No Ronaldo, no excuse – USA must prove to anxious fans that World Cup dream is real after rankings slide

There is normally no shame in losing a friendly to Portugal.

But one of the best teams in Europe will be without Cristiano Ronaldo in a friendly vs the United States Men’s National Team on Tuesday, and the ‘panic vs patience’ debate is already kicking in for Mauricio Pochettino‘s squad.

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Fan anxiety already becoming a factor

Getting blasted 5-2 by Belgium was pure embarrassment for USA soccer, and the follow-up match is an even tougher test against Portugal, which stands fifth in FIFA‘s World Cup rankings.

Three months before the biggest World Cup in history, USMNT must answer its latest wake-up call.

“Definitely a difficult experience. You come into a game hungry and wanting to win. That didn’t work for us,” said Tim Weah, who was given a 3/10 rating by talkSPORT after USMNT gave up four second-half goals on Saturday.

Pochettino might not have to worry anymore about daily rumors linking him to Tottenham Hotspur and a full-circle Premier League return.

The 54-year-old coach was hired to fix USA’s lingering problems, and the laugher vs Belgium was a reminder of the squad’s past World Cup letdowns.

It also pushed USMNT down to 16th in the World Rankings.

Defensive and goalkeeper problems were impossible to ignore while Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku torched the home team with blazing speed.

Matt Turner (4/10 rating) taking over keeper duties for Matt Freese backfired for the United States, while 38-year-old Tim Ream also received a 4 rating.

Pulisic has opportunity with Ronaldo missing

“When you concede five goals, if we are to blame anyone it’s altogether and at first myself, and then the whole team,” Pochettino said.

The USA coach also didn’t inspire the ‘fight’ that was teased during a Gold Cup run that brought a collection of Premier League and Major League Soccer players closer together.

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Entering these friendlies, it was widely accepted that USMNT would power through its Group Stage and reach the Round of 16.

“Can we make it to not only the quarterfinal, but can we potentially go to a semifinal, one that we haven’t been to since 1930?” former USMNT star Tab Ramos exclusively told talkSPORT.

“Not that that’s the expectation. But I think when you hire a coach of this magnitude, I think you want to go a little bit further than you’ve gone before. And I think a lot of people are thinking along the lines that I’m thinking right now.” 

Ronaldo will miss Tuesday’s friendly with a hamstring injury he suffered while playing for Al-Nassr in February.

USA must answer wake-up call for World Cup

That means USMNT has a perfect opening to regain its Gold Cup momentum and provide early April hope to a fanbase that is dreaming of a World Cup breakthrough in June.

“It’s a good reality check for us because now is the moment to feel this situation,” Pochettino said.

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“We need to improve, of course, but it’s only one game where nothing was for us.”

That’s not exactly true.

USMNT traded blows early with Belgium and took a buzzing 1-0 lead after Juventus star Weston McKennie perfectly placed an assist from Antonee Robinson.

And that means that Pochettino’s team was demolished for the remaining 60 minutes vs a team that’s not as good as Portugal.

One more shot before final roster set

An extended stay in Atlanta and two matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium — with hydration breaks included — was supposed to inspire spring hope and set up a breakthrough summer for USMNT.

Thirty-two years after Ramos fractured his skull and soccer became real to America in the 1994 World Cup, Pochettino’s side receives another go on Tuesday.

Ronaldo won’t be on the pitch.

The USA will be backed by its red-white-and-blue faithful inside an NFL and MLS stadium.

Getting pummeled by Portugal isn’t an option for Pochettino, if he wants to prove to anxious United States fans that this team is ready to fight in the biggest World Cup of all-time.

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