Mauricio Pochettino makes his much-anticipated debut as the USA men’s national team manager in Saturday night’s friendly against Panama in Austin, Texas.
Pochettino was linked to the U.S. job for much of the summer. But the high-profile Argentine who previously managed Tottenham and Chelsea was not officially hired in time to take charge of the Americans’ underwhelming September performances against Canada and New Zealand.
He assumes a job that was open in part of the Panama side he is making his debut against in the first of two friendlies in a four-day stretch.
The Canaleros upset the Americans 2-1 at this summer’s Copa America, setting the stage for the USMNT’s group-phase exit and Gregg Berhalter’s firing.
Here is my USA vs. Panama prediction.
USA vs. Panama Odds, Picks, Prediction
| USA Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-0.5 -210 | 2.5 -118o / -118u | -210 |
| Panama Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+0.5 +160 | 2.5 -118o / -118u | +500 |
- USA vs. Panama moneyline odds: USA -210, Panama +500, Draw +300
- USA vs. Panama over/under: 2.5 goals (over -118, under -118)
- USA vs. Panama pick: Pulisic to Score (+190)
I am backing Pulisic to score in USA vs. Panama.
USA Preview
Pochettino takes over a group that has looked directionless for a while.
Berhalter certainly appeared to deserve some of the blame for that. He continued to field a relatively stable lineup in his final year, even while several players within it struggled to earn consistent playing time with their club sides.
But the September friendlies revealed the problem is probably larger than just the manager, with the U.S. deservedly losing 2-1 to Canada and following that with a 1-1 draw against New Zealand.
Among the more interesting names called into Pochettino’s first camp? There’s striker Brandon Vazquez, who never won over Berhalter despite producing in limited USMNT opportunities. There’s goalkeeper Zack Steffen, once the U.S. No. 1 who fell off the World Cup roster entirely before regaining his form with a move back to MLS with Colorado. And there’s former Columbus Crew midfielder Aidan Morris, who has quickly become a regular starter at Middlesbrough in the English second tier this season.
But there’s also several key absences. Midfielders Tyler Adams and Gio Reyna continue to deal with prolonged injury difficulties, and forwards Tim Weah and Folarin Balogun were late scratches from this camp due to their own ailments.
Panama Preview
Panama have some history of upsetting their more fancied regional foes over the years, beginning with a 2-1 triumph over the Yanks in the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup group phase and most recently picking up a victory in the most recent edition of Copa America.
But oddly enough, the Canaleros have never done so in a friendly, with the U.S. winning all four since 2012 while keeping a clean sheet in three.
Perhaps the simplest explanation is there is less reason to adopt the same deep-lying, conservative tactics in friendlies that have often defined Pamana’s better results in competitive fixtures. Panama also played none of those friendlies in front of their home fans, although one came on a neutral site.
For this one, Manager Thomas Christiansen has called in close to his strongest possible lineup. The strength remains in midfield, with Houston Dynamo star Adalberto Carrasquilla and longtime national team servants Yoel Barcenas and Anibal Godoy among the contingent.
USA vs. Panama Prediction
There are unknown both in terms of what immediate impact Pochettino will bring to the USMNT and how the game will play out given its friendly status.
But one thing that has become reliable in U.S. games is the undervaluing of Christian Pulisic’s goal-scoring acumen on the international stage.
Pulisic has historically been more of a goal threat for country than club. And if that’s the case now, he is one hell of a goal threat, given his current form for AC Milan in the Serie A
At +190 and an implied 34.5% probability to score any time, he’s a steal here at a price that almost certainly won’t be there if you wait until matchday lineups.
He’s scored in five of his last eight USMNT appearances in home friendlies since September of 2023. And he’s worth the potential risk that he won’t start, given that he’s still likely to get more than a half-hour against a tiring and overmatched opponent in that situation.
