Nations League losses and sparse crowds have US momentum at low ebb

SoFi Stadium will host the US for two of its World Cup group games, but it was barren for their two lackluster games

Mauricio Pochettino looked sullen. Occasionally, he would shake his head in despair. Mostly, he just looked on with a frown.

The United States men's national team manager understood that there would be a lot of recriminations to go around. Following a second competitive loss in four days in the Concacaf Nations League finals, it was hard to pinpoint where, exactly, to lay the blame for a dispiriting international window for the USA.