World Cup onside/offside: Good win for USMNT, Messi’s final dance?

Welcome again to Onside/Offside! This week, Luis Miguel Echegaray recaps among the most notable highlights from the worldwide break. From jubilation in west Africa and the heights of El Alto in South America to a spark of encouragement in Columbus, Ohio, right here is LME’s viewpoint as World Cup qualifiers took middle stage.

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ONSIDE: Lastly, a spark for the USMNT

After Saturday’s uninspiring 2-0 loss to South Korea in Harrison, New Jersey, with one other disjointed efficiency, america males’s nationwide crew lastly gave their followers a purpose to consider in Mauricio Pochettino’s mission, beating Japan 2-0 at Columbus, Ohio’s Decrease.com Discipline on Tuesday evening.

Pochettino reacted to the South Korea loss by tinkering each in technique and lineup (5 modifications from Saturday) so his aspect may higher the agile, high-possession mentality of Hajime Moriyasu’s Japan, a crew I feel will do very nicely subsequent summer time. And so he went again to the playbook from his Southampton and Tottenham days, when he usually employed a 3-4-3 (or 3-4-2-1) formation with a view to play the position of contrarian in opposition to groups who take pleasure in build-up play. That is precisely what occurred on Tuesday evening because the USMNT pressed, attacked and exploited the huge holes that had been out there as a consequence of their high-press mentality.

It was traditional, old-school Pochettino, and it labored.

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Christian Pulisic — who was not a part of the squad in the course of the summer time, which yielded loads of criticism — was magnificent on Tuesday evening, discovering a lot freedom in possession as he always recovered the ball, made possibilities and notched an help for Falorin Balogun. Membership América’s Alex Zendejas was additionally glorious, capping an amazing efficiency with a stunning aim.

I additionally suppose that if there’s meant to be any success sooner or later, it should unequivocally contain Chris Richards as a result of I can not overstate sufficient the significance of the center-back from Crystal Palace. He’s very important to every part the USMNT do.

Now, the precise end result in opposition to Japan is neither right here nor there — this was a pleasant, in any case, and the USMNT’s opponents rotated closely after their draw with México, which means key starters similar to Liverpool’s Wataru Endo, Takefusa Kubo from Actual Sociedad did not play whereas others (Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma, Monaco’s Takumi Minamino) solely entered as substitutes. This additionally wasn’t the USMNT’s “strongest” XI both, however let’s not give attention to this level; as an alternative, let’s keep in mind the larger takeaway. On Tuesday evening in Columbus, they — and Pochettino — had been capable of see the character of a cohesive, resilient and inventive aspect and for my part, it was their finest efficiency for the reason that Argentinian took over.

I do suppose, nonetheless, that taking part in each single pleasant on American soil is just not essentially a very good factor for this crew as a result of more durable challenges will come their manner. As an alternative, I want they examined themselves extra usually in hostile environments in opposition to a reliable World Cup contender.

Now, some have argued to me that in a nation with large assist for Mexico and different nations, taking part in within the U.S., from the USMNT’s perspective, can already really feel like taking part in in an away atmosphere. However that is not the identical. I’m speaking a few USMNT aspect that, for the sake of hypothetical argument, needs to be touring to Monumental stadium and face Argentina, or head to north Africa and take a look at themselves in opposition to Morocco in Rabat. Heck: overlook main groups. Go and play a crew like Scotland or Indonesia, it does not matter. The purpose is to face them at their home, in entrance of their followers, their tradition and their assist.

Canada, for instance, did precisely that within the September window, with Jesse Marsch’s males successful 3-0 away at Romania and 1-0 in opposition to Wales in Swansea. The result’s fairly truthfully secondary to the teachings you possibly can be taught once you play in alien territory, as a result of that is the way you discover ways to get comfy with the uncomfortable and if you wish to make historical past at subsequent summer time’s World Cup, you need to be prepared for every part. Being a number nation will not prevent.

The USMNT’s remaining matches for the yr are in opposition to Ecuador, Australia, Paraguay and Uruguay — all good testers for 2026, however they’re all occurring within the USA. After that, there are studies of video games in March in opposition to European giants similar to Belgium and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, relying on their very own qualification routes. These are all very sturdy opponents to heat up in opposition to, however I feel taking part in in this type of proverbial bubble, at all times at house, helps nobody, most notably america males’s nationwide crew. Being a number nation means little or no as soon as the whistle is blown and the sport kicks off.

However let me end with a constructive as a result of on Tuesday evening, Pochettino’s USMNT performed an incredible sport, which is hopefully an indication of continued progress and supreme confidence that may construct in direction of one thing very particular by the point June comes round.

ONSIDE: The underdogs stand up in South America and Africa

South America’s computerized locations for subsequent summer time’s competitors had been already cemented as Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia, Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay had booked their tickets earlier than the ultimate matchday. So all eyes centered on Venezuela and Bolivia, who had been trying to earn that seventh spot, which might put them within the intercontinental playoff spot.

