Throughout the week preceding the United States’ final World Cup group game, their matchup with Turkey was discussed as something of a formality. The new tournament format made it impossible to begin speculation on a possible opponent until the third wave of matches kicked off on Wednesday, but the co-hosts’ place in the last 32 was already secure.
There were ample questions about how much Mauricio Pochettino would (and should) rotate. Christian Pulisic’s every movement, including whether or not he was donning a sleeve on his calf, was closely scrutinized. The atmosphere around training was light and jovial, a rare “eye of the hurricane” moment where the intensity seemed to wane and positivity permeated every corner of the team’s camp in Irvine, California.
