US team wallows in cloud of apathy, anger as World Cup looms

MIAMI — A run of four straight losses, including a 4-0 hammering by Switzerland on Wednesday, has left Mauricio Pochettino and his US team facing the wrath of critics a year out from a World Cup they are set to co-host.

The US heads into its opening game of the CONCACAF Gold Cup against Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday having lost on home soil to Panama and Canada in the Nations League in March, before friendly losses to Turkiye and the debacle against the Swiss.

"I think it is the most embarrassed I have been for the US national team in a long time," said Kasey Keller, who played in goal for the US 102 times between 1990 and 2007.

While there were plenty of American fans venting similar feelings on social media after the loss, what will perhaps be more concerning for the US Soccer Federation is supporters voting with their feet and not attending games.

There were thousands of empty seats in Nashville for the Switzerland defeat, after poor turnouts for March's games in Los Angeles.

"There's just a sense of apathy around the United States men's program, and I don't think that's a hot take," former striker Taylor Twellman told NBC Sports.

Alexi Lalas, a star of the USA team the last time they hosted a World Cup in 1994, has built a career in 'hot takes' for Fox Sports, but even he was struggling to fire himself up for a star-spangled rant after the latest disappointment.

"I'm having a hard time even conjuring that up, and that makes me a little sad. In the past when I was angry at what was going on, I felt compelled to express it, and, now, they are not even worth that, not worth me expressing how disappointing this is right now," he said on his podcast State of the Union.

Pochettino has been forced to field a largely second string squad in this month's games, with the likes of Tim Weah and Weston McKennie on Club World Cup duty with Juventus, while captain and talisman Christian Pulisic has opted to take some rest along with some other first choice members of the squad.

That latter decision prompted fierce criticism from some ex-players, including Landon Donovan, the country's all-time joint top scorer who, during commentary of Portugal's win in the UEFA Nations League, hit out at the absentees.

" (Ronaldo is) 40 years old. He's played a long-ass season. He's tired. He's out there grinding. Hurt himself in the process, and I can't help but think about some of our guys on vacation, not wanting to play in the Gold Cup. It's pissing me off," he said.

That led to a sarcastic reply on social media from Pulisic's father Mark, who posted a reminder of Donovan's own 'sabbatical' from the US team.

Pressure

But, there is also pressure mounting on Pochettino, the Argentine former Tottenham Hotspur manager, who was appointed to the US role in September.

The coach said he would take the blame for the showing against Switzerland, where the US team was 4-0 down by half-time.

"It's my responsibility, the choice of the starting 11. I wanted to give minutes to certain players, but we were never in the game," the Argentine said.

While Pochettino's job may be safe, some are wondering if he might not need some assistance.

"It looks like he doesn't know the team, it looks like he doesn't scout the players, has no idea of the pieces he has at his disposal," said former US forward Herculez Gomez on YouTube.

"The US Soccer Federation, why not place somebody who has some experience with the player pool to help Pochettino out, because it looks like he has no idea who his players are?

"With a World Cup on home soil that is a disaster," he added.

The US will co-host the World Cup alongside Mexico and Canada.

AFP