After a defeat against Turkiye, the United States Men`s National Team has an opportunity to demonstrate their growth and learnings against another strong UEFA side, Switzerland. Ranked 20th among men`s international teams, Switzerland is known for its consistent performance, frequently reaching the knockout stages of European Championships and World Cups. While they haven`t won a major tournament, they represent a benchmark level the USMNT aspires to reach.
Following three consecutive losses, the first time since 2015, pressure is mounting on coach Mauricio Pochettino and the squad. With key player Tyler Adams unavailable for this match, it presents a significant test as the team continues preparations for the upcoming Concacaf Gold Cup. Four players earned their first USMNT caps against Turkiye, and a few more potential debuts could occur in this match as Pochettino looks to expand the player pool.
Historically, the team has faced difficulties when key players like Tyler Adams, Antonee Robinson, and Christian Pulisic are absent. A match like this offers a chance to overcome that challenge. As the squad spends more time under Pochettino, developing greater team cohesion is essential. However, building rapport is difficult with frequent roster changes; potentially only three starters from the 2022 World Cup knockout loss to the Netherlands might feature in this game.
Playing together at youth or club level provides some foundation, but its impact is limited when Pochettino hasn`t had a consistent group to select from since taking charge. Guaranteed to play five matches during this international window, he has the opportunity to foster familiarity, even if it`s with a slightly different group than initially expected. Failure to secure positive results with this consistency, just a year out from the World Cup, will only increase anxiety, but there is still time for improvement.
Match Details: USMNT vs. Switzerland
- Date: Tuesday, June 10
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Location: GEODIS Park — Nashville, Tennessee
- TV: TNT
- Live stream: Fubo (Check availability)
- Odds: USMNT +200; Draw +220; Switzerland +130
USMNT Predicted Lineup
USMNT starters: Matt Turner, Max Arfsten, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Alex Freeman, Luca De La Torre, Jack McGlynn, Johnny Cardoso, Diego Luna, Patrick Agyemang, Malik Tillman
Player to Watch
Malik Tillman, USMNT: Pochettino expressed satisfaction with Tillman`s performance against Turkiye. While his assist to Jack McGlynn was largely due to McGlynn`s skill, the PSV player showed promising moments. With Gio Reyna not in the squad, the creative responsibility falls significantly on Tillman and Diego Luna. Tillman is a highly talented recruit for the USMNT, but his strong club performances haven`t always fully translated to the national team level. A key goal for this camp under Pochettino must be to bridge this gap, as it would significantly elevate the potential of the entire squad. He doesn`t necessarily need to score or assist directly, but consistently creating chances to challenge defenses will be crucial.
Storyline to Watch
Progress is Needed: Ultimately, these games are friendlies and might not be the sole indicator of USMNT`s potential success at the Gold Cup. Even Mexico lost to this Swiss team, yet they are expected to be strong contenders for the Gold Cup title. The crucial point for the USMNT is the need to be competitive in this match. At times against Turkiye, they struggled, and losing by only one goal made the match seem closer than the performance suggested. Switzerland presents a different style of play, and it will be challenging for the USMNT to generate attacking opportunities, which is precisely what makes this a valuable test.
Prediction
Switzerland is likely to take an early lead that they will hold onto. While the USMNT showed some improvement in possession against Turkiye and won`t concede easily, they may struggle to create enough chances to turn the game around. Expect them to drop their fourth straight match before looking to regroup for the Gold Cup.
Pick: USMNT 1, Switzerland 2
Benedict Kingsley 
Adrian Whitmore