Venezuela had the higher hand heading into the night, however a heartbreaking 6-3 defeat by the hands of Colombia meant that Bolivia had a possibility to do one thing they hadn’t carried out since 2009 — win in opposition to Brazil, and leapfrog Venezuela for seventh place. Similar to 16 years in the past, La Verde had the altitude to depend on as their Municipal stadium in El Alto stands at an awesome 13,600 toes above sea stage — 1,800 toes greater than their earlier stadium in La Paz. Bolivia used this to their fullest benefit, not dropping a single qualifier at house. In reality, on this marketing campaign, they broke a World Cup qualifying document for many factors earned with 20 factors, and their singular victory away from house was in opposition to Chile final yr, which ended up being extremely essential.

In opposition to Brazil, they grabbed a 1-0 win due to a questionable penalty choice — what’s CONMEBOL and not using a little drama, eh? — however it should even be mentioned that this has been a marketing campaign wherein Óscar Villegas’s crew have performed their hearts out. Ultimately, Bolivia earned the playoff spot and are actually nearer to returning to the World Cup for the primary time since 1994, which was funnily sufficient additionally hosted by america. This may even be the second time in Bolivia’s historical past the place they’ve really certified for the match: their two different earlier World Cup appearances (1930 and 1950) had been carried out by means of invitation.

In the meantime in Africa, Cape Verde — with a inhabitants equal to the town of Atlanta, Ga. — gained a historic sport over Cameroon, 1-0, which means that the Blue Sharks have a lead on the high of their qualification group by 5 factors. Yet another victory from their last two matches and so they’ll be heading to their first-ever World Cup. After the ultimate whistle, Cape Verde followers stormed the pitch, celebrating what might be an unimaginable conclusion to their marketing campaign.

Now, it should be mentioned that in the event you’re an avid African soccer fan, this isn’t an entire shock as this stunning nation, which consists of 10 islands and a number of islets, have carried out very nicely lately, together with a quarterfinal look on the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, however let’s not undermine this achievement. Once you’re topping your group, one that features a powerhouse like Cameroon, it’s a testomony to their work.

OFFSIDE: The top is nigh as the ultimate chapters of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are about to be written

Final Thursday evening in Buenos Aires, Lionel Messi performed his last World Cup qualifier with Argentina. The night — a 3-0 win for the defending World Cup champions over Venezuela — additionally yielded a brace from Messi to make it 36 targets from 72 video games in CONMEBOL qualifying, which convincingly leads the historical past books on the continent. On Tuesday evening, La Albiceleste misplaced 1-0 in opposition to Ecuador, however regardless, it comfortably concluded their 2026 qualifying marketing campaign on the high of the desk.

Messi, who sealed this marketing campaign as the highest scorer in South American qualifiers with eight targets, did not play in Guayaquil as he returned to the U.S. with a view to prepare for Inter Miami’s last run in direction of MLS playoff, so this basically signifies that Messi’s profession in World Cup qualifiers is completed. His presence at subsequent summer time’s match can also be, at this second, not assured.

“Given my age, essentially the most logical factor is that it will not occur,” mentioned the 38-year-old star final week, additionally holding the document for many appearances on the World Cup. “I am excited, keen, however I am taking it daily, match by match … I am going to proceed as I’ve been, taking it daily, attempting to really feel good, and above all, being trustworthy with myself. After I really feel good, I take pleasure in it. And if I am not good, I’ve a foul time and I would reasonably not be there. I am going to see … I have not decided in regards to the World Cup.”

In the meantime in Europe, the place UEFA qualifiers do not end till November, Cristiano Ronaldo additionally had a joyous worldwide window. His pair of targets in opposition to Armenia in Portugal’s 5-0 rout meant that his 38 targets in World Cup qualifiers surpassed Messi and put him only one behind the record-holder, the legendary Carlos Ruíz from Guatemala. On Tuesday in opposition to Hungary, he tied Ruíz with a penalty as Portugal gained 3-2 in opposition to Hungary.

Ronaldo, 40, additionally prolonged his worldwide scoring document to 141 targets in 223 video games. He will probably be 41 in February and his goal — similar to Messi — is to play in a document sixth World Cup.

So will we see a “Final Dance” subsequent summer time? Will the 2026 males’s World Cup be Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s curtain name on the worldwide stage?

Even considering this feels surreal as a result of after twenty years of astonishing success and jaw-dropping recollections, it is nearly unbelievable to consider that within the very close to future, we won’t see them play ever once more, whether or not it is for membership or nation.

Years and years from now, youthful generations will ask us about their unimaginable rivalry. They are going to ask about essentially the most exceptional, inspiring and breathtaking time within the historical past of the game when two superstars managed the sport within the palm of their arms and in flip, as we inform all of them about it, we may also smile and reply with final, reflective satisfaction, “we had been there.”