USMNT’s best hope of a healthy World Cup run is already painfully obvious

The USMNT has a healthier roster of players than it’s ever had. For once, the Stars and Stripes not only have good options in each position, but they’re starting to put together some backup, too. Without a doubt, though, Mauricio Pochettino’s best position is at full-back. 

On either side of the defense, the USMNT is star-studded. With Timothy Weah off the right and Antonee Robinson off the left, it is crucial that those two players are kept healthy if the USMNT wants to mount a serious run in the World Cup. 

In the March camp, Robinson and Weah established themselves as the two most important players at Mauricio Pochettino’s disposal. Both players boasted a high work-rate, and they were key to the attacking movements that the USA displayed.

USMNT’s best play comes from wide positions

Expect to see a wide setup by the USA this summer. If the March camp taught us anything, it’s that Poch’s best options are out wide.

Robinson linked up with Christian Pulisic, and Weah linked up with Weston McKennie. All four of these players are incredibly versatile, which allows for plenty of overlapping opportunities. 

With Patrick Agyemang out injured, this might give Mauricio Pochettino the opportunity he needed to rethink his squad balance. Sure, he could bring in a new center forward to replace Agyemang, but there are opportunities to introduce more width with players like Zavier Gozo or Haji Wright.

Sure, it's risky, but it makes sense if Poch goes down that route. After all, Weston McKennie is able to slot in through the middle if, touch wood it doesn't, anything happens to Folarin Balogun.

Playing soccer the way Mauricio Pochettino intended

Mauricio Pochettino has a history of setting his teams up with an emphasis on wide-players. 

He is most famously known for coaching Tottenham, where it was his work with Son Heung-min that propelled the Los Angeles Galaxy star to being recognized as a world-beater during his time in Europe. Son, of course, is now one of the best players in MLS. Even at the defensive level, Poch got the best out of Nuno Mendes during his time in Paris. 

Pochettino has already set his marker that if the USMNT is to go far this summer, they will do so by stretching the field. Even with a slight positional change from the back-three he implemented last fall, the Argentine coach won’t help but notice how impressive the USA are in wide positions.