USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino was uncharacteristically punchy following his side’s 3-2 loss versus Turkey in the final match of the group stages. With the U.S. clinching first place in the group after two dominant performances, Pochettino pointed out the sour tone of the questions from reporters following the loss. According to Pochettino, it should have been a time to reflect on what his side had accomplished over the first three weeks. 

“For you not to say congratulations for winning the group, it’s a little bit sad,” said Pochettino. 

These are the small speed bumps of becoming a true soccer country over one summer. Pochettino would later apologize for his mood in the buildup to the round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. In resetting the mindset, he said that the USMNT weren’t favorites heading into the match, and that he was preparing as if it were the “final of the World Cup.” 

Earlier in the day, Belgium came back down 2-0 against Senegal with two goals in the 86th and 89th minute before winning in extra time. It was a reminder that momentum can turn in an instant in the knockout rounds. 

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The USMNT return to the original 4-2-3-1 formation that kicked off the new era three weeks ago, with Pulisic back in the lineup. Bosnia and Herzegovina, who are known for their 4-4-2 formation with an emphasis on using their wingers, switched to a 3-5-2 formation. The world is now reacting to the U.S.

Bosnia and Herzegovina get the first clear chance of the match off a goal kick to Edin Dzeko, who was clever in catching the U.S. backline off guard. Those are the little moments from restarts that Bosnia and Herzegovina can take advantage of. 

With the match tied at 0-0 in the 12th minute and as if to further symbolize the difference between the group stages and the knockout rounds, this is the latest the U.S. have gone without scoring this tournament. 

Folarin Balogun gets a goal disallowed for offside, which started with a high turnover from the USMNT. With Bosnia and Herzegovina difficult to break down when settled, the U.S. will have to score off a counterpress or a scramble. 

On cue, the U.S. open the scoring off a mini-transition. Tim Ream wins a keeper clearance following a high press at midfield, with Balogun finding space behind a scrambling backline and finding the net. This has all the makings of a trademark USMNT goal. The U.S. are a team that punishes those mini-moments as they can create turnovers with the off-ball pressure, with Balogun and Pulisic turning those small openings into dangerous situations. 

The U.S. maintains the pressure and intensity as the half ends, with Balogun hitting the crossbar. Group stage or knockout round match, this is how the U.S. play now. 

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The challenge of the future of American soccer has shifted to turning this moment into long-term impact. There is still a question as to whether this excitement is just something that happens every four years, where Americans promise themselves that this will be the year they get into soccer, before eventually heading back into the college football and NFL season. 

With the long-term goal in mind, Pochettino has said that the most important legacy of this team isn’t winning the World Cup, but in creating a long-lasting connection between the USMNT and supporters. And while choosing a Premier League team to support is a clear next step, this is an opportunity for MLS to capture the momentum. Sounders owner Adrian Hanauer mentioned that once the excitement of the World Cup is over, it’ll be back to the “grind” of translating that engagement into new MLS supporters. 

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As per usual, the U.S. punt the ball down the field for the opening kickoff. 

The pace has expectedly slowed in the second half, with Bosnia and Herzegovina looking out of ideas. Ream and Chris Richards are clearing the uninspired crosses, demonstrating that while the USMNT haven’t played well, they haven’t been in much danger.

Then the flashpoint moment that will be replayed and debated for days. Appearing incidental in real time with Balogun battling for position on a ball, the striker steps on the ankle of center back Tarik Muharemovic. The action, a routine jockeying that occurs throughout a match, looks worse in slow motion. Following a VAR review, Balogun receives a red card in the 64th minute. Outside of goals, the striker has been the U.S.’s best player in the tournament in setting the tone for how the team plays. He is a symbol of the new energy under Pochettino.

Immediately, Messi’s challenge against Algeria, in which he received no punishment, circulates on social media. 

Finding a way to close out this match is the biggest challenge of Pochettino’s time thus far with the U.S. Should Bosnia and Herzegovina equalize, his side is looking at playing a possible 60 minutes down a player. 

Yet after the shock clears, there is a sense that Bosnia and Herzegovina’s attack isn’t exactly threatening with their crosses. In fact, it’s the USMNT that keeps attacking, with Pulisic getting a goal called back for offside. 

To cap off the emotions, and in continuing to create special moments, Malik Tillman scores a stunning free kick in the 82nd minute to finish off the match. The new mentality of this USMNT is that they turn up the attack while down a player. They faced adversity and got stronger, culminating into Tillman’s moment. 

The match comes to an end with Ricardo Pepi and Tyler Adams doing rondos at midfield in the 94th minute. It was an efficient and professional 2-0 win.

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Considering the circumstances of a knockout match, the USMNT performance was more impressive than the opening two group stage matches. In a pre-Pochettino era, the match could have devolved in the last 30 or so minutes down a player. But in this new era, adversity was a challenge. McKennie and Tillman were still pressing box-to-box late into the match. This side continues to respond to the unique challenges that come their way. If the group stages were about what U.S. soccer could be, this match revealed what’s beneath the layers. The mix of energy, composure, and skill are just part of the team DNA now. 

The casual American sports fan has dipped their toe into soccer this World Cup, bringing with them a freshness of new eyes attempting to break down the sport’s foundation that longtime supporters take for granted. Much of their criticisms revolve around the seemingly happenstance subjectivity of the game, like a desire to get rid of the offside rule entirely or debating the merits of injury time as opposed to a hard end at 90 minutes. 

Subjectivity has always played an essential role in American sports despite our aspiration for the objective truth: what is a catch in football? Should baseball umpires be replaced by machines? Who are the refs for an important NBA playoff game? These questions put the blame on the interpreters of the rules, only if they could be perfect. But adjudicating split-second actions between world-class athletes may be an impossible task from the foundation; there will also be moments that transcend true or false. You could even go further and argue that these subjective debates are a feature of sports, not a bug. The space between yes and no is where the magic happens.

In a contradictory way, the outcry following Balogun’s red card is also a pivotal moment in the journey of creating passionate American soccer fans. Sparking casual supporters to have an opinion is another step in soccer going mainstream. Advertising slogans may be effective, but the emotions from the decision are from the ground up. The feeling of being aggrieved opens up a loop that will not be satiated until the USMNT win the World Cup. Whether joy or rage, soccer’s relevance will be measured by intensity. It’s not just the winning that will change U.S. soccer forever.