U.S. Men's National Team supporters are growing increasingly enamored with head coach Mauricio Pochettino following the Argentine's emotional display after their FIFA World Cup Round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The USMNT emerged as 2-0 victors to secure their spot in the Round of 16 against Belgium. Poch's side broke through just before halftime, with leading scorer Folarin Balogun finding the net. They subsequently had to navigate a challenging second half, with Balogun being sent straight off, before Malik Tillman added a second goal to eliminate their World Cup opponents.
The USMNT will be forced to face Belgium without Balogun, who mounted a dramatic comeback from 2-0 down to beat Senegal 3-2 in extra time, with Youri Tielemans scoring a last-gasp winner on the brink of a tense penalty shootout. Following the final whistle, Poch joined his squad, coaching staff, and supporters in commemorating America's triumph as they advanced to the Round of 16.
The former Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea boss belted out the lyrics as the USMNT's anthem, "Take Me Home, Country Roads," reverberated throughout Levi's Stadium in San Francisco, as per The Mirror US.
Focus swiftly shifted to Belgium. Poch faces a selection dilemma with Balogun sidelined. For the manager, it was never a sending-off offense.
"For me? Never a red card," Pochettino said. "Never an intention to step on the player. It was a normal action in football that happened by accident.
"He's very disappointed," Pochettino said of Balogun. "It was an action that wasn't intention, he's sad. ... We cannot do anything to change this feeling.
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"This is soccer, this is football. For sure he's going to help us to perform and hopefully we can go to the next round so he can be available again.
"The maturity of the team is amazing, the way we're going in the last 5-6 weeks," Pochettino continued.
"Even when we lost to Portugal and Belgium in March, the team was growing. We are so proud."
Poch has urged his side and supporters to maintain their aspirations, as their World Cup campaign rolls on. "For us, it's about to keep dreaming," Pochettino said.
"To keep working... all is possible in football if you believe. And we are going to believe."
Source: Alloutsoccer.com
