In the lead-up to the United States’ final group match in the World Cup, the encounter against Turkey was largely viewed as a mere formality. The new tournament structure prevented any speculation about potential opponents until the third round of matches commenced on Wednesday; however, Turkey had already secured their place in the knockout stage.
Questions arose regarding how much coach Mauricio Pochettino would choose to rotate his squad. Every detail about Christian Pulisic, including whether he wore a calf sleeve, was closely monitored. The atmosphere during training was relaxed and upbeat, a rare moment of calm where intensity gave way to positivity in the team’s camp located in Irvine, California.
In theory, the only risk was injury. While the US did face some challenges, such as Auston Trusty’s minor ankle issue, they also endured a last-minute goal that resulted in a 3-2 defeat, leaving them with a missed opportunity for a comeback.
Instead of focusing on the disappointing loss, Trusty and his teammates expressed confidence that the positive momentum from their victories over Paraguay and Australia remained intact.
“We were overwhelmingly positive,” Trusty stated regarding the team’s morale. “Obviously, going into this game, they really had nothing to play for. Guys got minutes to prove themselves and show their ability, and that’s what we did. And I think we played well. We had a lot of chances that didn’t go our way, and then to lose with the last-second goal was just unfortunate.”
The United States, like many national teams outside the top-tier programs, often sees a significant decline in performance when forced to rotate players. The revised World Cup format resets yellow-card counts after the group stage, which meant four US players who received cautions in the first two games were ruled out. These players included key figures such as lead defender Chris Richards, left-back Antonee Robinson, top scorer Folarin Balogun, and midfield stalwart Tyler Adams.
On the eve of the match, Pochettino confirmed that none of the cautioned players would take to the field to avoid risking further suspensions. Pulisic was set to rejoin the squad in the second half after missing the match against Australia due to a calf injury. This opened opportunities for players who had not started the previous games, including Sebastian Berhalter, who earned a starting position after being the first substitution against both Paraguay and Australia. He viewed this as a valuable experience, allowing teammates to gain their tournament debuts ahead of the knockout rounds.
“We know everyone’s ready to step up at any given moment,” Berhalter remarked. “I think you saw that today. I think we let some moments get away from us, but I thought the performances overall were good. Some guys hadn’t played a minute, and they stepped up and did great.”
Berhalter was particularly impressive during the match, especially in the attacking phase. He initiated the scoring with a well-executed corner kick that reached Trusty, who scored his first international goal. Berhalter later equalized in the second half, connecting with a headed pass and sending the ball past goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır.
This could have marked a pivotal moment for the US, but then came Turkey’s late goal.
“It doesn’t [hurt momentum],” Berhalter said regarding the outcome. “I think you saw the second half, how we came out, and I think we deserved more. I think one moment, we slipped in the last second of the game. We’re proud of the performance we put in.”
Adams also remained optimistic following the defeat.
“It’s not going to be perfect,” Adams acknowledged. “No tournament is perfect. You live and you learn. I think a lot of the guys will take lessons from that game.”
With the focus now shifting fully to the knockout stage, it was confirmed just prior to kickoff that Bosnia and Herzegovina would be the US’s first opponent in the bracket, having finished third in Group A after drawing with Canada and defeating Qatar. They will undoubtedly enter the match with confidence, having famously eliminated Italy in a previous World Cup shootout.
That memorable encounter took place in Zenica, while next Wednesday’s knockout match will be set in the Bay Area, presenting both teams with a chance to secure a spot in the last 16. Following their setback against Turkey, players who had participated in the first two matches will be eager to demonstrate that this loss was merely an anomaly.
“Teams can punish you, teams can hurt you,” Tim Ream commented. “It’s one of those things. You’ll be disappointed with the loss, but the sun rises tomorrow. We’re in the round of 32 and we have a new team to focus on.”
