“Pochettino sees the U.S. national team’s plan B failing against Belgium.”

The defeat of the United States men’s national team, the USMNT, against Belgium exposed the weaknesses in Mauricio Pochettino’s plan and left fans in a state of apprehension. During the first 45 minutes in Atlanta, the team seemed to be overcoming a strategic disadvantage, but what happened in the second half was a true disaster. The Belgian team, under the guidance of Rudi Garcia, managed to adjust to the game and took advantage of the Yanks’ lack of defensive depth, turning the Mercedes Benz Stadium into a veritable bonfire of ineffectiveness.

In recent months, the USMNT had shown encouraging performance, finishing 2025 with an impressive five-match unbeaten streak against strong opponents. The defensive structure, with a line of three players, was crucial to that success. However, things changed drastically against Belgium, and the question that arises is: what went wrong and how serious is the situation?

The analysis points to a lack of defensive resources. The absence of key players such as Chris Richards, Tim Ream, and Tyler Adams left the team vulnerable. Occam’s Razor suggests that the simplest explanation is often the correct one, and in this case, the lack of available players is what truly compromised the team’s performance. Timothy Weah, although not a bad full-back, struggled against a player like Jeremy Doku, who outmaneuvered him on several occasions. To make matters worse, Tim Ream, at 38 years old, felt more exposed than ever, especially without Richards’ presence.

And what about Christian Pulisic? The star of AC Milan delivered a performance that left much to be desired. For a brief period, he managed to showcase his potential, but quickly faded back into the game. Pressure on Pulisic has increased as new talents like Malik Tillman and Weston McKennie have emerged, but he has been unable to convert that into goals or assists in the national team’s recent matches. With just one assist in the last half-dozen games, and having not scored in Serie A since December, alarm bells are ringing.

Now, the big question looming is: what will be Pochettino’s plan C? Although there are no certainties, the outlook is not promising. The coach will need to reconsider the team’s formation, as a solid defensive line is crucial, especially with the upcoming match against Portugal. The situation is even more concerning when considering that the opponent will feature stars like Bruno Fernandes and João Félix. The USMNT will have to prepare for the worst, especially knowing that in this matchup, even a solid performance may not be enough.

The coming weeks will be crucial for Pochettino and his team. With a schedule full of challenges, the need for tactical adjustments and a more robust approach are essential to prevent the team from becoming an easy target in future competitions. The pressure is on, and fans expect to see a turnaround before it’s too late.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.