Portugal's Martinez Critiques USMNT's Belgium Loss as World Cup Prep Misguided

Portugal's Martinez Critiques USMNT's Belgium Loss as World Cup Prep Misguided

In a recent 5-2 loss to Belgium, the United States men's national team (USMNT) faced scrutiny as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup. Three managers, including Portugal's Roberto Martinez, USMNT's Mauricio Pochettino, and Belgium's Rudi Garcia, have commented on the match, labeling it as an unfair measure of the team's capabilities. Martinez emphasized the need to not overvalue performances in March, stating, "Don't take too much into your assessments and valuations in March because they're quite worthless." This period serves as a crucial opportunity for Pochettino to evaluate his squad before finalizing the World Cup roster. Since taking the helm, he has called up 70 players, experimenting with various positions, including the debut of Antonee Robinson and the first-time start of Tanner Tessmann as a center back against Belgium. Pochettino acknowledged the lessons learned from the match, particularly the importance of maintaining intensity for a full 90 minutes. He conveyed his frustration at the team's performance, stating, "I don't like to lose; you saw my face when we scored. It should've been the third goal, not the first." The upcoming match against Portugal will be pivotal for the USMNT, as players like Ricardo Pepi demonstrated the required intensity, potentially securing their spots for the World Cup. Pochettino has scheduled additional matches against Senegal and Germany, emphasizing the need for a battle-tested squad ahead of facing Paraguay in the tournament.

Source: CBS Sports - 2026-03-31