A response is required after Belgium collapse. The 5–2 loss to Belgium was a warning shot.
Defensive disorganization, a disconnected midfield, and an attack forced into individual moments exposed a U.S. Men’s National Team still searching for its best identity under Mauricio Pochettino. Against elite opposition, the margins are unforgiving. Belgium exploited them ruthlessly.
Now comes Portugal: arguably more technical, more fluid, and possibly even less forgiving.
If the United States is going to produce a response, it will require more than minor tweaks. It demands decisive changes: tactical, mental, and personnel-driven.
Here are the five things the USMNT must do to get a result.
1) Return to the 3-4-2-1: The system that actually works
The most obvious lesson from the Belgium loss: the return to the 4-2-3-1 formation failed, miserably.
With only two center-backs shielding the goal, the U.S. was repeatedly exposed in transition. The fullbacks were stretched, the double pivot was exposed, and Belgium found space between lines with alarming ease.
By contrast, the 3-4-2-1 formation has consistently produced the most stable, and successful, performances under Pochettino over the past 18 months. When deployed, it has:
- Provided defensive cover with three natural center-backs
- Allowed wing-backs like Antonee Robinson to attack without leaving gaps
- Created natural overloads in midfield and half-spaces
- Produced better goal differentials and chance creation metrics
Simply put, the system fits the player pool.
Granted, Poch may have felt forced into this formation and lineup, with the injuries to Chris Richards and Miles Robinson, a pair of Center-Backs that featured quite a bit in Pochettino’s previous lineups. Having two fewer options to choose from, it looks like Poch opted to remove one of the Center-Backs from the lineup.
However, added the third Center-Back six games ago, in the second half of the South Korea game, coincided with a 5-game unbeaten run for the Yanks, starting with a 2-0 win over Japan, and impressively included a 5-1 drubbing of Uruguay in the previous International window.
Against Portugal’s dynamic wide attackers and midfield technicians, the U.S. cannot afford structural vulnerability. The back three offers numerical stability, while the wing-backs provide controlled width rather than reckless exposure. Antonee Robinson, Tim Weah, and the injured Sergino Dest all offer much more to the attack than when focused on defense.
2) Fix the back line: Trusty and Freeman must start
Personnel decisions in defense are just as critical as formation.
Auston Trusty must start at left center-back, with Tim Ream moving to the bench.
This is not a slight on Ream’s leadership; it’s a recognition of reality. At this stage of his career, Ream struggles against pace and rapid transitions, both of which Portugal will bring in abundance. Belgium exposed that vulnerability repeatedly. Ream has slowed down and, let’s face it, he was never a speed-demon in the first-place.
Trusty, on the other hand, offers:
- Greater recovery speed
- Physicality in duels
- Comfort defending in space
In a back three, those attributes are essential.
On the right side, Alex Freeman should be given the start at right center-back.
Freeman represents the kind of modern defender this system requires: mobile, aggressive, and capable of stepping into midfield when needed. His inclusion would:
- Add athleticism to the back line
- Improve recovery defending
- Support the right wing-back in transition moments
Against Portugal’s fluid attack, standing still is not an option. The U.S. must match movement with movement, and that starts with personnel.
3) Play aggressive, with edge and belief
Following the Belgium loss, Mauricio Pochettino did not hide his frustration. In his post-match press conference, he emphasized a lack of intensity, urgency, and competitive edge.
His message was clear: this team must play with more aggression.
Not recklessness—but controlled, purposeful aggression.
That means:
- Pressing higher up the pitch
- Winning second balls
- Closing down space immediately
- Playing forward with intent rather than hesitation
Too often against Belgium, the U.S. looked reactive, waiting rather than dictating. Against Portugal, that approach will lead to the same result.
Pochettino’s teams, historically, are defined by intensity. If the players do not reflect that identity, the system will fail regardless of formation.
This is as much a mentality test as a tactical one.
4) Go for broke: Start Gio Reyna over Malik Tillman
Safe choices won’t beat Portugal.
Gio Reyna must start.
While Malik Tillman offers composure and a certain amount of finesse, Reyna brings something the U.S. desperately lacked against Belgium: unpredictability.
Reyna’s strengths are tailor-made for this type of match:
- Ability to break lines with dribbling
- Vision to unlock compact defenses
- Willingness to take risks in the final third
Yes, there is inconsistency. Yes, there are defensive trade-offs.
But if the goal is to win, or even draw, against a strong European opponent, the U.S. must embrace creativity over caution.
Reyna gives the attack a dimension that cannot be replicated. In a 3-4-2-1, he can operate in the half-spaces where Portugal is most vulnerable.
This is not the time to manage the game.
It’s time to change it.
5) Pulisic must be vintage Pulisic
Everything ultimately comes back to Christian Pulisic.
Against Belgium, he showed flashes, but not enough sustained influence to shift the match. Simply put, he was not decisive.
Against Portugal, that must change.
The U.S. doesn’t just need Pulisic to be good. It needs him to be decisive, aggressive, and relentless.
Vintage Pulisic means:
- Driving at defenders without hesitation
- Creating chances, not waiting for them
- Taking responsibility in big moments
- Leading through action, not just presence
When Pulisic plays on the front foot, the entire team follows. When he drifts, the attack loses its edge.
This is his stage. This is his moment to set the tone.
How they should line up
Starting with a return to Matt Freese between the posts. Matt Turner showed (badly) that he is no longer starting keeper caliber for the USMNT. Apologists may say that some of the goals weren’t his fault; but really, five? Time to move on.
Returning to the 3 Center-back formation, with Chris Richards anchoring it in the middle, with Auston Trusty and Alex Freeman flanking him on the left and right. Trusty and Freeman occupied those positions for the 5-1 drubbing of Uruguay in November, a match where Freeman not only did well defensively, but also scored a brace. If Richards is not healthy enough to start, then Mark McKenzie takes over that spot, which would create the same trio of Center-Backs that started in the victory against Uruguay.
The center of the pitch should be occupied by Weston McKennie and Tanner Tessmann. McKennie was one of the bright spots in the Belgium game, and has been in excellent form for Juventus. Likewise, Tessmann is our best defensive mid option, and also scored a goal against Uruguay.
On the left and right sides, Antonee Robinson and Timothy Weah stay out wide, but further up the field, giving them more freedom to impact the game offensively, while still providing cover when defending. Ahead of them Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna have attacking midfield / playmaker duties, while Folarin Balogun gets another start up front.
Time: 7 p.m. ET / 6pm Central / 4pm Pacific
Watch / Streaming: TNT, HBO Max, Peacock, TruTV, Telemundo, Universo
Final thoughts
The temptation after a loss like Belgium is to panic.
But the solution is rather simple. Five simple changes that can yield a vastly different result.
Return to the 3-4-2-1. Fix the defensive personnel. Play with aggression. Trust creativity. Lean on your best player.
If the United States does those five things, a result against Portugal is absolutely realistic.
Fail to do them, and the Belgium loss won’t be a one-off.
It will be an unfortunate preview of this Summer’s World Cup.
