Mauricio Pochettino puts the media in their place after baffling USMNT criticism
· Yahoo Sports
Mauricio Pochettino has hit out at the media for failing to acknowledge his achievement in guiding the USMNT through to the knockout rounds as the group winner, despite a dead-rubber loss to Turkey.
Visit syntagm.co.za for more information.
After dispatching Paraguay and Australia convincingly to secure a place in the Round of 32, Pochettino's players went down 3-2 to Turkey in their final group stage encounter. With key players such as Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams, Chris Richards, and Folarin Balogun rested, the USMNT made a blistering start at SoFi Stadium, breaking the deadlock inside three minutes through Austin Trusty.
Real Madrid's Arda Guler leveled shortly after, before Turkey edged ahead on 31 minutes courtesy of Baris Alper Yilmaz. The USMNT pulled level again just after the break through Sebastian Berhalter, only for Turkey to grab a winner in the 98th minute, handing Pochettino's men their first defeat of the tournament.
- Cameraman injured live on air in collision with player during World Cup game
- Australian soccer fans' anti-Donald Trump chant could spark World Cup controversy
With qualification already secured as group winners, the outcome carried little consequence, and Pochettino's side will now face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32. Nevertheless, following Thursday's setback in Los Angeles, Pochettino was visibly frustrated when reporters failed to congratulate him on topping the group, instead quizzing the Argentine on whether the Turkey defeat could dent the USMNT's momentum heading into the knockout phase.
"It's very positive to finish in the way that we finished," said Pochettino. "It cannot be possible, I'm sorry, guys. It cannot be possible that Turkiye finish celebrating the three points and Australia celebrating the qualification, but I was celebrating the qualification and come here, and for you not to say congratulations that we won the group, that is a little bit sad.
"But only that. I need to remember you and everyone that we won the group. Sorry guys, we won."
When pressed about the potential effect on momentum following the USMNT's opening home World Cup victories over Paraguay and Australia, the Argentine fired back, stating: "What would you like me to tell you? Whatever I tell you, it's not going to convince you.
"A newspaper is going to write whatever they think or whatever they want. But honestly speaking, I go back to [this]: We qualified as No. 1, and we're going to the next round."
He further remarked: "Making history is winning the World Cup. It's not winning three matches only within the World Cup. I don't really understand. It's a little bit petty if you will, you're thinking a little too small. You're telling me you could make history, what does it mean to win three matches if you lose the next one?"