Americans have conceded five goals in a single game, raising alarms; however, Pochettino believes this defeat can be turned into a learning opportunity just 75 days before the World Cup begins.

In statements made after the game, the Argentine coach did not hesitate to label the loss as a “reality check.” “I see this as a good assessment of our situation because now is the time to feel this kind of situation to improve. We definitely need to get better,” Pochettino told reporters. He emphasized that, as painful as the defeat was, it is preferable to lose decisively in a preparatory match than during the group stage of the upcoming tournament. “It’s just a game. It’s a game where nothing went our way. I’m disappointed with the result, but analyzing the performance, we can’t say the players didn’t put in the effort,” he added.

Acknowledging the challenge of convincing fans that there are positive aspects to be taken from this defeat, Pochettino highlighted that “feeling the pain is sometimes good.” He firmly believes there are lessons to be learned: “With all these types of results, it’s better that this happens now,” he assured.

It is important to note that the US team faced Belgium without two key players: defender Chris Richards and midfielder Tyler Adams, both injured. Pochettino pointed out that the lack of intensity was a decisive factor in the match. “We weren’t aggressive enough. But the moment we matched Belgium’s intensity, we were even better. The problem was maintaining that intensity,” he explained.

In analyzing the missed opportunities, captain Christian Pulisic had a crucial chance but failed to convert a moment of skill into a goal. After a brilliant play that left him in a scoring position, he shot at the goal and sent the ball wide. Shortly after, Belgium capitalized on the situation and turned the game around, taking a 2-1 lead.

“It’s frustrating for me; it’s been a tough period. But I feel confident in the way I’m playing,” said Pulisic, who is preparing to be one of the central figures for the national team in the World Cup, which starts on June 12 against Paraguay in Los Angeles. “I’m creating opportunities. So I just need to keep a positive attitude and keep working,” he concluded.

The United States, which will co-host the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, now faces the task of quickly recovering and finding the right path, especially with a new challenge on the horizon, as they will also face Portugal in Atlanta. The pressure is high, but Pochettino and his team are determined to turn this defeat into a springboard for success on the grand stage of world football.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.