'We have to flip the script': Can the U.S. respond as it limps into the Gold Cup?

Instead of entering the Gold Cup on a high, the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) is limping into this summer’s tournament and hoping to get itself back on track.

That’s because there’s a lot going on at the moment. Christian Pulisic is sitting out in order to rest following a long season with AC Milan, a decision that has created drama amid backlash from former USMNT stars like Landon Donovan. 

Other current USMNT mainstays – including Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Antonee "Jedi" Robinson, Sergino Dest, Gio Reyna, Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi – aren’t with the team due to Club World Cup commitments or injury recovery. These absences have forced USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino to call in a green roster – one that averages 16 caps – with even more limited experience in official competition.

More pressing, however, are the results from two friendly matches this week. The U.S. was edged 2-1 by Türkiye last Saturday before getting run over by Switzerland 4-0 on Tuesday. Now, there’s not much time to regroup because the USMNT begins Gold Cup competition on Sunday against Trinidad and Tobago (6 p.m. ET on FOX) before facing Saudi Arabia and Haiti to round out group play.

The negativity surrounding the team seems overwhelming, but players are just trying to get their minds right.

"I think it’s really easy to look at one game, one half, and be like, ‘Oh this is all going to pieces. They can’t come back from this," veteran center back Walker Zimmerman told the TNT broadcast after the drubbing by Switzerland. "Things change. It’s not the end of the world. We accept that it’s not good enough and we realize that, so that’s where the disappointment comes in."

Zimmerman referenced the build-up to the 2022 World Cup and how