The USMNT is coming off of a third straight defeat heading into a final friendly before the Concacaf Gold Cup begins. Manager Mauricio Pochettino now shares the distinction of being the first USMNT manager since Jurgen Klinsmann a decade ago to lose three in a row. The team will face a solid Switzerland side coming off of a 4-2 win over Mexico.
That game saw Switzerland jump out to an early lead and controlled the game for the most part. El Tri managed to come back to make the score 3-2 at one point but Fabian Rieder sealed the game in the 90th minute. Rieder was a key player for Switzerland, creating chances for his teammates in addition to an assist to go with his goal. The Swiss showed they can score goals in the game and shutting down the dynamic forward will keep the USMNT defenders busy.
For the USA, it’s clear that the team is capable of embarrassing losses with and without its best players. After going ahead early the Stars and Stripes fell behind 2-1 after a pair of unfortunate defending lapses by the 26th minute. The team also struggled to create and capitalize on chances. As a result there was a lot of possession but not much to show for it.
Switzerland did give up two goals against Mexico and this game may be a chance for the USA to find a scorer somewhere on the roster. Aside from the potential for the Americans to score goals, the game also needs to be a turning point for Pochettino. The team is currently stagnant at best and at worst on the verge of being mired in dread, doubt, and uncertainty. Results aren’t typically important in friendly matches, but a win here would give the team a push away from completely losing energy and in a better direction.
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