What awaits Guatemala against the United States?
Attack
The team led by Mauricio Pochettino currently bases its offensive game on attacking down the wings. Players like Arfsten, McGlynn, and Tillman are the main references in this tactical scheme that Pochettino has sought to develop. If Guatemala applies pressure on both flanks, it could neutralize these offensive advances—potentially a key factor in securing a ticket to the Gold Cup final.
Midfield
Although in this Gold Cup Pochettino has used Diego Luna and Luca de la Torre as midfielders, both have contributed little to the team’s offensive buildup.
They often play the ball backward rather than looking forward to connecting with the strikers, which affects the element of surprise and limits through passes into the opponent’s box.
A well-organized press by Guatemala could completely shut down this zone, as the U.S. team’s passing triangles and transitions tend to slow down their attacks. This might allow Guatemala to implement a game plan that takes advantage of Luna and De la Torre’s tendency to slow the pace.
Additionally, Pochettino has not fully utilized Tillman’s offensive potential, as he tends to play too deep. If positioned a few meters further up the field, he could be more dangerous with his speed and distribution.
Defense
Guatemala may find weaknesses in the center of the U.S. defense, where marking has been an issue. Pochettino has tried to fix this by bringing in Richards, but he continues to rely on Ream, as former coach Gregg Berhalter did. This opens spaces that opposing teams can exploit, especially due to Ream’s positioning and marking errors.
While Ream is good at distributing the ball and delivering long passes, his defensive shortcomings have been evident in both friendlies and official matches—something Guatemala could take full advantage of.
Goalkeeping
Regarding the U.S. goalkeeping, if Guatemala chooses to play a defensive game for the full 90 minutes to reach a penalty shootout, the advantage may goes to the United States. Young keeper Matt Freese has shown he can be decisive in those moments and could prove to be a key asset for the U.S. team.
