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The ex-USMNT player said Pochettino was hired for World Cup success, and that "he’s just going to be judged on next summer"

Pochettino hired after Berhalter strugglesBelieves big-name hire raised expectationsSays coach must leave program in better shapeGetty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED

With the 2026 World Cup less than a year away, former USMNT star Alexi Lalas predicted that Mauricio Pochettino's tenure as national team coach will be brief. Lalas suggested Pochettino was brought in specifically as a high-profile replacement for Gregg Berhalter in a direct response to mounting pressure from fans for a more accomplished leader.

“This is a guy that’s being paid what? $6 million a year” Lalas said on the MLS Moves’ podcast. “This is a guy who was brought in in a short-term capacity and he understands that. We understand that and everybody understands that after the summer of 2026, he’s gone. And he’s gonna probably have lots of opportunities. So, you need to get this done, all right?

“All of the anger over Greg Berhalter, and I think the excitement over hiring someone with the cache and the sexy name that is Pochettino, that comes with responsibility and heightened expectations. And I think he understands that better than anybody. So again, yeah I’m OK with you progressing and learning. But ultimately, let’s be honest, he’s just going to be judged on next summer."

Though Pochettino hasn't even been in the job a full year, Lalas says the coach will be one and done in terms of World Cups with the U.S.

"You better be ready next summer and there can be no excuses," he said. "You can’t say ‘Oh I didn’t have enough time’ or ‘Oh the American soccer system is screwed up’ or anything like that. No, that doesn’t work. You got to bring it next summer and you got to do things that we haven’t seen before. And again, in not just a World Cup, but a home World Cup. You’ve got to leave the situation in better shape than when you got it.”

AdvertisementWHAT LALAS SAID

Lalas said that his confidence in the USMNT has grown considerably following the team's performance in the Gold Cup. Pochettino's side won five straight matches before losing to Mexico in the final.

“I feel better than I did at the beginning of the Gold Cup,” Lalas said. “ I think the Gold Cup did help maybe assuage some of my concerns and worries when it comes to this team. There’s still plenty of them out there and I still worry that we’re not going to grab a hold of this incredible opportunity that is next summer. But I’m feeling a little bit more bullish. And that’s a good thing.

“Because we’ve talked about the ramp over the last, I don’t know, how many years since we got this World Cup. And the ramps getting shorter, and shorter and shorter. But it’s still a ramp and any type of ramp it’s about momentum. And we’ve had very little momentum before the Gold Cup. I think there’s more momentum now and if we can build on that momentum and get more and more positive, and get more and more excited going into next summer – that’s that what you need to do.

Lalas believes that the USMNT can advance to the round of 16 at the World Cup.

“Look I think that the US is going to get out of it’s group, I would even say win the group given the realities of a 48-team World Cup, being one of the first pot as a host,” Lalas said. “So I think we’re going to get a good group, a winnable group. And now you’re in the round of 32… and you’re gonna get, certainly, a winnable game, and then you’re right back where you started in that round of 16 game, where it’s going to be a team that’s going to be pretty even.”

“And so you’re going to have to find a way to conjure something up that hasn’t been kind of done before. And then you’re in kind of rarified air. But we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The USMNT have lost six of the 16 games that Pochettino has coached since replacing Berhalter last September.

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AFPWHAT’S NEXT?

Pochettino will continue preparations for the World Cup in international friendlies, starting in September against South Korea and Japan.

Ethan Nwaneri could follow in the footsteps of Ayden Heaven and Chido Obi by swapping Arsenal for Manchester United, claims Rene Meulensteen.

Man Utd have recruited youngsters from GunnersNwaneri backed to move to Old TraffordArsenal contract expires in 2026Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Nwaneri's contract expires next summer and there is some concern at Arsenal that he may opt to leave north London. He is free to discuss a move to a foreign club from January, when he has six months left on his deal, but Meulensteen has now posited a theory that he could follow the examples of Obi and Heaven by swapping north London for Manchester.

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Nwaneri has already made inroads into Arsenal's first-team, notching 39 first-team appearances and scoring nine goals at the age of 18, including strikes in the Champions League and the Premier League. Whether United are interested remains to be seen but Meulensteen, who worked in Sir Alex Ferguson's backroom staff at Old Trafford, believes they should be.

