March 22 – Prior to the Concacaf Nations League doubleheader on Thursday at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California, the smart money was on the USA and Canada to advance and contest the final on Sunday. 180 minutes later, the smart money looked foolish.
The USA lost with almost the last kick of the game to plucky Panama, while Canadian hopes of beating a resurgent Mexico disappeared with practically the first kick of the game.
Now the teams have the job of raising themselves for the most unenjoyable game in football…the third and fourth place playoff!
Both coaches, Mauricio Pochettino for the US and Canada’s Jesse Marsch, will be ruing a missed opportunity to win a trophy and demonstrate to an expectant audience that their respective squads are capable of making some noise next year at the World Cup, which each country is hosting, along with Mexico.
Feeling the sting most acutely will be Pochettino as much is expected of the Argentinian given the eye-watering size of his contract valued at $6 million-a-year.
With his multi-club experience, he was expected to find the key to unlock the talent of Captain America, and AC Milan’s, Christian Pulisic and give Juventus dynamo, Westin McKennie, the savvy to break down teams that sit back and wait, which Panama perfected.
Despite having almost 70% of the possession, his team created little in the form of excitement bar hitting the post early in the game. There seemed to be little fire in the belly, character, or personality in the starting XI.
Whether that was the result of poor attendance should really have no effect on players who ply their trade in some of the world’s best leagues when compared to the upstart and scruffy Panamanians, who still incredibly have the USA’s number in recent games.
Former USMNT international, Eric Wynalda was incandescent saying that “millionaires with tattoos need to have a lot more pride when pulling on the national team shirt,” while his former teammate Alexis Lalas, said that “these players owed something to the Federation and fans. It is time to deliver.”
Whether the Argentine can display a ruthless streak and bench some of his underperforming stars is going to be the first major test of his tenure, because rest assured, change is needed, or an embarrassing 4th place finish awaits the Stars and Stripes.
When Pochettino retreated (hid) in the dugout as the game seemingly drifted away from his underperforming players, the size of the job may have just landed in his pre-frontal cortex with an unwelcome bang!
His opposite number, Marsch, certainly knew that Mexico would provide sterner opposition than Panama, however, he is blessed with a ‘golden generation’ of talent that much is expected of. To fall behind in 45 seconds imploded his game plan and despite a few positive moments, his team couldn’t find solutions against a fired-up Tricolor.
To give Marsch credit, he kept coaching his heart out in the technical area giving as much effort as his players but when you give Mexico a sniff they tend to find another gear, especially when they have a partisan, home crowd pushing them forward.
Ultimately, this third-fourth playoff has now taken on the importance of a ‘must-win’ game for both countries as the window to play competitive matches will end with the Gold Cup in July. A tournament in which both teams must at least reach the final to retain any momentum leading into 2026.
Prediction: Canada 2-1 USA
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1742662483labto1742662483ofdlr1742662483owedi1742662483sni@o1742662483fni1742662483