'Destroy Panama'? USMNT aims to flip narrative against its chief nemesis

USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino — whose team faces Panama in a Concacaf Nations League semifinal on Thursday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California (7 p.m. ET) —  is well aware of the history.

"We want to destroy Panama," he said in a news conference. Then he quickly collected himself and said: "When I say we destroy, it's in a sport way."

Pochettino enters this U. S.-Panama rivalry with little baggage. He wasn't around to see the USMNT capitulate to strong Panama teams of the past; he was busy leading Tottenham Hotspur to a top-four finish in the Premier League when U.S. standout Christian Pulisic was missing the first World Cup he was eligible for.

Pochettino understands what Panama represents for American soccer fans, but he's not burdened by it in the same way — and that could make all the difference in this game.

Take Pochettino's USMNT roster selection. He has called in the likes of Charlotte FC's Patrick Agyemang and Real Salt Lake's Diego Luna to spice the team's attack. Agyemang and Luna are fabulous, high-potential players, but they're inexperienced. Former USMNT coaches Bruce Arena or Gregg Berhalter wouldn't dream of slotting them in during a must-win match against a rival like Panama. 

But Pochettino is different. He sees value in lightness, in experimentation. It's easy to imagine that he'll help his players see it, too.

That lightness and experimentation could be key for the USMNT as it faces its fiercest foe. Many of the USMNT's core starters are available, from Pulisic up top to Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie in midfield. 

Ageless Tim Ream is still ready in defense; utility man Yunus Musah is still ready to do whatever role Pochettino asks of him. But the true spark of this team is likely to come from Pochettino's out-of-left-field call-ups — the ones that only a man unburdened by history could make.

Agyemang and Luna are two of many surprises Pochettino has in store for Panama. He also has Brian White from the Vancouver Whitecaps, a 29-year-old striker whose journey to the USMNT has been anything but linear. He has Brian Gutierrez and Max Arfsten, fascinating, young wing players plying their trade in MLS. And he has Josh Sargent, fresh off what he calls a "flow state" for his club team in England, as a lead striker.

Sargent is perhaps the least likely starting forward of all the USMNT's options. He lacks the speed and ball skills of Folarin Balogun and the perfect positioning of Ricardo Pepi. But what he has — more than either of those two — is the lightness Pochettino needs. He hasn't scored a goal for the USMNT since 2019. He has nothing to lose. He's just thrilled to be back.

If the USMNT beats Panama, it will earn a spot in its fourth consecutive Nations League final against the winner of Canada-Mexico, also on Thursday (10:30 p.m. ET) at SoFi Stadium.