WHAT MEULENSTEEN SAID

Meulensteen told Grosvenor Casino: "Ayden Heaven looks to be an astute bit of business and it’s interesting that there is a pathway of players moving from Arsenal to Manchester United with Chido Obi another one.

"These players have had a good education and for whatever reason they didn’t see a way forward at their particular club, United acted swiftly and we’ve seen them do well.

"Ethan Nwaneri could be another one, it’s interesting that other Arsenal players have been keen on United. What I would say on Nwaneri, I think there will be a bit more of a tug-of-war going on and more financial demands than with those two."

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?

Arsenal face Tottenham in a north London derby on foreign soil on Thursday, as the two sides meet in pre-season in Hong Kong. Nwaneri has impressed during the Gunners' summer excursions to this point.

“We still want him as a player because we believe he still has a great value to add, and just go out and enjoy it, without the hype of being a captain”

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Feb-2024Mumbai Indians head coach Mark Boucher has said the team wanted to take pressure off Rohit Sharma, who had captained the side since 2013, when they handed the mantle to Hardik Pandya ahead of IPL 2024.”[Rohit] has not had the best couple of seasons of late with the bat, but he has done well as a captain,” Boucher said on the podcast. “One thing I picked up with Ro, as well, who is a fantastic guy – he has been captaining for ages and he has done really well for Mumbai Indians, and India as well – is that he walks into a place and there are just cameras, and he is so busy. Speaking with the Mumbai Indians group, we thought that this is an opportunity to step in for his last year or so.”Across the last two IPL seasons, Rohit scored 600 runs at an average of 20.00 and a strike rate of 126.84. Mumbai won their fifth title in 2020 but failed to make the playoffs in 2021 and 2022 and were knocked out in the second Qualifier in IPL 2023.Related

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“We still want him as a player because we believe he still has a great value to add, and just go out and enjoy it, without the hype of being a captain,” Boucher said. “He is still going to captain India, that hype is going to be there. But when he steps into the IPL maybe just taking that extra bit of pressure off him as a captain, maybe we get the best out of Rohit Sharma.”We see him playing with a nice smile on his face, spending a bit of time with the beautiful family he has got. There’s no easy way to do it.”Mumbai bought back Hardik from Gujarat Titans in an all-cash deal in November last year and made him captain ahead of the auction in December. Hardik captained Titans to the IPL title in 2022 and led them to a runners-up finish in 2023.”We saw a window period to get Hardik back as a player,” Boucher said. “He is a Mumbai Indians boy as well. He’s gone over to another franchise, he won his first year as captain, came runner-up in his second year. There’s obviously some very good leadership skills as well.”In India, people get quite emotional, but you take the emotion out of it, it’s just more of a cricketing decision that was made. I do think it is going to bring the best out of Rohit – as a person, as a player – and let him go out there and enjoy and score runs.”Boucher also looked forward to working with Jasprit Bumrah, who missed IPL 2023 with a back injury. “Bumrah coming back strengthens us big way,” he said. “He is someone that I have looked at and I have gone, ‘this guy knows what he is doing’. He is very smart, apparently, good team man as well. That’s one relationship I am looking forward to.”

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s tenure at Besiktas is reportedly on shaky ground, with mounting pressure from within the club possibly leading to an early dismissal. Despite being appointed only in January 2025, the Norwegian manager is believed to be on the verge of being replaced as the Turkish giants reassess their managerial direction.

Solskjaer could be on his way outRecent defeat to Shakhtar has put him under the scannerTwo candidates are already on their shortlistFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Solskjaer’s early days in charge saw a promising run of results that brought renewed optimism to fans. The team secured victories in six of their first eight fixtures under his leadership, including an impressive derby win over rivals Fenerbahce. 

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However, consistency has since become an issue. The initial momentum has faded, with results turning mixed and performances lacking cohesion. The recent 4-2 defeat to Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round has only intensified scrutiny on the former Premier League manager.

DID YOU KNOW?

suggests that Nuri Sahin, the former Borussia Dortmund player and manager, has entered serious contention to take over the managerial reins at Besiktas. Sahin’s name has gained traction within the club’s hierarchy, particularly due to his tactical acumen and deep familiarity with Turkish football. What adds fuel to the speculation is Sahin’s recent appearance at a Besiktas game. Fans noted his presence in the stands as a possible indication of behind-the-scenes discussions already taking place. In addition to potentially becoming head coach, there are whispers that Sahin might also take on influence over transfer activity, a role that some within Besiktas believe should not be entrusted to Solskjaer alone.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR BESIKTAS?

