Pedal to the Metal: USMNT Ready to Bring ‘A Game’ Against Australia
The United States Men’s National Team hosts World Cup-qualified Australia on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – The scene at U.S. Men’s National Team training on Monday morning looked a little bit different than it did in Austin just a few days ago.
Not in terms of the preparation and regimen – that part looked mostly the same with competitive rondos and tactical exercises. The clearest difference from Thursday to Monday was the gear. With the temperature feeling like 45 degrees in the Mile High City, and sharp wind and grey clouds in the forecast, players and staff dressed accordingly. Gone were the free-flowing short sleeves from three days ago in sunny, hot Texas. The training pitch at DICK’s Sporting Goods Park featured hats, pants and large puffer jackets for the staff, including head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
While the barometers for the two cities might contrast, the challenge each city presents for the U.S. Men’s National Team during the current October window are not all that different.
The next opponent for the United States has a remarkably similar pedigree. Australia, the team the United States faces Tuesday night in Commerce City, Colorado, ranks 25th in FIFA, secured World Cup qualification earlier this year, and enters the matchup also on a 12-match unbeaten run.
“Australia is a strong side,” striker Folarin Balogun said. “Poch just told us to not take this game lightly. It’s going to be really difficult for us. Any team that’s unbeaten in 12 [matches] is not just going to come here and be easy to break down. We’re going to need to be on our ‘A’ game. That’s going to be another challenge for us, and it’s the sort of challenge we need to continue building the momentum.”
Weston McKennie #8 and head coach of United States Mauricio Pochettino during training (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)
While Ecuador and Australia have similar resumes, the two nations also present some similarities in their playing styles. Ecuador is a stingy side. Their strong defense allows La Tri to keep clean sheets – 10 in their last 12 matches – and turn the ball over quickly to capitalize on transition moments.
Australia is equally stingy – the Socceroos have given up just two goals in their last five matches. They also have an ability to absorb pressure and punish opponents with their efficiency. In their latest performance against Canada in Montréal on Oct. 10, the hosts largely outplayed Australia on the stat sheet. Canada held 61 percent of the possession and took a whopping 17 shots. Yet, the one shot on goal from Nestory Irankunda of Australia was enough to win the game.
“Australia is similar to Ecuador in the way that they compete. They’re very aggressive,” Pochettino said on Monday. “They’re a team that manages very well… they’re going to force us to give our best.”
The quality of these two October opponents allows the United States to face fierce competition heading into next summer. Even though they are tabbed international friendlies, the environment creates pressure moments for the U.S., like trailing a goal, and gives the team a chance to see how they respond.
“The best thing that the coaching staff has done is telling us these games are not really friendlies because these are the closest thing we have to competitive games,” midfielder Brenden Aaronson said. “For us, it’s taking every single second in the game and every minute seriously. Playing these teams from different continents and getting a look at different styles, which they’re going to play tomorrow, is really good. It helps grow the group and get us ready for any kind of situation that happens in the World Cup.”
“The most important thing for us is not to take our foot off the gas,” Balogun echoed. “We need to keep building momentum, keep gaining confidence because that’s what we’re going to call upon when the going gets tough and we’re at a big tournament like the World Cup.
Preparation, building and growing have never been more important. After Tuesday night, the United States has one more window this calendar year – in November against two World Cup-qualified South American nations in Uruguay and Paraguay. After that, just two more international windows remain until June 12, 2026, when the United States plays its first match of the group stage of the FIFA World Cup.
“The most important thing now is to prepare just as we would prepare for the World Cup, and that’s getting everybody in the right mindset to compete, win games, and be ruthless,” Balogun said.
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