‘Sorry guys, we won’: USA coach unloads; teammates in training spat — WC Daily

Mauricio Pochettino was upset with the media after a 3-2 loss to Turkiye on Thursday.

The United States Men’s National Team coach was fuming that no reporters congratulated him or the team for winning the group.

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“The mood is like we [are going] home tonight and Turkey is staying,” Pochettino said. “I need to [remind] you and everyone that we won the group. Sorry guys, we won.”

The former Chelsea and Spurs manager was responding to multiple questions about losing momentum heading into the World Cup knockout stage, despite already having won the group.

Pochettino said before the match that he would urge his side to chase another win, but he started mostly reserves, including nine changes from the starting XI that beat Australia, in a move that didn’t suggest a need to win.

If the USMNT had pulled off its third straight victory, it would have been the first team in program history to win all three group games at a World Cup.

“Making history is winning the World Cup,” Pochettino said. “It’s not winning three matches only within the World Cup. I don’t really understand. It’s a little bit petty if you will — you’re thinking a little too small. You’re telling me you could make history — what does it mean to win three matches if you lose the next one?”

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Pochettino pointed to Germany, who played a few hours before the USMNT on Thursday, who started many of their regulars but still lost to a desperate Ecuador side.

He believes that despite the loss, the United States handled the situation well, including getting USMNT star Christian Pulisic back in action.

The AC Milan forward was sidelined against Australia with a calf injury that saw him subbed out of the Paraguay victory after the first half.

This article originally appeared in the New York Post and was republished with permission.

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ARNIE’S IRAQ FUTURE IN DOUBT

Former Socceroos Graham Arnold’s future in charge of Iraq is uncertain after the nation’s World Cup campaign came to an end with a 5-0 loss to Senegal.

Arnold lamented a “stupid red card” by Rebin Sulaka in the 13th minute for changing to course of the game despite Senegal already boasting a 1-0 lead at that point.

The Australian manager also pointed out that nine of the 12 goals conceded by his side across their three matches came directly from errors and he hopes the players can learn from their mistakes.

“The early red card was mentally tough on the players. Against a team like Senegal, mistakes are always punished,” he said.

“I told the players after the match that we conceded 11 goals at this World Cup, and nine came from our own individual mistakes. We have to learn from that.

“In the second half, we ran out of energy. I also made changes to give more players the chance to experience representing Iraq at the World Cup, and I take full responsibility for that.”

Group I, which also contains France and Norway, was always going to be a brutal test for Iraq after they were the last team to qualify for the World Cup.

Arnold guided them through an intercontinental playoff to reach the global showpiece for the first time in 40 years.

“Everyone in Iraq should be proud of the fact that we made it here and we performed very well in two out of the three games,” he told reporters in Toronto.

On the eve of the match against Senegal, Arnold revealed that his contract expires at the end of the tournament.

It remains uncertain whether he will stay on for a reunion with the Socceroos in the group stage of next year’s Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.

“I’ve just asked them to leave it until after World Cup, then we can have a chat then,” Arnold said on Friday.

ALREADY ELIMINATED TEAMMATES’ TRAINING SPAT

Panama coach Thomas Christiansen welcomed a training ground confrontation on Friday between Cecilio Waterman and Jose Luis Rodriguez, saying he wants to see more of that intensity at the World Cup.

Waterman and Rodriguez clashed ahead of Saturday’s game against England in New Jersey, with Panama already eliminated after back-to-back 1-0 losses to Ghana and Croatia in Group L.

“What happened today in training, this is a normal situation,” said Christiansen, a Danish-born former Spain international.

“I would’ve liked to see these situations more often, that means the team is alive. They are willing to do a good effort... to be in the first XI for the game.

“If this happens another time, it’s a good sign that they are alive,” he added.

Panama are seeking a first World Cup point after losing each of their previous five matches at the tournament, including a 6-1 thrashing by England in 2018.

“Now we have the last game against England, a good way to finish a World Cup if it goes our way,” said Christiansen, who has been in charge of Panama since 2020 but is out of contract after the competition.

“I think we have made changes from the last time they faced Panama eight years ago, but we need to show it tomorrow.

“It will be a tough one but I’m thinking that the team will be able to compete and do a good game.”

FRANCE’S BLACK ARM BAND REQUEST DENIED

France’s coach Didier Deschamps missed his side’s 4-1 win against Norway on Saturday morning as he returned home to attend his mother’s funeral.

To show their support, France’s players planned to wear black arm bands but the French Football Federation (FFF) told The Athletic that their request was denied by FIFA.

There was also reportedly some confusion surrounding a pre-match minute’s silence.

It had been briefed that a minute’s silence would be held for Deschamps’s mother, but the FFF later clarified, saying it was instead being held in honour of the victims of the Venezuelan earthquake.

FIFA have been contacted by the media but are yet to issue a response.

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