The USMNT answered a lot of critics in just their first game of the 2026 World Cup as co-hosts, and although they will have to face much sterner tests along the way than a haphazard Paraguay side, the way Mauricio Pochettino's men played was indeed worthy of a statement making performance on Matchday 1.
Because it was not just the stars Folarin Balogun and Christian Pulisic, proven European players with a pedigree who bring goals, but it was the overall collective effort and play under Pochettino that turned heads. Fans were posting memes of prime Brazil, and whlie that was mostly tongue in cheek, the overall sentiment was appreciated.
At his best, Pochettino at Tottenham Hotspur produced some of the most innovative and breathtaking Rock'N'Roll attacking football. Poch was to Spurs what Jurgen Klopp was to Liverpool - and arguably even more, given the level Spurs have been before and after the Argentinian manager.
Mauricio Pochettino is not finished
Currently, Tottenham are not hurting for a coach, because the manager Spurs decided to hire immediately instead of waiting after the World Cup for Poch, Roberto De Zerbi, has done extremely well thus far. He saved Spurs from relegation and was the most important reason for the turnaround.
However, De Zerbi's ability to help Tottenham in the short term was never the question. The worry Spurs had when De Zerbi was hired was more about the future, because De Zerbi rarely sticks it out at one club for long before the dysfunction takes hold with the fallouts largely being bitter.
De Zerbi has a carte blanche to do as he pleases, and he is using it to drive so hard and so obviously after his former Brighton star Jan Paul van Hecke that he could cost Tottenham Luka Vuskovic, whom Brighton value at around half of Van Hecke despite Vuskovic being substantially younger - and better. Oh, and being under contract for three years more.
If Roberto De Zerbi the de facto general manager has his way and dooms Spurs to decsions that hurt the club, Tottenham may regret passing up on their best manager of the last (several) decades in Mauricio Pochettino.
And though Poch had a rough time at Chelsea and even PSG, his performance at the World Cup against Paraguay as USMNT manager, the fluid attacking style, the pressing, the aggression are all reminders of what Spurs are missing. And Poch did it with players who are not as good as the players Spurs have. It is just one game, De Zerbi has been excellent otherwise, but it is a sign to keep in mind at Tottenham as things potentially change in the future: Pochettino was the known gem Spurs passed up on for a volatile manager with long term concerns.
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