
On first 4-game losing streak since 2007, US looks unprepared with World Cup a year away
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The only bright side for the U.S. soccer team is the World Cup starts in a year, not this week.
The Americans conceded four goals in the first half, failed to get a shot on target and were embarrassed in a 4-0 blowout loss to Switzerland in a friendly on Tuesday night.
'It's really easy to look at one game, one half, and be like, oh, this is all going to pieces, they can't come back from this,' defender Walker Zimmerman said. 'But you look even the build-up to the 2022 (World Cup), we take down Morocco 3-0 and they make it into the semifinal. Things change — that was six months apart. It's not the end of the world.'
Heading into their CONCACAF Gold Cup opener against Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday, the Americans are on a four-game losing streak for the first time since 2007 and have dropped four consecutive home games for just the third time overall and first time since 1988.
U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino blamed himself for picking a starting lineup that included four players with two or fewer international appearances. He wanted them to gain international experience but the Americans gave up four goals by the 40th minute for the first time since Nov. 9, 1980, at Mexico and the first time ever at home, according to Opta.
'It was my decision and the decision didn't work,' he said. 'It's painful because you don't want to improve losing games."
A dismayed fan base, angered by first-round elimination at last year's Copa America and two losses in the CONCACAF Nations League final four in March, is questioning the commitment of the team's player pool.
The U.S. was missing star Christian Pulisic (wanted time off); Yunus Musah (personal reason not disclosed); Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Gio Reyna (headed to the Club World Cup); Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams and Folarin Balogun (injured); and Sergiño Dest (regaining fitness).
Dan Ndoye scored in the 13th minute, Michel Aebischer in the 23rd, Breel Embolo in the 33rd and Johan Manzambi in the 36th. Goalkeeper Matt Turner, playing his first match for club or country since March 23, spilled a shot that led to Embolo's goal. Defenders left the Swiss lots of space.
'You have to take your licks and understand where things went wrong and try to put them right in the next five days,' said defender Tim Ream, among five players who entered at the start of the second half. 'There's some individual errors that we make and we get punished for them at this level.'
Instead of a steady improvement, the U.S. has regressed since reaching the second round of the 2022 World Cup. The Americans are 5-5 under Pochettino, who took over after the Copa America flop led the U.S. Soccer Federation to fire coach Gregg Berhalter.
The U.S. also plays Saudi Arabia and Haiti in the Gold Cup's first round — the Americans have won their group in 16 of 17 Gold Cups, along with a second-place finish to Panama in 2011. They're group stage record is 40 wins, one loss and five draws.
Only winning the tournament likely will calm supporters.
'I know in this sport you're not judged on one game, one half, but you've got to be able to bounce back mentally, physically, emotionally,' Zimmerman said. 'We've played hundreds of games in our career. Some are going to be amazing. Some aren't going to be so good.'
Pochettino isn't concerned fans will give up on the U.S. team and stay away from matches.
'The fans are going to be there for sure in the Gold Cup and the World Cup," he said. 'I have no worries about that. The fans are going to be with the team."
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
recommended
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Photo highlights from the Women's Euro 2025 final between England and Spain
BASEL, Switzerland (AP) — England beat Spain in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw after extra time to win a thrilling Women's European Championship final on Sunday This gallery, curated by AP photo editors, shows highlights from the match in Basel, Switzerland. ___ Follow AP visual journalism: AP Images blog: Instagram: X: ___ AP soccer:


Fox Sports
8 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner shows off all-around game against the White Sox
Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) — Nico Hoerner delivered for the Chicago Cubs on Sunday — at the plate and in the field. Hoerner hit an RBI single and scored from first on Matt Shaw's double in the sixth inning of the Cubs' series finale against the Chicago White Sox. He also reached on an infield single in the second on the 14th pitch of his at-bat against Sean Burke. But Hoerner's best moment of the afternoon was a heady defensive play in the third at Rate Field. The White Sox had runners on first and second with one out when Chase Meidroth popped up to Hoerner at second base. Meidroth was called out via the infield fly rule, and Hoerner let the ball drop to see if any of the baserunners would try to advance. When Lenyn Sosa broke for third, Hoerner — a Gold Glove winner in 2023 — threw him out for the inning-ending double play. ___ AP MLB: recommended Item 1 of 3


Fox Sports
8 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Tina Charles scores 24 points as WNBA-worst Sun pound expansion Valkyries 95-64
Associated Press UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — Tina Charles scored 24 points, Bria Hartley and Marina Mabrey both added 15 and the last-place Connecticut Sun rolled to a 95-64 win over the Golden State Valkyries on Sunday. The Sun (4-20) had a season high for points thanks to season bests of 12 3-pointers, 53% overall shooting (35 of 66) and 14 steals. French rookie Leila Lacan had six steals in just her sixth game. Jacy Sheldon scored 13 points off the bench for the Sun, who turned 24 turnovers into 34 points to end a four-game skid. Charles reached double figures for the 395th time, third in WNBA history behind Diana Taurasi (488) and Tina Thompson (404), and scored 20 points or more for the 185th time, second behind Taurasi (259). She played just 19 minutes. Illana Rupert scored 13 points off the bench for the expansion Valkyries (11-13), who suffered their worst loss in franchise history in their second game since losing All-Star Kayla Thornton to a season-ending knee injury. Veronica Burton added 10 points. Saniya Rivers hit a 3-pointer for a 3-2 lead and the Suns never looked back. It was 23-15 after one quarter and 49-33 at the half. The Sun outscored the Valkyries 46-31 in the second half. Connecticut's previous season high was 93 points in a 10-point win over Seattle prior to the four-game losing streak. The Storm visit the Sun on Monday night. ___ AP WNBA: