Calls Mount Against Alexi Lalas as USMNT Coach Pochettino Celebrates Japan Win

Alexi Lalas obviously wants to see his nation do well. The former USMNT defender has faith his team will succeed at the biggest challenge. “In my lifetime, I would bet whatever it is that the US men’s team would win a World Cup,” the 55-year-old declared in his The State of the Union podcast on July 16.

But he also knows there will be challenges. He definitely is seeing so with the present men’s team, despite this being the most talented group of players they have ever had together. And most importantly, Alexi Lalas has had his reservations about Mauricio Pochettino, the present USMNT head coach who has been in the job for a year now.

Truth be told, the Argentine coach hasn’t had a great time in the States. Wins against big teams are missing. And with the FIFA World Cup on the doorstep, Lalas was at least a bit justified in being worried. But one win and guess who’s had a change of heart about the former Tottenham Hotspur coach? Well, the fans are obviously trying to be objective about the whole situation. But it seems the win against Japan has brought Lalas and Pochettino into the same camp.

After the USMNT’s 2-0 win over Japan, Alexi Lalas’s post must have caught everyone’s eyes. The caption: “Pochettino and this USMNT.” And the GIF is pretty self-explanatory. Remember that Godfather Part 3 scene where Al Pacino says, “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in”? He wanted to be out of the crime business. He was sure he was out. And still, he just couldn’t leave. And Lalas seems to be stuck, too.

Obviously, the former LA Galaxy defender is happy about what happened. A 2-0 win against Japan is worth taking notice of. They have been one of the most consistent performers in international soccer. And who can forget their 2022 World Cup campaign, where they cleared the group of death consisting of Germany, Spain, and Costa Rica?

Japan is currently ranked 17th in the World. So, this was Pochettino’s first win with the USA against a top-35-ranked team. And that has got Alexi Lalas hoping again. But the fans have one problem. And that’s with Lalas himself.

Fans skeptical about Alexi Lalas’ newfound love

People know exactly how the ‘The State of the Union’ host is. Well, most pundits and talk show hosts aren’t doing anything different. It’s all about the sensationalization of news and clickbait narratives. And Lalas hasn’t been the most consistent of USMNT backers. Replying to the post, one fan said, “Pumped for the next podcast to hear your take.” To which one fan replied, mocking Lalas’ fickle nature. “LOL. Why? He’ll change his opinion another 3 or 4 times before the World Cup!”.

Will Lalas flip his opinion on Mauricio Pochettino now, after he had said Pochettino should be sacked? Yes, the defender with 96 USA caps under his belt has questioned Pochettino’s contribution to the national team. “Why the hell are we paying him $6 million a year if he can’t do anything with these players?” Lalas had asked in his podcast after the USMNT lost to South Korea 2-0. “The whole point of bringing him in was that he could do more with the players.”

Yes, the USMNT has not been doing well. In fact, after the loss to South Korea, Pochettino’s men dropped down to their lowest ELO rankings in 1997. That’s saying something. But this win seems to have given the Pochettino fans some voice. One of them retorted, “Maybe you’re the problem #drama”. Another fan said, “In Mexico your called a “chaquetero” lol”. Chaquetero is a Spanish term that means turncoat, and a slang term for someone who changes loyalties for self-interest.

After asking for a sacking, the fans don’t really seem to like the idea of Lalas joining the Pochettino fan club. One fan went, “Well, you see, you guys were complaining and I was saying everything will be all right #USMNT we are in the right track”. It’s too early to say if Pochettino is leading them towards their best result in a World Cup. What was encouraging was how they did in the Gold Cup Final against Mexico, despite not having Christian Pulisic and other stars available.

As for Alexi Lalas, we wonder what he currently has to say about Mauricio Pochettino. Some critics have backtracked on their stance on the Argentine.