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Twin strikes from Diego Luna helped the home team edge past the visitors, Guatemala, who had incredible support from the stands on the day.
United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino, right, looks towards the field before a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match against Haiti, Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Jessica Tobias)
Head coach of USA, Mauricio Pochettino, reflected on his side’s win over Guatemala in the semifinal of the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Thursday as the hosts posted a 2-1 win over the visitors at the Energizer Park in St. Louis.
Twin strikes from Diego Luna helped the home team edge past the visitors, who had incredible support from the stands on the day.
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“It was like to play in Guatemala. That was good for our players because it was an atmosphere that we didn’t expect,” the Argentine said.
He elucidated about the energy that fans transfer to players during games, urging the team on each step of the way.
“That is football. When we talk about the connection between the fans and the team, that is the connection we’d like to see in the World Cup,” the 53-year-old added.
“That connection that makes you fly, because of the energy that translates,” Pochettino added.
The Argentine reflected on the implications the game has in his home nation, and called on the fans of USA to rally behind the team and urge the side on.
“I saw player of the Guatemala crying,” he said. “That is the way that we need to feel, and our fans need to feel the same. It’s not to come here and to enjoy f the spectacle and if you lose, nothing happens,” the former PSG and Tottenham boss said.
“Yes, it happens a lot. Things happen because you play for your pride, you play for many, many things that I think I cannot tell you tonight. But I think it’s good for our players …. I came from Argentina and in Argentina it’s not the same win or lose. The consequences are massive,” he added.
“The rest of the opponents and the different countries, you play for survival, you play for food, you play for pride, you play for many things. It’s not to go and enjoy and go home and laugh and that’s it,” he added.
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Luna opened the scoring in the 4th minute of the game before doubling down on his tally in the 15th. Pochettino showered praise on the youngster’s desire to turn up when called on.
“Diego was the example from January, how he is desperate to play for this shirt, for the national team and that is why now he is in the level that he showed,” Pochettino said.
A number of senior team players are absent for the Gold Cup, but the Argentine had opined that the event offers up an opportunity to pump in fresh new blood and stressed on the importance of the same.
‘Sometimes you say it’s useless, people say it’s useless,” Pochettino had said .
“It’s not useless. I think it’s important, important for the national team, important for the team and very important for the country,” he signed-off.
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