Pochettino admits US 'not good enough' after 4-1 World Cup loss to Belgium, future uncertain
Mauricio Pochettino said his United States side failed to show their true level in a 4-1 defeat by Belgium in the World Cup round of 16, as the co-hosts' tournament ended in Seattle.
Match recap
The United States' World Cup campaign ended in a 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the round of 16 at Seattle's Lumen Field. Charles De Ketelaere scored twice, Hans Vanaken capitalised on a goalkeeping error, and substitute Romelu Lukaku added a fourth. Malik Tillman briefly levelled for the hosts at 1-1, but Belgium quickly regained control.
- Belgium takes control, De Ketelaere scores first goal
- Malik Tillman scores to make it 1-1
- De Ketelaere scores his second goal
- Hans Vanaken punishes a US mistake to make it 3-1
- Substitute Romelu Lukaku adds a fourth goal
Pochettino's assessment
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino did not hide his disappointment. "We didn't show our real quality as a team," he said. "We never connected with the game. Belgium were better than us, and that's it." He called it "a very bad day" and acknowledged the team's worst performance since March.
Even when we scored, in the next action we conceded. Normally you cannot concede in that moment.
Balogun controversy dismissed
Forward Folarin Balogun had been at the centre of a pre-match dispute after FIFA suspended his red-card ban, a decision Belgium appealed unsuccessfully. President Donald Trump weighed in on the matter. Pochettino refused to use it as an excuse. "We were not good enough today. We don't need to find excuses," he said.
Pochettino's future
Pochettino's contract expires after the World Cup. He said no decision had been made and that conversations with the federation would follow. "Now is a moment to rest a little bit, to think, to have conversations and then see what the decision is from the federation and from us," he said. He defended the team's progress, saying the US had taken major steps in the past year.
What's next
Belgium advances to a quarter-final against Spain. For the United States, the focus shifts to the future of the program and whether Pochettino will remain at the helm.
