Mauricio Pochettino expressed frustration over what he saw as undue disappointment following the United States' 3-2 loss to Turkiye in their final World Cup group match, stressing that the team had already secured first place in Group D and was prioritizing the knockout stage.
Pochettino Defends Team's Approach
In a postgame news conference, Pochettino said, "For you not say congratulations that we won the group, that is a little bit sad." He added, "What we need to remember is we won first place in this group. We ended up being No. 1, and we managed all the pressure and the expectations quite well." Pochettino made nine changes to the starting lineup, resting key players who had yellow cards, and emphasized that the team's ultimate goal is winning the World Cup, not just the group. "Making history is winning the World Cup, not just winning the group. It's a little bit petty, if you will. You're thinking just a little bit too small," he said.
Match Details and Key Moments
Kaan Ayhan scored in the eighth minute of stoppage time to give Turkiye a 3-2 victory, their only win of the tournament. Auston Trusty scored in the third minute for the US, and Sebastian Berhalter equalized in the 49th minute. Arda Güler and Orkun Kökçü had given Turkiye a 2-1 lead at halftime. The US had already qualified for the knockout stage after beating Paraguay and Australia by a combined 6-1. They will face Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Round of 32 on Wednesday.
Player Reactions and Team Morale
Brenden Aaronson, one of nine new starters, said, "You make (nine) changes, and the team might not be used to as the guys that have been playing. It showed the hustle, the aggressiveness of the team. I think it's a positive, because Turkiye are a top team." Berhalter added, "I think we deserved more out of that game. We slipped in the last second of the game. We gave everything we had, and we'll be ready for the knockouts."
Turkiye's Performance and Coach's Pride
Turkiye coach Vincenzo Montella praised his players, saying, "I'm super-happy with how my players played tonight. They showcased all of their skills, all of their abilities, all of their character." Despite being eliminated after two losses, Turkiye won their final match. Montella noted, "I'm really happy for the Turkish people. I can say that we can go back home with our chin up."
Record-Breaking Goals and Fan Support
Trusty's goal was the Americans' seventh of the tournament, tying their scoring record for any World Cup before knockout play. The 173rd goal of the tournament broke the record for most combined goals in a World Cup, set in Qatar four years ago, in four fewer matches. A sellout crowd at SoFi Stadium provided raucous support throughout the match.
