National Writer: Charles Boehm<\/span>\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n SEATTLE \u2014 \u201cBalance is key in everything. I believe the team has found that balance now.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n So said Mauricio Pochettino in Spanish on Thursday, speaking to reporters at the home of Seattle Sounders FC<\/a>, the venue dubbed Seattle Stadium during the 2026 FIFA World Cup<\/a>, one day before the United States<\/a> face Australia in a tasty-looking faceoff likely to determine pole position in the race for first place in Group D (3 pm ET | FOX, Telemundo, Peacock).<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Here’s how Group D stands after the first match. \ud83d\udc40 pic.twitter.com\/cLCXckocYZ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 14, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n At first, the USMNT\u2019s philosophical head coach was talking about the importance of keeping his side on an even keel, and to \u201cnot get carried away by the euphoria of hearing how well everything went,\u201d after their exultant\u00a04-1 rout<\/a> of Paraguay in their opening match a week ago in Los Angeles, particularly with star creator Christian Pulisic\u2019s availability in question due to a knock he picked up in the opener.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was a strong performance, and we have to carry that over to the Australia game,\u201d said Sounders and US midfielder Cristian Roldan<\/a> as he and his teammates trained at Husky Soccer Stadium, his home ground during his NCAA career at the University of Washington, in the morning.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe can’t be overconfident, because this is a team that can play, that is very aggressive, vertical, defends really well.\u201d<\/p>\n Noted Pochettino: \u201cIt was simply a result that created positive momentum. We\u2019ve realized we need to focus on ourselves \u2013 competing against ourselves and striving to improve. At the same time, we take note of and pay attention to each opponent.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \n \n
Even-keeled<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n