USMNT's Swiss Cheese Defense A 4-0 Humiliation!

USMNT Crushed by Switzerland 4-0: Pochettino's Woes Deepen

The U.S. Men's National Team suffered a devastating 4-0 defeat at the hands of Switzerland on Tuesday night, a result that has sent shockwaves through the American soccer community. The performance, widely described as lackluster, has raised serious questions about the team's current form and direction under coach Mauricio Pochettino.

Many observers are drawing parallels to the dark days of 2016, when the USMNT failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. While this was a friendly match and Pochettino fielded a heavily rotated squad, the manner of the loss is deeply concerning. The team has now endured four consecutive defeats, a streak not seen since 2007. Add to this the absence of key players and a disappointing showing in the March window, and the picture looks increasingly bleak.

Switzerland dominated from the outset, scoring four goals in the first 36 minutes. The U.S. defense was porous, and the midfield struggled to maintain possession. Here's a breakdown of the Swiss goals:

• 13th minute: Dan Ndoye capitalized on a defensive lapse to open the scoring.
• 23rd minute: Michel Aebischer added a second after a poor defensive play on the left side.
• 33rd minute: A weak shot was parried into the path of Breel Embolo, who tapped in an easy goal.
• 36th minute: Johan Manzambi capped off the first-half onslaught with a stunning strike.

The halftime whistle was met with boos from the American fans, a clear indication of their frustration and disappointment. The fact that the U.S. trailed 4-0 at halftime for the first time since 1980 is a damning statistic.

Despite the scoreline, veteran center back Walker Zimmerman attempted to maintain a positive outlook. "It’s easy to look at one half and this is all going to pieces, that we can’t come back from this," Zimmerman told TNT Sports. "But you look at the build-up even to 2022, we take down Morocco 3-0 and they make a semifinal. Things change. That was six months apart. So, it’s not the end of the world. We accept that it’s not good enough and we realize that. That’s where the disappointment comes in, but we have to flip the script and we’ve gotta make sure we do not come out like that ever again.”

Pochettino made five substitutions at halftime, but they failed to spark a significant improvement. This defeat comes on the heels of a 2-1 loss to Turkey, leaving Pochettino searching for answers.

Key takeaways from the match:

• The USMNT's defense was woefully inadequate.
• The midfield struggled to control the game.
• Pochettino's tactical adjustments failed to make an impact.
• The team has now lost four straight games.

The USMNT now heads into the Gold Cup with a cloud of uncertainty hanging over them. Pochettino faces a significant challenge in restoring confidence and finding a winning formula. His record as USMNT coach now stands at five wins and five losses in his first 10 games.

With the World Cup just over a year away (366 days), the pressure is on for Pochettino to turn things around quickly. While injuries and absences played a role in this defeat, the overall performance was simply unacceptable. The road to recovery will be long and arduous, but the USMNT must find a way to rediscover its form and compete at the highest level.

This humbling defeat serves as a stark reminder that complacency has no place in the world of soccer. The USMNT must learn from this experience and emerge stronger, more resilient, and more determined to achieve its goals. The journey ahead will undoubtedly be challenging, but with hard work, dedication, and a clear vision, the team can overcome this setback and once again make the nation proud.

Tags: USMNT,Switzerland,Soccer,Friendly match,Loss,Mauricio Pochettino,Gold Cup,Sports,Defeat,US Soccer

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6417834/2025/06/10/usmnt-switzerland-friendly-pochettino-four-straight-losses/