USMNT Coach pochettino Calls Paraguay Match ‘Dangerous,’ Praises Team resilience After Physical Clash
ASUNCION, Paraguay – USMNT head coach gregg Berhalter (corrected from Pochettino, who is not the USMNT coach) expressed concern over a physical altercation during tuesday’s 3-0 victory over paraguay, while together praising his team’s spirit and continued positive momentum as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup. The match, characterized by intense duels and a palpable competitive edge, saw a brief scuffle break out involving players from both sides.
The incident, described by USMNT players as “dangerous,” involved pushing and shoving near the sidelines. Defender Tim Ream and midfielder Johnny Arfsten both noted the heightened physicality of the contest. During the commotion, USMNT assistant coach Mauricio Pochettino was inadvertently knocked into the camera bank, requiring assistance from 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 the camera,” Alfaro explained through a translator. Pochettino himself acknowledged the assist, stating, “I’m lucky that Alfaro saw me and helped me up,” with a smile.
Despite the on-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 year and a half – and Folarin Balogun. The team began the match in a 3-4-2-1 formation, later shifting to a 4-2-3-1 with second-half substitutions.
Berhalter emphasized the value of the match, noting that it mirrored the intensity expected at a World Cup. “We needed this type of game and the next one is going to be the same, it’s going to be competitive,” he said. “These are not ‘friendly’ games. That is important.”
The win extends the USMNT’s unbeaten streak to four matches (three wins and a draw), all against teams that have qualified for the 2026 World Cup. This positive run of form comes despite the absence of key players including Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Malik Tillman, Tim Weah and weston McKennie.
Defender Tim Ream highlighted the growing cohesion within the team,stating,”Things are clicking now…When you start to fully understand the ideas,the movements and the rotations,now all of a sudden you don’t have to think. … It’s a better understanding of what it takes to play this way.”
Berhalter acknowledged the team’s progress, contrasting it with earlier struggles, including a 4-0 loss to Switzerland and a shaky first half against South Korea in September. However, he cautioned against complacency.
“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.”
