Pochettino: I Take Responsibility for the U.S. Defeat to Belgium

Mauricio Pochettino accepted responsibility after the United States were beaten 4-1 by Belgium and knocked out of the World Cup.

The US head coach said his team never got into the game and did not show the level usually expected of them. He pointed to the quick swing in momentum after the United States made it 1-1, only to concede again immediately.

Pochettino congratulated Belgium and said they were the better side on the night. He added that this was not a matter of excuses, but a poor performance that fell below the standard the team had set in previous World Cup matches.

He said the defeat had to be reviewed so the squad could understand why it failed to approach the match in the same way as others in the tournament. Pochettino finished by saying the main responsibility lay with him.