Malik Tillman (L) scored his first two goals for the USMNT in a 5-0 win vs. Trinidad and Tobago that will distract from the distractions swirling around the program.
(Erin Chang/ISI Photos/USSF via Getty Images)
The 18,000-seat stadium was disconcertingly empty. The opponent, Trinidad and Tobago, was overmatched. The stage in CONCACAF Gold Cup Group D was relatively small, and the troublesome “noise” surrounding the U.S. men’s national team will remain loud. But enough with the caveats; the USMNT won a game Sunday, and stemmed the tide of negativity around the program, at least for now.
It beat Trinidad, 5-0, in its Gold Cup opener at PayPal Park in San Jose, California.
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Malik Tillman, a potential World Cup starter rising at PSV Eindhoven, scored his first two goals for the national team. Diego Luna was once again active. Defenders were solid, substitutes were purposeful, and at long last, there were smiles.
They were just what the USMNT needed after four consecutive losses, the program’s worst run in 18 years. Back-to-back defeats at the CONCACAF Nations League finals in March sparked questions about the commitment and desire of key players. Many of those players are now away from the team, either to recover from injury or to compete at the Club World Cup or to rest. In their absence, a 2-1 loss to Türkiye and a 4-0 embarrassment by Switzerland deepened the malaise.
And all the while, former players-turned-pundits inflamed the discourse around the team. Christian Pulisic’s father took exception and clapped back. Pulisic himself felt the need to give an extended interview to defend his decision to opt out of the Gold Cup. It only raised more questions about his relationship with head coach Mauricio Pochettino, who has failed to lift the USMNT as promised.
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But on Sunday, temporarily, all was forgotten.
The win over Trinidad at least distracted fans from all those distractions.
Rather than talk about Pulisic, they could talk about the guys filling his positions: Tillman, Luna and the always-smooth Jack McGlynn, and a couple intriguing fullbacks.
Of course, it is highly unlikely that any of them takes Pulisic’s position permanently — unless Pochettino goes scorched earth and punishes his star.
It is also highly unlikely that anything from Sunday’s match matters in the long run — because the opponents, the Soca Warriors, provided so little real resistance.
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But it was still meaningful, because it was a relief.
When the first goal went in, leaning back in his seat on the bench, Pochettino simply clenched his fist.
When the second and third came, celebrations were muted, but, among the players, cleansing happiness was evident.
And, who knows, perhaps this will be the start of Tillman’s charge into an influential role. With Gio Reyna’s career at a standstill, the USMNT has been starving for a central playmaker to complement Pulisic and Tim Weah; Tillman has the talent and the track record at his Dutch club to be that.
Perhaps this is also the start of a turnaround and a successful summer.
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It will not be the World Cup dress rehearsal that many originally hoped, and it will not rebuild public buzz around the national team.
But it can build positivity within the group, and absolutely could end with a Gold Cup title.
Up next for the U.S. is a Thursday match against Saudi Arabia in Austin, Texas.
