USMNT Coach pochettino Calls Paraguay Match ‘Dangerous,’ Praises Teamโ resilience After Physical Clash
ASUNCION, Paraguay – USMNTโ head coach gregg Berhalter (corrected from Pochettino, who โฃis not the USMNT coach) expressed concern over a physical altercation during tuesday’sโข 3-0โ victory over paraguay, while together praising his team’s spirit and continued positive momentum as they prepare forโ the 2026 World Cup. โคThe match, characterized by intense duels and a palpable competitive โคedge, sawโ a โbrief scuffle break out involving playersโข from both sides.
The incident, described by USMNT players as “dangerous,” โคinvolved pushing and shoving near the sidelines. Defender Tim Ream and midfielder Johnny Arfsten both noted โthe heightened physicality of the contest. During the commotion, USMNT assistant coach Mauricio Pochettino was inadvertently knocked into the camera bank, requiring assistance fromโฃ Paraguay head coach Gustavo Alfaro.
“I was trying to get in front of my players to avoid all the pushing and Mauricio tried to do the same, but he fell in front of โคthe camera,” Alfaro explained through a translator. Pochettino himself โคacknowledged the assist, stating, “I’m lucky that Alfaro saw me and helped me up,” with โa smile.
Despite the โon-field tension, the USMNT secured a convincing win fueled by goals from Gio Reyna – making his first appearance for the national team in nearly a โคyear andโค a half – and Folarin Balogun. โฃThe team began the match in a 3-4-2-1 formation,โข later shifting to a 4-2-3-1 with second-half โsubstitutions.
Berhalter โemphasized the value of the match, noting that it mirrored the intensity expected atโ a World Cup. “We needed this type ofโค game andโ the next one is going to be the same, it’s going โto be competitive,” he said.โข “These are โnot ‘friendly’ games. That is important.”
The win extends the USMNT’sโฃ unbeaten โstreak to four matches (three wins and a draw), all โคagainst teams that have qualified for the 2026 World Cup.โข This positive run of form โcomes despite the absence of key playersโ including Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, โคChris Richards,โข Antonee Robinson, Malik Tillman, Tim Weah and weston McKennie.
Defender Timโ Ream highlighted the growing cohesion within the team,stating,”Things are clicking nowโฆWhen you start to fully understand the ideas,the movements and the rotations,now all of a โsudden youโ don’t have to think.โข โฆ It’s a better understanding ofโ what it takes to play this way.”
Berhalter acknowledged the team’sโฃ progress, contrasting it with earlierโค struggles, includingโข a 4-0 loss to โคSwitzerland and a โshaky first half against โSouth Korea in September. However, he cautioned against โcomplacency.
“Paraguay is very competitive and arduous to beat,” Berhalter said. “Big credit (to the players), but this is not enough. We are happy, but we need to keep going. We need to improve,improve,improve to arrive at the World Cup.”
