Latest news with #pro-Guatemala
Boston Globe
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
The United States men's soccer team faces Mexico in the Gold Cup final Sunday. Here's a preview.
Richards said the Americans have bonded during their month together, causing players to defend each other when opponents challenge them. Advertisement 'We love each other as if we're a big family, and if you have siblings you know that if anybody messes with your sibling, well, I guess for lack of a better word, you kind of have to kill them,' he said Saturday. 'You're allowed to do whatever to your siblings, but nobody from the outside can.' Missing many of its regular starters because of injuries, vacation and the Club World Cup, the No. 16 US managed five wins over relatively weak opponents and reached its first Gold Cup final since 2021. The meeting with 17th-ranked Mexico will be the last competitive match for both nations before they co-host next year's World Cup along with Canada. Advertisement 'I think the team is going to be ready not only to fight on the pitch against players from Mexico with the difficult atmosphere on the stadium, on the crowd, but I think it's good for us,' said Pochettino, who admired the energy-filled semifinal crowd in St. Louis that was 90 percent pro-Guatemala. 'It's good because I think it's going to be maybe the last game that we are going to play under pressure, and to play under pressure is what we need.' The US advanced with victories over teams ranked No. 100 (Trinidad and Tobago), 58 (Saudi Arabia), 83, (Haiti), 54, (Costa Rica) and 106 (Guatemala), winning three times by one goal and once on penalty kicks. The only dominant performance was an opening 5-0 rout of T&T. Related : The Americans entered the Gold Cup with a four-game losing streak, their longest since 2007. Defender Tim Ream, at 37 the oldest player on the roster, said it took time for them to adjust to Pochettino and his assistants. 'This is a different atmosphere now,' he said. 'This is different set of coaches, different ideas, different standards, different values, different everything. And it was a learning process, for sure.' Pochettino is a former coach of Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain, where he guided Lionel Messi. 'From the outside looking in, they can be a little bit intimidating,' Richards said. 'But then once you finally get to meet them, you understand that they're all just big teddy bears and they all really care about family.' Advertisement Matt Freese has emerged during the Gold Cup to supplant Matt Turner for now as the starting goalkeeper. 'I think we've proved that we can play against some bigger opponents. I think we've proved that we surprise people,' he said. 'We haven't proved what we want to prove yet, and so the job is not finished.' Ahead of the final, Pochettino gathered the players and staff for a motivational message, 'He said something about his dreams last night,' midfielder Malik Tillman said, 'and about his dream for tomorrow.'
Fox Sports
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Diego Luna shines with two goals as USA advances to Gold Cup final
Diego Luna scored two goals in the first 15 minutes and the U.S. men's national team overcame late adversity to beat Guatemala 2-1 and advance to the Gold Cup final. Fresh off a dramatic penalty shootout in the quarterfinal, the Americans put together a character-building win in front of a raucous, pro-Guatemala crowd on Wednesday in St. Louis. The USMNT dominated early before enduring some nervy moments against a team that had nothing to lose. It was just a few weeks ago that the headlines surrounding this team were all about Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, Antonee "Jedi" Robinson and the other American mainstays who were not on this summer's roster for one reason or another. Now, after some impressive and gutsy performances, this rag-tag group that has only played together for a few weeks will prepare to play in the Gold Cup final on Sunday. Here are takeaways from the match: Diego Luna's star continues to rise In a tournament where U.S. players are doing everything in their power to state their case for a 2026 World Cup roster spot, Luna's effort and determination has been impossible to ignore. The Real Salt Lake midfielder bagged a brace in the first 15 minutes, showing off his creativity and confidence. The first goal came in the fourth minute when Luca de la Torre's shot was blocked and Luna finished with his left foot to give the USMNT the early start it needed. His second goal came in the 15th minute when Malik Tillman switched the point of attack to find Luna just outside the box. Luna stepped over the ball before striking it – with his right foot this time – past goalkeeper Kenderson Navarro to score his third-ever international goal. Luna has certainly come a long way since being left off the U.S. Olympics roster last summer. And he's going to pose an interesting predicament for manager Mauricio Pochettino when he is ultimately forced to figure out how to get Luna on the field alongside Pulisic at the World Cup. "He is absolutely lighting up the Gold Cup," Landon Donovan said on the FOX Sports broadcast during the first half. "Fantastic quality and work rate. This man has become an absolute star." U.S. can't maintain fast start The U.S. dominated the first 15 minutes with both of Luna's goals coming in those early moments of the match. Guatemala, meanwhile, played the remaining 75 with desperation and put the USMNT on its heels. Olger Escobar scored in the 80th minute – after Pochettino had already subbed off guys like Luna and Tyler Adams – riling up an already rowdy crowd. But the USMNT was able to hold on for a stressful final 10 minutes, which included a big-time save by Matt Freese at the near post in stoppage time. It would be easy to criticize the U.S. for not maintaining its intensity for the full 90 minutes of a tournament semifinal. Especially after rallying a fan base by beating Costa Rica in a quarterfinal penalty shootout. But this is a young team that's still gelling, learning and figuring out what Pochettino and his staff want from them. It wasn't perfect, but the USMNT handled the pressure and did what was necessary to win a tough game and make it to a final. What's next for the USMNT? The U.S. will play the winner of the second semifinal match between Mexico and Honduras in the Gold Cup final in Houston on Sunday (7 p.m. ET on FOX). The last time the Americans and El Tri played was in Pochettino's second-ever match as the USMNT manager in October and Mexico won 2-0. Laken Litman covers college football, college basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. She previously wrote for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the author of "Strong Like a Woman," published in spring 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Follow her at @LakenLitman . recommended Get more from Gold Cup Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