Alongside Sahin, another familiar figure has emerged in the conversation, former Besiktas boss Sergen Yalcin. Having previously led the team to domestic success, Yalcin remains a popular figure among sections of the fanbase and is reportedly open to a return. 

Serdal Adali, president of Besiktas, is believed to be evaluating all possibilities as he considers how best to guide the club back to winning ways. The pressure to make the right call is immense, especially with fans expecting progress both in Europe and the Turkish Super Lig this season.

Teenage left-arm spinner worked hard on her batting over winter to strengthen strings to her bow

Valkerie Baynes19-Apr-2024Sophia Smale ended last season’s Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy on a personal high and begins this one with big ambitions.A half-century as opener and two wickets for Western Storm, albeit in a losing cause against Thunder, came immediately off the back of a 30-ball 32 batting at No. 8 and 2 for 38 in another defeat, to Central Sparks. But it was the culmination of some hard work on her batting technique after returning from South Africa as part of England’s Under-19 Women’s side which finished runners up to India at the inaugural age group T20 World Cup.”That 50 was probably a big score,” Smale told ESPNcricinfo while on tour with England U19s in Sri Lanka last month. “It was also just a big point to prove. I came back up the order and then I think a lot of people weren’t sure and almost thought of me as middle order. So I definitely think that was a good time score runs.”I’m well aware at the minute I’m seen as a bowler and that’s fine with me, but if someone said ‘what do you want to be in the future?’ I want to be a batter that bowls left-arm spin – and I’m not talking part-time, left-arm spin – I’m talking a batting allrounder hopefully. That’s the ambition.”Related

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In Sri Lanka for a tri-series with the hosts and Australia Under-19s, she took five wickets across three T20s, including 3 for 19 against Australia as England topped the table. England lost both their 50-over matches, with Smale taking three wickets and scoring 33 runs in all.After an eye-catching season for Oval Invincibles as a 17-year-old in the 2022 Women’s Hundred, where she took five wickets at an average of 21.60 and economy rate of 7.20, she returned last year with eight wickets at 18.25 and 6.25. She is relishing the prospect of being reunited with some of the biggest names in the game, which will this year include prolific Sri Lanka opener and captain Chamari Athapaththu at Invincibles.At Western Storm, she has taken the chance to pick the brain of England captain Heather Knight and, although they’ve not discussed senior international prospects, Smale plans to be the sort of player “dominating” domestic cricket that Knight called for ahead of this weekend’s RHFT opening round.”I feel like you’ve probably got to step up to England A before you go to England, so I want to be in England A, it’s something I’m aspiring to do now,” Smale said. “That’s the first stepping stone and I guess dominating domestic cricket will help me do that. If I’m putting in the performances with the bat and ball, they can’t ignore that.”I’m hoping to play for England, that’s obviously my goal, what my always dream has always been… but I also know there’s a few pretty good left-arm spinners knocking about in women’s cricket at the minute in England so it’s going to be pretty tough, that’s why I think batting is really important as well.”The importance of having a strong domestic season was emphasised this week when the ECB announced the eight teams which will play at the top level of a restructured competition from 2025. Somerset, who provide players to Storm, were one of those eight teams while neighbouring Gloucestershire were not and another feeder county, Glamorgan in Smale’s native Wales, will have to wait until at least 2027 for inclusion in the top flight. That means players from all regions are competing for fewer places at the highest level from next year and may have to move.But, before the successful team bids were announced, Smale said it was a “great time” to be a female cricketer in England and Wales, so much so that she recognised the opportunity she had upon finishing school to pursue cricket as a career.”I finished my A Levels last year and decided this is my dream, I’ve got to put everything into it,” Smale said. “I was lucky… my last year of school I was already on contract, so I just sort of walked into training straight away knowing I was on a contract.”I decided I really wasn’t set on doing anything anyway at university. Maybe if I was set on something I would’ve, but I just think you’ve got one shot, you’ve got to give it your all. You’ve got to give it every hour of your day. My motto is always, don’t look back and regret you didn’t put the work in, so that’s why it’s really important that I focus on my cricket at this moment in time.”

