US victory over Paraguay was built on team togetherness, not individual effort: Pochettino

U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino attributed the team's commanding 4-1 World Cup victory over Paraguay to a unified team effort, downplaying individual contributions. Despite a standout performance from forward Folarin Balogun, who scored twice to become the first U.S. player to achieve this feat in a World Cup since 1930, Pochettino stressed the importance of the squad's collective approach.

"It was the collective approach," Pochettino told reporters, highlighting how the team drew energy from the enthusiastic home crowd. "Amazing, they were amazing. We can do amazing things if the fans are in this way." The comfortable win showcased the U.S. team's potent attacking capabilities.

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It was the collective approach.

However, the celebratory mood was tempered by concerns over Christian Pulisic's fitness. The midfielder was substituted at halftime due to a calf knock, raising questions about his availability for upcoming matches. Pochettino acknowledged the team's happiness with the win but cautioned that it was merely the beginning of a long tournament.

He also noted the benefit of extended training time with the players before the World Cup, allowing coaches to refine tactics and team cohesion, a stark contrast to the usual limited preparation time for international fixtures. The U.S. team is set to face Turkey and Australia next in Group D.

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Amazing, they were amazing. We can do amazing things if the fans are in this way.