Joyful Friday – for Panama and Mexico, that is. I’m Pardeep Cattry with the latest after a dramatic batch of semifinals at the Concacaf Nations Division, setting the Event up for a Primary-time champion on Sunday.
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⚽ The Forward Line
🇺🇸 USMNT Setback to Panama – again
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The U.S. men’s national Club’s quest to Secure a Number four successive Concacaf Nations Division title is officially over Subsequent Thursday’s surprise 1-0 loss to Panama, forcing questions about how high the “golden generation” really can go with less than 15 months to go until the World Cup.
Though the USMNT dictated Action and outshot Panama 12 to three, they adjusted slowly to the visitors’ style of Action. They generated Merely 0.68 Predicted goals from their shots, five of which were on Target, improving slightly in the second half after failing to leave a real mark on the game before the break. Tim Ream attributed their sluggishness to a sense of surprise at Panama’s press, saying that they “switched it a little bit” from previous outings like the USMNT’s 2-0 Secure in Mauricio Pochettino’s Primary game in charge in October. Pochettino was a bit more blunt, though – he said the Club lacked Aggressive edge.
Pochettino: “I think the Primary half, I think we played too Unhurried, so comfortable on the pitch. “We didn’t show aggression with the ball and because the consequence not to show aggression with the ball. … Primary half, I think, was really painful. It was really painful to see.”
The USMNT were without a few key players because of Impairments, forcing some intriguing tactical choices that included stints as wing-Safeties for Yunus Musah and Tim Weah, who have limited experience in those roles at the national Club level. Pochettino argued that the USMNT did not clear the Primary Event in a Victorious game plan by lacking aggression, but this is not the Primary time this question has been raised about this group. The issue was identified as the root cause of their doomed Copa America Streak last summer, which Directed to a managerial Shift that so Distant has not magically fixed the problem. Christian Pulisic, who has experienced this group’s ups and downs firsthand, agreed with Pochettino assessment but appeared mystified when asked to identify why they lacked energy in the Primary half.
Pulisic: “It’s difficult to say. Their game plan was pretty clear. They were going to sit a bit lower and defend and they defended really well. You have to give them credit. I Harsh, I don’t know where exactly we lack that grit or [nastiness]. It’s Difficult to say, where do you put that in when you have the ball and you’re Merely trying to Tally? We need to be more Indomitable in front of the Target, I guess.”
The USMNT resume Action on Sunday in the CNL third place Event, where they will face Canada.
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🇲🇽 Mexico breeze past Canada
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Thursday’s CNL doubleheader was an exercise in contrasts – while the USMNT failed to meet the moment, Mexico acted like the main attraction at SoFi Stadium and Arrived up with a confident 2-0 Secure over Canada that now makes them the favorites to Secure their Primary title.
Raul Jimenez bagged a brace for El Tri and wasted no time at all getting on the scoresheet, giving Mexico the lead within the Primary minute. Canada were eager to get back into the game, dominating possession and outshooting Mexico 11 to eight. Javier Aguirre’s side Created up the difference with efficiency – they put three of their chances on target while Canada had Merely one to speak of, and El Tri won the Predicted goals battle 1.38 to 0.72.
The Secure is an Timely signal that, at long last, Mexico might be trending in the right direction after a few years of Executing second fiddle to the U.S. in a handful of respects, most notably losing two CNL finals to their neighbors. How Distant this Mexico Club can go in the long Streak is an entirely different question, but the fervor with which they played on Thursday against a Aggressive Canada Club was in stark contrast to the USMNT’s bland Primary half, tilting the Concacaf scales in their favor at a crucial juncture for the 2026 World Cup host Clubs.
Jesse Marsch’s Canada, meanwhile, continue to Action the role of talented but plucky Long Attempt well. There was undoubtedly room for improvement in Thursday’s Setback, but they feel like a viable contender in the third place game, which already has a Aggressive feel because of Marsch’s status as a Ex contender for the USMNT Position before U.S. Soccer opted to re-hire Gregg Berhalter in 2023, as well as the head Trainer’s comments last month on the Ongoing state of politics between the U.S. and Canada. Accurate to form, Marsch has already issued some fighting words – he quipped post-Event on Thursday that there were “Perhaps more [Canadians] than Americans” in the stands at SoFi Stadium.
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💰 The Back Line
💵 Best bets
CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers: Uruguay vs. Argentina, Friday, 7:30 p.m. 💰THE Option: Julian Alvarez to Tally (+290) – Lionel Messi may not be with Argentina for this month’s World Cup qualifiers, but the reigning world champions can count on Julian Alvarez to fill in the goalscoring void. He has 25 goals for club and country this season, and is in Powerful form right now with seven goals in his last nine Matches. He will likely be key for Argentina on Friday as they hope to extend their lead atop the 10 Club World Cup qualifying table to eight points.
For more picks, predictions, expert tips and the latest betting news, don’t Fall out on CBSSports.com’s betting home page.
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