1 year ago
23
Cesar HernandezJul 2, 2025, 10:53 PM ET
ST. LOUIS -- United States manager Mauricio Pochettino praised goalscorer Diego Luna for being "desperate to play" for the nationalist squad aft the winger scored doubly successful a 2-1 Gold Cup semifinal triumph implicit Guatemala connected Wednesday.
"[His] attitude, hunger, desire, everything, and past for sure, the endowment volition appear. But that is what we expect from our athletes, that's what we want," said Pochettino aft the lucifer astatine Energizer Park.
"Diego was a bully illustration from January [camp], however helium is hopeless to play for this shirt, for the nationalist squad and that is wherefore present he's successful the level that helium showed."
Luna, 21, scored successful the 4th and 15th minutes of the semifinal that besides featured plentifulness of attacking unit from the Guatemalans successful the last stages of each half. Following a extremity from the visitors successful the 80th minute, the U.S. was near to desperately support its nett up of the last whistle.
"I deliberation we handled it precise well, I deliberation that it's an astonishing experience. I deliberation this roster deserves massive, monolithic recognition to get to the final," said Pochettino. "Now we request to hole for the adjacent game."
Luna, who present has 3 goals and 2 assists crossed 5 matches, was effusive successful his praise for his U.S. teammates aft the match.
"It's the grit, it's the determination that we've been lacking. To beryllium honest, it's warring to the end. Every ball, each moment," Luna said aft the constrictive victory. "The game's astir moments, and I deliberation this is wherever we showcase it."
Regarding the ambiance that featured a bulk Guatemala crowd, Pochettino applauded the visitors that turned the St. Louis venue into a raucous one, saying it was an illustration of what shot civilization is similar astir the world.
"An unbelievable energy. That is football, that is football," said the U.S. coach. "When we accidental the transportation betwixt the fans and the team, that is the transportation that we [would] similar to spot successful the World Cup.
"You play for thing more, you play for emotion, you play [to] beryllium happy, beryllium sad. I saw players of the Guatemala [team] crying. That is the mode that we request to feel, and our fans request to consciousness the same.
"It's bully for our players, due to the fact that erstwhile we speech astir culture, that is culture. That is an important happening that we request to larn present successful this country."
Looking ahead, the U.S. volition present look the winners of Wednesday's different semifinal betwixt Mexico and Honduras successful Sunday's Gold Cup last astatine NRG Stadium successful Houston, Texas.
Mexico is the all-time person successful Gold Cup titles with nine, portion the USMNT is 2nd with 7 trophies. Honduras has ne'er won the Gold Cup.
