Striker Julian Hall's superior instinct proves pivotal for the USMNT

Instinct matters. It was the difference that decided which team—the USMNT or Mexico—broke through first. Compare Hall's performance with Mexico striker Santi Gimenez's for proof. 

Hall was unassuming and often invisible, but he was prepared and decisive when the ball came into the six-yard box. Gimenez was flashy and productive, but when presented with an open goal in the 44th minute, he lacked confidence and pulled his shot wide. It was, unfortunately, an all-too-familiar sight for those who have watched Gimenez throughout the years: he is the archetypal gifted athlete who lacks finishing resolve. Gimenez might've outplayed Hall on balance over the course of the evening, but that miss rendered the rest of his contributions moot. Hall is young, but Hall would never.

The power of self-belief

That instinct, driven by confidence, creates a flywheel effect for Hall and his teenage teammates: the more they perform, the more comfortable they become performing.

"They're battling for it, and I love to see it. Even Julian, scoring three games in a row," said USMNT defender Chris Richards. "The young guys, they're hungry, they have a bit of swag to them, and that's something I've been very impressed with."

All that confidence has had a positive effect on the USMNT camp. Instead of worrying about their time in the spotlight, the team's teenagers are fighting to see which one of them can turn matches the best. Hall is winning that fight at the moment, but Sullivan, Mathis Albert, Justin Ellis, Adri Mehmeti, Zavier Gozo and more are right there in the running too.

"They're playing against senior opponents, senior national team guys, and they went out there and put their head town and got to work, and they're reaping the benefits of it," Richards laughed. "It's been fun, there's been bragging rights between them."

Pochettino has spoken about the importance of confidence—and indeed of instinct—since he joined the national team in 2024. Players like Hall show why it matters so much. That mental difference lifted the USMNT over Mexico in this match, and decisively so.

The USMNT will close out its fall friendly window against Canada on Tuesday, Oct. 6 in St. Paul, MN.

All quotations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.