Statement win over Uruguay shows the USMNT has come a long way in 16 months

TAMPA -- Sixteen months ago, the U.S. men's national team hit rock bottom, losing 1-0 to Uruguay to seal its group-stage elimination from the 2024 Copa America. In that match, the U.S. was outfought and out-thought by La Celeste and crumbled under an onslaught of physical play.

The Copa America performance cost then-U.S. manager Gregg Berhalter his job and led to the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino as manager.

Now? The U.S. is unrecognizable -- in the best possible way -- as it obliterated Uruguay 5-1 under a deluge of first-half goals on Tuesday night. If this game was supposed to be a measuring stick, the USMNT broke it over its collective knee, and were absolutely on fire from the opening whistle.

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