Champions require just 39 minutes on the fourth morning to see off Warwickshire

Matt Roller13-May-2024Jamie Smith has the necessary “grounding” to become a “high-quality international” according to his Surrey coach Gareth Batty, who encouraged Smith to be “a dreamer” as he enters the conversation to become England’s Test wicketkeeper this summer.Jonny Bairstow and Ben Foakes struggled with the bat during England’s 4-1 loss in India earlier this year – neither scored a half-century in the series, both averaged in the low-20s – with Rob Key and Brendon McCullum making clear since that the position is up for grabs ahead of July’s Test series against West Indies.Smith, 23, has been involved in England’s pathway since Under-19 level and made his international debut in last September’s ODI series against Ireland. He started the County Championship season with half-centuries against Somerset and Kent but was Surrey’s match-winner against Warwickshire, hitting 155 off 179 balls to set the game up for their bowlers.”He’s coming on very nicely,” Batty said. “I thought last year was his big coming-of-age season, turning potential into output. There were some wonderful knocks for us, and I suppose now with international stuff coming along soon, how well he’s played in this game will be on everybody’s lips. The good thing with Jamie is that it’s not just this innings, it’s been over a period of time now. He has that foundation or platform behind him.”He’s the modern-day player. To be a high-quality international, you have to have the old-school grounding. He has that, and he’s prepared to do the hard work. He has a solid defence but we also see his expansive nature. We also see what he can do in white-ball cricket, and what he did here against a tiring attack. It’s all down to the individual now.”Surrey have backed Smith to bat at No. 4 this season, despite the arrival of Dan Lawrence – England’s spare batter on their India tour – from Essex, who has found himself down at No. 6. Foakes has been their first-choice wicketkeeper, but Smith deputised in last week’s victory over Hampshire and kept tidily, despite only being involved in one dismissal.Batty declined to comment on Smith’s Test aspirations, unsurprisingly given Foakes’ own hopes to remain involved in the England set-up. But he encouraged him to be ambitious, saying: “Everybody’s a bit of a dreamer, aren’t they? I don’t think you should play sport if you’re not going to dream.”There’s a stable base behind the wonderful stuff that we see out there, which hopefully prepares you for the unexpected. People are saying very nice things… we’re trying to produce a level group, and Jamie is just one of that group. It’s nice that people are saying nice things – we want that, of course – but he has earned the right.”Surrey took 39 minutes to wrap up their nine-wicket win on the final day, chasing down their target of 89 without breaking sweat. Rory Burns fell chipping Jacob Bethell to mid-on, but Dom Sibley guided them home with a calm, unbeaten 46. Ollie Pope struck the winning runs, working Rob Yates’ offspin into the leg side and coming back for three.”We fought hard throughout the game to get the win and it was a very good team performance,” Batty said. “Our bowling was actually a bit clunky at the start of the match, after a bye week last week, but we got better and better and really turned the screw later in the game and showed just what a wonderful bowling unit we have.”Warwickshire were without several first-choice bowlers in this match – Chris Rushworth (calf) and Liam Norwell (back) are injured, Hasan Ali was unexpectedly called up to Pakistan’s T20I squad and Chris Woakes has been at the IPL – and lost Craig Miles to an ankle injury while he was celebrating his fifth wicket on the second day.”We’ve done a lot right, but we haven’t been good enough,” their coach Mark Robinson said. “It’s aspirational for us as a big club like Warwickshire to get up level with them [Surrey] – at the moment, they’re Man City and we’re not. You need a few things to go your way to give yourselves the best chance… we’ve got four frontline bowlers who are unavailable, so that doesn’t help.”

GOAL breaks down expectations for U.S. Internationals ahead of the upcoming European season, with a look at Germany's top flight

Americans and the Bundesliga – there's so much history there. When many of Europe's top leagues were afraid to take chances on American soccer's top stars, Germany never shied away. It's why so many careers  started in Germany's top flight and why so many U.S. men's national team stars will have fond memories of big Bundesliga matches.

Things have changed, of course, but some stayed the same. Heading into the new season, there are plenty of Americans scattered throughout the Bundesliga and, while there may be fewer by the time the transfer window closes, Germany's top flight remains one of the best proving grounds for the USMNT's best players.

