The United States have already done the hard part. Now Mauricio Pochettino wants them to play like nothing has been settled.
The Americans face Türkiye at Los Angeles Stadium on Thursday in their final Group D match, with their place in the round of 32 already secured and top spot in the group already locked up. Türkiye have been eliminated, which gives the game a strange feel on paper.
But the pressure is now on the players who have waited for their World Cup moment.
Pochettino is expected to rotate after the United States won their first two matches at a World Cup for the first time in 96 years. Four starters carrying yellow cards are set to be protected, with another booking against Türkiye enough to trigger a suspension for the knockout round.
That opens the door for several squad players. Mark McKenzie, one of the Americans yet to play in the tournament, said readiness has been the message inside camp. “Everybody’s going to be called on at a different point, in a different capacity,” McKenzie said. “Being ready I think is the biggest thing for each and every guy.”
Alex Zendejas, another player still waiting for minutes, said he has been training for his chance. “I’ve been training hard, waiting for the opportunity, but I’m sure it’ll come,” he said, before adding: “That’s obviously a coach’s decision.”
Christian Pulisic, who missed the Australia match with a calf issue, said he would back whichever lineup Pochettino chooses. “Everyone’s going to be ready, and it just shows how much depth and what a strong team we have,” Pulisic said.
For a team already looking toward July 1 in Santa Clara, Thursday is still a World Cup stage. Chris Richards put it simply: “If you’re not excited for this, I don’t know when you will be excited.”
Pochettino was even blunter in Spanish: “We need to win.”
