Rest now, shine later: Pochettino bets freshness for USMNT World Cup run
USMNT fielded a largely fresh lineup against Turkey and lost 3-2 as Mauricio Pochettino sacrificed a potential perfect group stage to gain rest for the knockout rounds. Christian Pulisic, introduced in the 58th minute, energized the attack, while Sebastian Berhalter produced a dangerous corner and a goal and Auston Trusty scored before suffering an ankle tweak. Several players avoided suspensions, and the plan aimed to maximize performance in the knockout phase, a gamble that will be judged in Santa Clara rather than the group-stage result.
