GOAL US writers debate result against Ecuador and whether Mauricio Pochettino should make changes ahead of tricky Aussie match
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – So, 1-1. Not a bad result for the USMNT. They struggled in the opening stages, and could have few qualms in going down 1-0. But Mauricio Pochettino's men rallied. The shapes started to form, the players kicked into gear. Suddenly, there was a team here. The draw could have been a win with a couple fortunate bounces.
Still, this is less about the scoreline and more about the performance – if only because that's the positive to take from the game. Sure, Weston McKennie was excellent. Tim Weah, Malik Tillman and Tanner Tessmann all showed why they should be in with a shout every time the U.S. play. Christian Pulisic, dealing with an aggravated ankle, still came in as second-half sub.
And Folarin Balogun showed why he leads the race to be the starting striker. In short, these were mostly good things from a mostly good performance. And perhaps that's exactly what was required here. Australia are next, and they're pretty good, too – sitting in the top 25 of FIFA's world rankings and coming off a 1-0 victory over Canada.
GOAL US writers break down the USMNT friendlies in the latest edition of… The Rondo.
Getty ImagesWhat’s the biggest takeaway from the Ecuador draw?
Tom Hindle: That the USMNT are improving, but still need to avoid mental mistakes. They were truly excellent for some stretches, and probably, on balance, deserved more than the draw. But there were some clear errors – including giving up a fairly preventable goal. Still, these are what friendlies are for. Good signs, mostly.
Ryan Tolmich: There are plenty of big ones, but the usage of McKennie is probably the one with the biggest knock-on effect. After the match, both Pochettino and McKennie described his role as one with "freedom" and the USMNT boss hinted that he prefers McKennie in a more attacking role. If he is among the attacking midfielders, what does that mean for the World Cup squad? How does that change competition? And what does that mean for the defensive midfield? It's all very interesting as Pochettino looks to get the best out of a clearly talented player.
Alex Labidou: Pochettino has found a system that works and that’s critical. When the U.S. were struggling earlier in the year, the biggest takeaway wasn't a given result but the fact Pochettino struggled to really make an imprint on this team. On Friday, his preferred way of play was on display and he created the system that best suits his ideology AND fits his players. And they performed well against one of the best defensive teams in the world. However, it was not perfect. For example, what happens with Weah – one of the team's best players – when Sergino Dest is healthy? He’s certainly not a No. 10, which Poch utilized two against Ecuador. Where does McKennie fit when Tyler Adams is back? Pochettino has nine months to figure it out.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportWhose impact was missed most – Pulisic or Antonee Robinson?
TH: Will all the love in the world to Max Arfsten, Antonee Robinson is simply a level above. That's not a massive criticism, per se, but Robinson, on his day, is one of the best left backs around. Arfsten just isn't up to the pace of the international game, and the drop off is clear there. Now, if the opponent had been, say, Brazil, then Pulisic is missed more. But the U.S. should have enough attacking quality to get it done against Ecuador. In the end, it was about balance.
RT: Robinson's impact on that left-hand side is massive, but this is Pulisic we're talking about here. The U.S. likely gets another goal or two if Pulisic is on the field against Ecuador, simply due to his ability to make things happen in tight spaces. When he is on the field, the U.S. is simply much better. And while that's also true for Robinson, Pulisic makes such a direct impact on winning and losing. It has to be him.
AL: Pulisic is obviously the best player on the U.S., and despite not starting, he’s known commodity under Pochettino. So let’s go with Robinson. Jedi has only played three games under the Argentine and hasn’t featured in any match in 2025. Robinson, the U.S. Player of the Year in 2004, was one of the world’s best left backs last season. While the U.S. haven’t necessarily been at a disadvantage in his absence, he could be a game-changer if at full strength.
ImagnWhich player deserves a shot vs Australia?
TH: Excluding Pulisic, who didn't start because of a minor injury, it's probably the right time to chuck Mark McKenzie in properly. Still not entirely sold by his on-ball ability, but the Toulouse man is certainly a better one-on-one defender than Miles Robinson, and has a valuable turn of pace, too. Let's face it, too, when a World Cup rolls around, McKenzie will likely be the man in the mix.
RT: Yes, it's McKenzie, largely because he's a player who could very well start next summer. He's had some ups and downs in a USMNT shirt, for sure, but McKenzie is a good centerback who continuously proves that fact in Ligue 1. It's important to see how he plays in the USMNT's three-back next to Tim Ream and Chris Richards, even if he plays in a similar system at the club level. McKenzie, more than anyone, should get that look to at least provide some clarity on where he stands in the centerback pool.
AL: Diego Luna would be the easy answer, but again he falls into the known commodity category. How about Haji Wright and Patrick Schulte? While the U.S. No. 1 goalkeeper job seems to be Matt Freese’s to lose, his inability to make an important save against Ecuador should prompt Pochettino to at least take a look at another goalkeeper. Schulte has only played once under Pochettino. And for Wright, Pochettino knows what he has in the striker position with Balogun. So now, it’s time to firm up who is No. 2. Ricardo Pepi should be the shoo-in here, but his injury record should push Pochettino to take a lengthy look at his other forwards. Patrick Agyemang got an extended run at Gold Cup, so now its Wright’s turn.
Getty ImagesDoes Poch finally have the right formation?
TH: Sure? There's certainly more balance here, but we haven't seen either system with a full strength side yet. This seems a good fit, but until both are fully compared, then it's still a TBD.
RT: Absolutely. Even without multiple key players, the U.S. was able to generate attacking chances against Ecuador. There was space to run into, options for attackers and, ultimately, good looks on goal. Were there some issues? Yes. The midfield was a bit too exposed, but that might get solved when Adams returns. This system is quite clearly the way forward, although there are still tweaks to be made to perfect it in time for the World Cup.
AL: For the most part, yes. But it will create some selection headaches when Pochettino has his full contingent. Finding the right options at both right wing back and the center and attacking midfielder positions is going to be difficult.