logo
Pochettino criticizes officials for 3 calls he said caused US loss to Mexico in Gold Cup final

Pochettino criticizes officials for 3 calls he said caused US loss to Mexico in Gold Cup final

Fox Sports21 hours ago
Associated Press
HOUSTON (AP) — U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino faulted match officials for three key calls in the Americans' 2-1 CONCACAF Gold Cup final loss to Mexico on Sunday night, saying they wouldn't allow a video review to deny an El Tri goal for the third time in the tournament.
Pochettino felt his team should have been awarded a penalty kick for a hand ball by Jorge Sanchez in the 67th minute. He also said Diego Luna should not have been whistled for the foul leading to the free kick that set up Edson Alvarez's tiebreaking goal in the 77th minute and that the original decision ruling Alvarez offside should have been upheld.
Pochettino said if similar calls went against Mexico, 'it would be a fire on the stadium. But for us, it's like, OK, they are nice guys. They're nice guys. It's not a problem.'
After the goal initially was disallowed by an offside flag, the decision was reversed by the VAR and Mexico went on to its 10th Gold Cup title.
Defender Chris Richards, who put the U.S. ahead in the fourth minute, faulted the officials assigned to games by CONCACAF, the governing body of North and Central America and the Caribbean. He compared Sánchez's action to those of retired NBA star Shaquille O'Neal. Richards felt defender Cesar Montes should have been called for a foul for blocking him on the free kick
'I think the thing about CONCACAF is that we're always one step behind with the referee,' Richards said. 'Palmed the ball like Shaq in the box, and then on the other end we had a block that was offsides. Any other week it would be called offsides. But, again, that's CONCACAF for you. They hate us and we just have to keep moving with it.'
Sánchez fell in his own penalty area in the 67th minute after colliding with Max Arfsten, and Sánchez pushed down on the ball with his left hand as he tried to balance himself. Guatemalan referee Mario Escobar let play continue.
'I'm not going to cry. I wanted to tell the truth,' Pochettino said, 'and the truth was that if that happened in the opposite half, in the other box, for sure it's a penalty.'
'You say silly penalty, silly penalty,' Pochettino told reporters. 'It's like plenty of penalties that are so silly. Silly, yes. The player was with the knee on the floor. He pushed the hand over the ball. It's not that the hand was on the floor and the ball touched. OK, all the excuses now, but that was (a) penalty and maybe 2-1 for us and maybe we now are celebrating the trophy.'
'I think that is clear and it's not about to cry. It's not about the complain. It's not about to put excuses in the different things but I think we can continue talking," Pochettino added. "For me it was embarrassing to see that situation and it's a shame.'
Mexico was awarded the key free kick when Luna was called for fouling Alexis Vega on a flank.
'He slipped and fall down alone,' Pochettino said.
Johan Vasquez flicked the restart kick across the goal mouth and Álvarez burst past the defense, redirecting the ball from 3 yards just inside Matt Freese's far post.
'When he touched the ball, the player from Mexico delivered the ball, was in an offside position," Pochettino claimed. "That's it. Nothing more to say.'
Mexico's Santiago Gimenez had appeared to score on a bicycle kick in the fourth-minute of second half stoppage time in the group-stage finale against Costa Rica on June 22 but that was overturned for offside by the VAR in a match that ended 0-0.
Álvarez had a 54th-minute goal that would have given El Tri a two-goal lead in the Wednesday's semifinal against Honduras but that, too, was reversed by an offside call in the a video review. Mexico advanced with a 1-0 win.
'It's difficult to give the third disallowed goal,' Pochettino said. 'Please, guys, I come from — when (was) I born I (was) born with the ball in my hands, in my arms. And I know very well what it is to play football and I know very well everything. Come on. Stop. I think my player doesn't deserve this. If we lose, we lose. No problem. I am the first to say, hey, we need to improve. But I am not crying, I am saying nothing against Mexico. Nothing. I respect Mexico.'
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer in this topic
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Kershaw appreciates his latest All-Star Game selection while understanding its unusual circumstances
Kershaw appreciates his latest All-Star Game selection while understanding its unusual circumstances

