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INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Enrique Rodó's 1900 essay Ariel contrasts the creative, spiritual values of Latin America with the raw impulses of North America, dissecting the latter's "trained brutality," "insensibility to soft tones," and "cult of bigness." Those roles were dramatically flipped in the World Cup's inter-Americas showdown on Friday.
It was Paraguay who adopted a strikingly raw defensive approach, stumbling aimlessly around SoFi Stadium with little visible effect on the remarkably incisive and relentless waves of American attack. "They dominated tactically, technically and physically," Paraguay manager Gustavo Alfaro lamented following the match.
Mauricio Pochettino urged his squad to shed the burden of expectation and "play like they are a child." The Stars and Stripes delivered on that vision, gliding across the pitch with a playful, carefree energy. Paraguay unfortunately embodied the darker side of that message, committing a string of elementary errors that undeniably eased the path to an impressive and historic 4–1 victory that few had anticipated.
Christian Pulisic Comes Out With a Point to Prove
USMNT has lift-off. pic.twitter.com/H1DygU7kkD
"We want to go and prove ourselves right," Christian Pulisic stated in one of his more pointed remarks on the eve of the tournament.
The team's figurehead has faced more scrutiny than any other player. Despite being undeniably the most gifted American footballer of his generation, Pulisic has found it difficult to consistently meet the towering expectations placed on him. The winger's last competitive international goal came back in November 2024. That drought remains unbroken, yet he made a resounding statement on Friday.
Pulisic played with a directness that characterized the entire attacking line, constantly spinning toward goal whenever he received possession and charging straight at an overwhelmed Juan Cáceres.
It was that relentless urgency that forced the opening goal inside seven minutes. Faced with two blue shirts, Pulisic weaved between Diego Gómez and Cáceres as if slipping through a pair of closing elevator doors. A further prod through the legs of Andrés Cubas allowed Weston McKennie to deflect the ball off the shins of Damián Bobadilla.
No elaborate trickery was needed as Pulisic blazed past Cáceres around the half-hour mark, surging to the byline to square the ball for Folarin Balogun's first and the team's second of the evening.
The only lingering downside to Pulisic's defiant performance was that it lasted just 45 minutes.
Crisis? What Midfield Crisis?
There weren't many surprises in Pochettino's squad selection—even setting aside the numerous leaks—but the one area of genuine curiosity centered on his midfield choices, or the apparent shortage of them.
Tyler Adams's fitness will be crucial given the clear scarcity of alternatives in that deepest central midfield role, particularly if Pochettino continues to deploy him alongside the attacking pair of Malik Tillman and Weston McKennie.
The versatility of Tillman and McKennie creates an intriguing, fluid combination ahead of Adams. Tillman was adept at dropping deeper or drifting wide (where he spent the entire second half in Pulisic's absence), while McKennie frequently exchanged positions with Sergiño Dest, a right back/right wingback who was often found neither on the right flank nor at the back.
Even Gio Reyna came on as a substitute and made an impression—though the buildup to his goal once again highlighted Adams's importance. The high-profile sub briefly threatened to lose his composure following an unnecessary collision before Adams intervened, steering Reyna away from the confrontation and toward the penalty area, from where he curled a sublime fourth into the far corner.
Whether Pochettino will be as adventurous against a side more willing to push forward before going 3–0 down remains to be seen, but it is an exciting starting trio nonetheless.
All That Campaigning Paid Off
Flo Balogun was destined to shine on the biggest stage. pic.twitter.com/vSwIE99sE0
When Balogun informed his mother that he had chosen to represent the USMNT rather than wait for an England call-up or play for her birth nation, Nigeria, she responded: "What took you so long?"
Balogun himself would later call the decision a "no brainer," yet that didn't prevent the New York-born forward from featuring for several England youth sides after crossing the Atlantic as a young child. There was enough uncertainty for the USMNT to actively pursue Balogun, who was wined and dined by the coach and various players in 2023, including courtside seats at an Orlando Magic game.
That recruitment effort—reminiscent of the kind of strategy typically reserved for college programs targeting high school prospects—has paid dividends. The Monaco striker hit an outstanding run of form in the second half of the club season and carried that clinical touch into World Cup action with a pair of brilliantly executed goals.
By scoring a brace in the biggest victory the USMNT has ever achieved at the tournament, Balogun became the first American in men's World Cup history to net twice in a single match since Bert Patenaude scored the competition's first hat-trick back in 1930.
The No. 1 Decision
It was a decision conveniently overshadowed by the attacking firepower ahead of him, but Pochettino's goalkeeping selection was always going to attract attention. The Argentine ultimately went with New York City FC's Matt Freese ahead of Matt Turner, the starter at the 2022 World Cup.
Turner has put together a strong MLS campaign so far—posting the best save prevention rate in the entire league—but his unconvincing displays at international level, most notably during a heavy defeat to Belgium in March, opened the door for Freese.
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The 27-year-old was not called upon for a single save in the first half and still failed to keep a clean sheet after the break when Mauricio's well-placed finish comfortably evaded his poorly-timed dive.
There will be sterner tests in the coming weeks, but for now, Pochettino can take satisfaction in the outcome of all his selections.