United States get set for difficult World Cup opener versus Paraguay in Los Angeles

[p]The U.S. begin their World Cup [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/paraguay-YaNlqp6j/usa-fuitL4CF/?mid=bo9vy2zK"]campaign at Los Angeles Stadium in ‌Group D[/a], carrying the expectations that come with playing on home soil and with a squad [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pochettino-mauricio/zuJM7XDg/"]Pochettino[/a] said has ‌arrived in strong physical, tactical and emotional condition.[/p][p]But the Argentine, who knows [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/paraguay/YaNlqp6j/"]Paraguay[/a] well ‌from his playing and coaching career, said [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gustavo-gomez/fH0yeuUu/"]Gustavo Alfaro[/a]'s team would pose a serious challenge.[/p][p]"[b]I know very ‌well the mentality, the aggressivity, the competitivity,[/b]" Pochettino told reporters on Thursday.[/p][p]"[b]Paraguay showed in ‌qualification for this World Cup how tough it is to play against them and how they performed so well. They beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/argentina/f9OppQjp/"]Argentina[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brazil/I9l9aqLq/"]Brazil[/a]. My expectation is tomorrow is going to be a very tough game.[/b][/p][p]"[b]They have good ‌quality and a great coach in Gustavo Alfaro who I ⁠respect and admire him a lot.[/b]"[/p][h2]Encouraged by recent results[/h2][p]Pochettino, appointed in 2024 to lead the U.S. into a home World Cup, said he was encouraged ​by the team's growth in the months leading into the tournament, particularly in their final two warm-up matches - a 3-2 win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/senegal/hOIsJLJr/"]Senegal[/a] and a narrow 2-1 ​defeat by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/germany/ptQide1O/"]Germany[/a].[/p][embed guid="f122c831-a49c-4f12-9b7a-962523c0fd8d" url="https://x.com/tombogert/status/2065200186209837517?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The coach said those performances helped convince the squad they could hold their own against leading teams.[/p][p]"[b]The last two games allowed us to think and to feel that ⁠it's possible to do whatever we ​want and compete in our best way, and to compete with big teams,[/b]" he said.[/p][p]Pochettino said the team had improved not only tactically but also mentally, adding that the players had embraced a more demanding culture around the national team.[/p][p]"[b]I think they are much better players. The mindset is ‌starting to change,[/b]" he said.[/p][h2]Lineup questions[/h2][p]Pochettino said all 26 players were available for selection, including defender [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/richards-chris/fVGFlDh2/"]Chris Richards[/a], who had been working his way back from an ankle injury.[/p][p]One decision Pochettino has already made is who will start in goal, though he declined to reveal whether [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/turner-matt/KbZtv1W8/"]Matt Turner[/a] or [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/freese-matthew/QmlhGCEq/"]Matt Freese[/a] would get the nod.[/p][p]"[b]I decided[/b]," Pochettino said when asked about his starting lineup. "[b]The starting 11 is there, unless something happens before the game.[/b]"[/p][p]Asked whether the goalkeepers had been informed, he smiled and added: "I don't know if they know, because if I tell you they know, you are going to start to call them."[/p][h2]'Play with passion'[/h2][p]The Argentine said ‌the U.S. must play with freedom and passion if they are to connect with home ​supporters and build momentum through the tournament.[/p][p]"[b]What we can do is contagious,[/b]" he said. "[b]We ‌need to play with passion. We need to win games, so important, but play with passion and make the fans feel proud about what they are seeing on the field.[/b]"[/p][p]Asked how he would define success for the U.S. at the tournament, Pochettino was unequivocal.[/p][p]"[b]For me, success is win,[/b]" he said. "[b]It's win tomorrow and win after tomorrow.[/b][/p][p]"[b]When we signed ⁠here, it's because we wanted to come ⁠here and be involved in this ‌unique event, but with the possibility to compete well and a belief in winning.[/b]"[/p]