San Francisco Chronicle​

time40 minutes ago

  • San Francisco Chronicle​

Kershaw appreciates his latest All-Star Game selection while understanding its unusual circumstances

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw appreciates his 11th career All-Star Game selection while acknowledging this one's a little different from the rest. The three-time Cy Young Award winner has made only nine starts this season but still got selected to the National League team as a Legend Pick by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, under a provision in the collective bargaining agreement. 'You never take for granted getting to go to an All-Star Game, regardless of the circumstances,' Kershaw said Monday before the Dodgers played the Milwaukee Brewers. 'Obviously, I don't deserve to get to go this season. I haven't pitched very much.' This marked the first time Manfred made a Legend Pick for the All-Star Game since 2022, when Miguel Cabrera and Albert Pujols both received that designation. 'I didn't really actually know that was a thing,' Kershaw said. 'At the end of the day, it's weird, but it's cool, so I'm just going to enjoy it.' The honor comes less than a week after Kershaw recorded his 3,000th career strikeout, becoming just the 20th pitcher to reach that plateau. He's in his 18th season with the Dodgers, tying Hall of Fame outfielder Zack Wheat and shortstop Bill Russell for the franchise record. The 37-year-old left-hander didn't make his season debut until May 17 as he worked his way back from toe and knee surgeries. He also had undergone shoulder surgery after the 2023 season. He owns a 4-0 record and 3.43 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 44 2/3 innings. 'I think it's mixed,' Kershaw said. 'I think there's some good and some bad. I think it's helpful to be able to get the reps, go back out and be able to feel OK in between starts to work on some stuff and try to figure out some things mechanically and pitch-wise and stuff. I'd say overall, I wouldn't say I'm happy, but I wouldn't say I'm disappointed, either. Just kind of right in the middle.' All these career milestones naturally lead to questions about Kershaw's legacy and future. Kershaw says he's just focusing on the here and now. 'I don't know what's going to happen in the future,' he said. 'I really have no idea when it comes to the years beyond this one, so I'm just trying to enjoy it, trying to be part of a really good team this year. We've still got a lot to accomplish, and we still have October. It's really hard to look at stuff individually when you're trying to accomplish something as a team.' But he still appreciates this latest honor, no matter how he was selected. 'I'll never pass up that opportunity,' Kershaw said. 'It's a tremendous honor. Super thankful to get to go. Regardless of the situation or how I maybe snuck into the All-Star Game, it's pretty cool to get to be able to go.' ___

Lonzo Ball excited for fresh start with Cavaliers after trade from Bulls
Lonzo Ball excited for fresh start with Cavaliers after trade from Bulls

