The United States have launched their World Cup campaign with 4-1 shellacking of Paraguay, sending an ominous warning to the Socceroos and other rivals in a potent opening half. The World Cup co-hosts seized a 3-0 halftime lead in front of a heaving sold-out crowd of 70,492 in Los Angeles, where Tom Cruise, David Beckham, George Lucas and Bill Gates were among the spectators. Folarin Balogun scored twice after an early own goal from Damian Bobadilla. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today
Arrow Paraguay pulled one back through Mauricio in the 73rd minute, but it failed to halt the party at SoFi Stadium and live sites dotted around the country. Gio Reyna added a stunning fourth goal for the hosts deep into second-half injury time, delivering a fitting exclamation mark ahead of their clash with Australia on June 19 (June 20, AEST). It was a symbolic tone-setter for the US, who started the tournament amid high expectations after the appointment of Argentine supercoach Mauricio Pochettino. “The first
45 minutes were amazing, difficult to find a team to play like this. So happy and so proud,” Pochettino said. Balogun, who was born in the New York borough of Brooklyn to Nigerian parents, joined Arsenal’s academy at age 8 and represented England at the youth level. The striker, who opted to play for his nation of birth ahead of England or Nigeria, became the first US player to score multiple goals in a World Cup game since 1930. It equalled the Americans’ biggest ever
win at a World Cup, while it was the first time they have scored four goals in a World Cup game. The US only managed a combined three goals from four matches at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Christian Pulisic had an assist in a stellar first-half play-making performance for the hosts, who enthralled fans with their creativity and aggression. The performance will do little to quell American pundits’ predictions of a lopsided clash between Australia and the US in Seattle. Former US players
Landon Donovan and Alexi Lalas have been among those to fire barbs at the Socceroos, with the former even describing Australia coach Tony Popovic as “smug”. “I’ve seen all the US stuff, and I’m just sick of it, to be honest,” Socceroos midfielder Connor Metcalfe said last week. “Like all this talk – it’s just – let’s just wait for the game, whatever happens, happens. It’s just so much rubbish and I’m just sick of it. “We’ll just wait and we’ll play – it’ll be
a good game. “We had a friendly against them (last October). It was tense, it was feisty, and probably going to be the exact same.” Australia start their campaign on Sunday, facing Turkey in Vancouver.
United States, Paraguay, World Cup, SoFi Stadium, Folarin Balogun, Gio Reyna, Damian Bobadilla, Mauricio, Christian Pulisic, Mauricio Pochettino, Australia vs US, Socceroos, Connor Metcalfe, Tony Popovic, Landon Donovan, Alexi Lalas, Turkey vs Australia
So they beat Paraguay 4-1… cool cool. But can they even handle Australia lol
I saw Tom Cruise at SoFi so that automatically means the US is winning the whole thing. Like that’s science. Also Balogun scoring twice?? man
Wait Pochettino is coaching now? thought he was with Chelsea still or did I miss something. And they say it’s a warning to the Socceroos but it’s Paraguay… so how does that translate? Either way I’m hyped for the Australia game
Connor Metcalfe saying he’s sick of the talk makes it sound like they’re already losing pressure wise. Like if you’re that mad about pundits, then maybe the US actually got lucky on that own goal. Also 70,492 at LA is insane, I swear those celebrities always show up when the US plays well. Reyna injury time goal basically means nothing if they can’t repeat it against Australia though.