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| Mauricio Pochettino and the USMNT regroup in Seattle ahead of Friday's pivotal Group D clash with Australia. |
SEATTLE — Before the U.S. training session began in earnest Thursday, coach Mauricio Pochettino walked by himself onto a grass hill overlooking his players and staff working inside Husky Soccer Stadium.
With Union Bay shimmering under a blue sky on the University of Washington campus, he took it all in.
"I wanted to see how everything looks without me," he said with a smile, drawing laughter at a Lumen Field news conference on the eve of the World Cup Group D match against Australia.
Pochettino likes what he is seeing, up close and from a vista. Well, except for Christian Pulisic's calf ailment, which has cast doubt on his availability Friday.
The U.S. arrived in the Emerald City with the wind at their backs following a 4-1 victory over Paraguay last week in Greater Los Angeles. Momentum has gathered off the field as well, with the exceptional performance creating a groundswell of support across the country.
Another home victory would do wonders not only for the team, but further elevate the excitement around the 48-nation competition.
"We're still all hungry," right wing Sergiño Dest said. "It's the beginning. We had a great game against Paraguay, but we want more. We are hungry to show all the opponents in the group and the world what we've got."