San Francisco Chronicle​

time41 minutes ago

  • San Francisco Chronicle​

Lonzo Ball excited for fresh start with Cavaliers after trade from Bulls

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — Lonzo Ball doesn't have to worry about rehabbing from a knee injury for the first time in a couple seasons. Instead, the veteran guard will use the offseason getting acclimated to a new team. Ball was at the Cleveland Cavaliers' practice complex meeting with the medical staff and coaches on Monday after his trade from the Chicago Bulls for forward Isaac Okoro was finalized on Sunday. Chicago and Cleveland agreed to the trade on June 28, but it didn't become official until the start of the new league year on Sunday. 'I think it's a great situation for my play style,' Ball said. 'Don (Donovan Mitchell) is one of the best players we have in the league. And they have two bigs that are mobile, can set pick-and-rolls and get to the rim like that. And then do some switching on defense. I think we can do a lot of different things on both sides of the ball, and to have the option to be able to do those things is great.' Ball averaged 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 35 games this past season after missing the 2022-23 and 2023-24 campaigns because of a left knee injury. The 27-year old Ball underwent a meniscus and cartilage transplant in his left knee in March 2023 after two surgeries failed to fix an injury he suffered during his first season in Chicago in 2021-22. He missed the last two months of the season due to a sprained right wrist, but was encouraged with the way his knee held up throughout the season. 'After the games I didn't really know what to expect. But, you know, when I first got back versus Minnesota in that preseason game, I was kind of surprised that I was moving around,' Ball said. 'I feel like I just got better as the year went on. Unfortunately, I had to deal with my wrist, but as far as my knee was concerned, it was pretty good.' Ball, the second overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2017 draft, has one year remaining on his contract with a team option for the 2026-27 season. Cleveland had a need at point guard after Ty Jerome signed with the Memphis Grizzlies. Starter Darius Garland is likely to miss the start of the regular season after undergoing surgery on his left big toe last month. The Cavaliers had the second-best record in the NBA at 64-18 but were eliminated in the Eastern Conference semifinals by the Indiana Pacers in five games. Ball has yet to take part in a playoff game in the six seasons he has played, which is something he is hoping will change. 'When you start in September or October you can't look too far ahead. But they were No. 1 in the East last year, so everybody knows that. It's pretty much ring or nothing,' he said. 'It's just making sure I'm prepared to be as available as possible and put myself in the best position to finish the season strong. Right now, it's more so just being in the weight room making sure my lower body is good and stuff like that.' ___

Lonzo Ball excited for fresh start with Cavaliers after trade from Bulls
Lonzo Ball excited for fresh start with Cavaliers after trade from Bulls

Hamilton Spectator

time43 minutes ago

  • Hamilton Spectator

Lonzo Ball excited for fresh start with Cavaliers after trade from Bulls

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — Lonzo Ball doesn't have to worry about rehabbing from a knee injury for the first time in a couple seasons. Instead, the veteran guard will use the offseason getting acclimated to a new team. Ball was at the Cleveland Cavaliers' practice complex meeting with the medical staff and coaches on Monday after his trade from the Chicago Bulls for forward Isaac Okoro was finalized on Sunday. Chicago and Cleveland agreed to the trade on June 28, but it didn't become official until the start of the new league year on Sunday . 'I think it's a great situation for my play style,' Ball said. 'Don (Donovan Mitchell) is one of the best players we have in the league. And they have two bigs that are mobile, can set pick-and-rolls and get to the rim like that. And then do some switching on defense. I think we can do a lot of different things on both sides of the ball, and to have the option to be able to do those things is great.' Ball averaged 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 35 games this past season after missing the 2022-23 and 2023-24 campaigns because of a left knee injury. The 27-year old Ball underwent a meniscus and cartilage transplant in his left knee in March 2023 after two surgeries failed to fix an injury he suffered during his first season in Chicago in 2021-22. He missed the last two months of the season due to a sprained right wrist, but was encouraged with the way his knee held up throughout the season. 'After the games I didn't really know what to expect. But, you know, when I first got back versus Minnesota in that preseason game, I was kind of surprised that I was moving around,' Ball said. 'I feel like I just got better as the year went on. Unfortunately, I had to deal with my wrist, but as far as my knee was concerned, it was pretty good.' Ball, the second overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2017 draft, has one year remaining on his contract with a team option for the 2026-27 season. Cleveland had a need at point guard after Ty Jerome signed with the Memphis Grizzlies. Starter Darius Garland is likely to miss the start of the regular season after undergoing surgery on his left big toe last month. The Cavaliers had the second-best record in the NBA at 64-18 but were eliminated in the Eastern Conference semifinals by the Indiana Pacers in five games. Ball has yet to take part in a playoff game in the six seasons he has played, which is something he is hoping will change. 'When you start in September or October you can't look too far ahead. But they were No. 1 in the East last year, so everybody knows that. It's pretty much ring or nothing,' he said. 'It's just making sure I'm prepared to be as available as possible and put myself in the best position to finish the season strong. Right now, it's more so just being in the weight room making sure my lower body is good and stuff like that.' ___ AP NBA:

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store