Source: Alexi Lalas State of the Union — LIVE post-match reaction to the USA's 5-2 loss to Belgium with Stu Holden
Duration: 48 min
USMNT World Cup readiness
If the World Cup started today, we are you-know-what. Tonight was a little bit of a reality check of where this team potentially is along that journey.
Tactical analysis
What Mauricio Pochettino found out tonight is that we are not good enough to have the best 11 players on the field. We have to have the best 11 collective players.
Jeremy Doku is one of the best wingers in the world. Some of the best defenders in the world struggle to deal with him 1v1. If you had help in this game, that means Weston McKinney is coming back, and you're completely neutralizing where they're most effective.
Team morale
When you get beat at home 5-2 like that, that's a killer for the confidence. You're going to have 26 guys in that locker room right now second-guessing just how good this team can actually be against top teams.
World Cup squad selection
I think some players in that starting lineup tonight played themselves out of the starting lineup for the World Cup. I'd say Malik Tillman. I don't think he did enough to be a starter. I'd say Tim Weah potentially.
Goalkeeper selection
I think Pochettino has made a mistake here by sticking with a guy for 13 games and now you've changed it in this March window. If you give Turner that second game, he's going to be your starter at the World Cup.
Portugal match preview
I think Pochettino will have realized that that did not work. Now, again, you're coming up against Portugal who have, as our colleague Thierry Henry has said, the best midfield in the entire world. I would agree with him on that.
Player importance
Chris Richards missed this game through injury. By not kicking a ball tonight, Chris Richards had one of the best nights because it once again proved that he is the most indispensable and most important player in that back line.
Italy World Cup qualification
This is an Italian team that is still weak, mentally fragile. They're not a great team, but that is a team that is going to fight you to the absolute death.
Kit/Aesthetic controversy
This was disgraceful to have this game. Visually, it was a bad representation of what a soccer game is here in the United States. It made it difficult to watch.