From World Cup veterans to young stars itching for a breakout, there's no shortage of storylines to watch this season. There's a focus on who has arrived and who may still leave, but this season should be another dynamic one on the field, given the sheer variety of American players all over the league.

Ahead the European season, GOAL takes a closer look at the expectations for Americans Abroad. Next up: the Bundesliga.

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Getty ImagesMalik Tillman, Bayer Leverkusen

After making his big summer move from PSV, Malik Tillman will be feeling the weight of expectations as he's tasked with helping replace a superstar.

Tillman alone can't replicate what Florian Wirtz provided. Few can, which is why Liverpool broke the bank to sign him. Tillman, though, is one hell of an attacking midfielder, one that seemingly gets better every year – and that's why Bayer Leverkusen used a chunk of that Wirtz to bring the midfielder over to Germany.

Now, Tillman will join a legitimate Bundesliga contender, one that knocked Bayern off their perch just two seasons ago. Much has changed since, both on the field and on the sidelines with Xabi Alonso's departure this summer, but make no mistake: Leverkusen is up near the top of this league.

It'll now be up to Tillman to show he is, too. He stepped up massively with the USMNT at this summer's at the Gold Cup, which should give him a confidence boost heading into the season, despite some fitness issues. Tillman is now on a bigger stage than he was before, one that could allow the 23-year-old midfielder – coming off a breakout Gold Cup performance – to blossom into a legitimate World Cup starter.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportJoe Scally, Borussia Monchengladbach

Scally was part of that group of regulars left off the USMNT squad this summer, and that'll likely light a fire under him. Not that he really needs it in the Bundesliga, to be fair, as he's been a steady defender in Germany's top flight for several years now.

Just 22, Scally already has 120 Bundesliga appearances for Gladbach. He's proven time and time again that he's a player who can play at this level. More specifically, he's proven he can defend at this level, which is his No. 1 task at Gladbach. As a mid-table team, Gladbach doesn't need anything particularly flashy, they just need stability.

Scally, by and large, provided that for the USMNT, but the U.S. also needs something a bit more. It's why the return of Sergino Dest is so anticipated. Stylistically, Scally and Dest are polar opposites, which is what makes that fullback situation so interesting. To remain in that battle, Scally likely has to just continue what he's always done but, if he can add a bit more on the attacking end this season, that would go a long way.

GettyGio Reyna, Cole Campbell and Mathis Albert, Borussia Dortmund

Get your bets in, everyone. Which of these three is most likely to actually play for Dortmund this season?

It may not be Reyna, who has been due for an exit for a long time. He played just 12 minutes at the Club World Cup this summer after playing just 341 league minutes last season.

His progress has been stunted by a series of injuries and a lack of minutes, which is why he's been so widely linked with a Dortmund exit all summer long. When that exit comes is anyone's guess but, after seeing his No. 7 given to Jobe Bellingham, the writing is on the wall: Reyna's time with the club is over.

Campbell's may be too, as he is also linked with an exit. Stuttgart are reportedly ready to give him the first-team opportunity he isn't expected to get with his current club this season, but Dortmund still have high hopes for him down the line. It's a tricky scenario, one that could end with Campbell leaving the club for playing time, either on loan or permanently.

And then there's Albert, the 16-year-old rising star who was the youngest player at this summer's Club World Cup. He recently signed a new deal and is expected to spend this season with Dortmund's second team, having previously done well for the club's youth sides.

Can he earn a debut by season's end? It would be a huge rise, but not one that's impossible for the teenage winger.

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Getty Images SportKevin Paredes, Wolfsburg

It was a unfortunate, but injuries essentially wiped out Paredes' last season. Riding high off an Olympic run, he missed eight months, only returning for two appearances towards the tail end of Wolfsburg's season. It could have been a breakout year for the now-22-year-old winger. Instead, it was spent rehabbing in pursuit of a return to the field.

So what can he make of this season, then? Now fit, can Paredes now make his late push towards a World Cup spot?

It's certainly possible. Able to play anywhere on the left-hand side or even centrally in a pinch, Paredes is someone who can add plenty to a USMNT pool lacking difference-makers out wide. To be that player, he'll have to first show that he can do it with his club after missing his chance to do so last season.