After 12 years, a USMNT loss to Belgium still carries a World Cup weight

The United States’ collapse in a 5-2 loss to Belgium made clear that the gap between the sides in 2014 has yet to narrow

Mauricio Pochettino was literally unmoved.

To his left and right, his assistants pumped their fists, clapped their hands, rose to celebrate. Not Pochettino. After Weston McKennie put the US ahead with an end run around the Belgian defense that freed him up at the far post to tap the ball past Senne Lammens in the 39th minute, Pochettino just sat there, stoically, hunched forward in his seat, two fingers to his mouth.