Alexi Lalas remains cautious but not overly alarmed about the United States men's national team's prospects of advancing from Group D in the upcoming 2026 World Cup. However, he has raised concerns regarding manager Mauricio Pochettino's strategic decisions following the team’s lackluster 0-2 performance in their recent friendlies. With the World Cup just over two months away, Lalas is questioning the rationale behind the frequent changes to the squad's formation.
Formation Concerns
Following the USA's defeat to Portugal on Tuesday, Lalas expressed his confusion over Pochettino's ongoing adjustments to the team's structure. "We’re not fooling anybody. We’re not sneaking up on anybody with the way we’re playing," Lalas remarked during a recent episode of "State of the Union." He highlighted the inconsistency that has plagued the team, stating, “If Pochettino genuinely believes that utilizing four defenders is the best approach for this squad, even as we start with three, that’s fine. What I seek is consistency; I want to see a stable lineup moving forward.”
Historically, the U.S. has favored a 3-4-2-1 formation in its recent matches. However, in the last two friendlies against Belgium and Portugal, they appeared to shift to a 4-2-3-1 setup, resulting in a concerning scoreline of 7-2. This alteration revealed vulnerabilities in the defense that could pose challenges as the team prepares for the World Cup.
Goalkeeper Decisions
Another significant change made by Pochettino was the decision to grant Matt Turner his first start in goal in nearly a year during the friendly against Belgium. Unfortunately for Turner, he conceded five goals in that match, prompting questions about the rationale behind his selection, especially given Matt Freese's strong performances leading up to the game. Lalas expressed unease about Pochettino's constant tinkering with player roles during crucial friendlies, recalling past World Cup experiences where similar strategies led to disastrous outcomes. "I remember back in ‘98 when we changed to the 3-6-1 under Steve Sampson. It’s often dangerous to make sweeping changes as you approach the World Cup," Lalas warned. "This recent window had me scratching my head regarding Pochettino more than ever because of his experimentation."
Looking Ahead
Rob Stone, a host on FOX Sports, echoed Lalas's concerns, suggesting that Pochettino's indecision might lead the team into a precarious situation if his strategies fail to pay off in upcoming friendlies against Senegal and Germany. "It signifies borderline panic. My initial plans aren’t working, and I need to figure something out," Stone commented. He expressed worry about how the team can build confidence before facing Paraguay, especially with two challenging tests ahead. “If something works in one of those games, we might be tempted to latch onto that, which could disrupt our preparations,” he explained.
Despite the unease stemming from these recent performances, Lalas maintains a sense of optimism about the U.S. team’s chances of advancing from their group. He noted that Türkiye, who previously defeated the U.S. in a friendly, has also qualified for the World Cup and will compete in Group D alongside the Americans. Lalas feels confident that the overall talent within the group will enable them to progress to the knockout stage. “While I'm not thrilled about the current situation and would have preferred to feel more confident emerging from this window, I believe this team will rise to the occasion despite our current issues. I don’t think the USA has regressed; rather, we are still capable of competing effectively.”
