Pride, poise, persistence: What the USMNT need to show against New Zealand
Getty ImagesThere are justified concerns about the USMNT's mettle, and the New Zealand friendly is an opportunity to respond
Tuesday's friendly between the U.S. men's national team and New Zealand is atypical, for a number of reasons. It's a game that occupies the space between extremely important and totally inconsequential. There are parts of this game that seem program-defining, but also parts that will have absolutely no impact whatsoever on where the USMNT is going.
In a way, Tuesday's game is about more than the game; it's about messaging. It's about how the USMNT responds to several self-inflicted setbacks in Saturday's embarrassing loss to Canada.
Realistically, that doesn't really matter. These two friendlies are under an interim coach and, until Mauricio Pochettino walks through that door – which has been reported to happen for nearly a month – the USMNT is standing still. Should that happen, Pochettino will conduct things his way, regardless of what happens during this September international window.
At the same time, it does matter. The players that make up this team need to show signs of life. There are justified concerns about this team's mettle, and it's now up to them to answer them.
So what can the USMNT do differently against New Zealand? What points does this group have to prove? GOAL takes a look.
