First-half debacle dooms USMNT in 4-0 loss to Switzerland in friendly

The United States gave up four goals in the first half and looked unprepared for next year's World Cup, getting routed by Switzerland 4-0 in a friendly on Tuesday night as the Americans lost their fourth straight game for the first time since 2007.
Dan Ndoye scored in the 13th minute, Michel Aebischer in the 23rd, Breel Embolo in the 33rd and Johan Manzambi in the 36th. The Americans have lost four consecutive home games for the third time and first since 1988.
Switzerland won its third straight match and extended the US winless streak against European opponents to eight games since 2021. Fans at Geodis Park booed loudly as the US gave up four goals by the 40th minute for the first time since 9 November, 1980, at Mexico and the first time ever at home, according to Opta.
Sign up to Soccer with Jonathan Wilson
Jonathan Wilson brings expert analysis on the biggest stories from European soccer
after newsletter promotion
The match was played one year and one day before the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the US starts. Going into their Concacaf Gold Cup opener against Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday, the Americans are 5-5 under Mauricio Pochettino, who took over after a first-round elimination last year's Copa America led the US Soccer Federation to fire coach Gregg Berhalter.
Ndoye burst behind Nate Harriel to run on to a through ball for the first goal; Manzambi dribbled past Max Arfsten along the endline to leave Aebischer with a tap-in for the second; goalkeeper Matt Turner spilled Ricardo Rodriguez's shot to leave Embolo an open net for the third; and a mix-up when Quinn Sullivan passed to Sebastian Berhalter as the former coach's son slipped created a giveaway that led to Manzambi's first international goal.
The US had not lost four straight games since a five-game skid in 2007. The Americans were missing Christian Pulisic (wanted time off); Yunus Musah (personal reason not disclosed); Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Gio Reyna (headed to the Club World Cup); Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams and Folarin Balogun (injured); and Sergiño Dest (regaining fitness).
Turner played his first game for club or country since 23 March. Berhalter started in his debut, and Brenden and Paxten Aaronson became the fourth set of brothers to start for the U.S., and the first since George and Louis Nanchoff in 1979.
Pochettino made nine changes from Saturday's 2-1 loss to Turkey, keeping only Arfsten and midfielder Johnny Cardoso. The U.S. made five changes to start the second half and Damian Downs made his debut in the 75th minute.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Daily Mail​

34 minutes ago

• Daily Mail​

Disgraced granddaughter of late Saints owner arrested for altercation with South Carolina cop

The granddaughter of late New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson was arrested Monday and accused of interfering with a Charleston, South Carolina police officer as he attempted to put a parking boot on her vehicle. Rita LeBlanc, 48, was released on a personal recognizance bond the following day after being charged with hindering an officer/city employee, according to online jail records. reported that Sargent Christ Stinson accused LeBlanc of taking the locking tool from a parking boot as he attempted to fasten it to one of the wheels of her car. LeBlanc, a former vice chairperson for the Saints, is due back in court on July 24. A child of Benson's adopted daughter, Renee, Rita was fired by her grandfather from the team in 2015 before being disinherited altogether along with her mother and brother, Ryan. She would respond with a lawsuit, challenging Benson's mental competency at the time of his decision. The two sides settled in 2016. Previously, in 2012, Jeff Duncan reported she was suspended from the team because of 'lack of focus and abrasive management style.' Sources told Duncan that LeBlanc's sense of entitlement became an issue with her grandfather, who'd frequently worked six-day weeks despite his immense wealth. Benson's third wife and LeBlanc's stepmother, Gayle, became the Saints' principal owner in 2018 following his death. The Saints have failed to reach the postseason since 2020, while Gayle has faced criticism over a Catholic Church sex scandal in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The Associated Press reported in January of 2020 that senior vice president of communications Greg Bensel provided PR advice to church officials as they navigated fallout from a child sex-abuse scandal. The scandal resurfaced before February's Super Bowl in New Orleans when the AP released emails showing the extent of the Saints communications team's involvement with the church. 'This is disgusting,' state Representative Mandie Landry (Democrat - New Orleans) said in February. 'As a New Orleans resident, taxpayer and Catholic, it doesn't make any sense to me why the Saints would go to these lengths to protect grown men who raped children. All of them should have been just as horrified at the allegations.'

Wales Online

35 minutes ago

• Wales Online

Shaun Edwards' true feelings on Andy Farrell as he ordered boss to make decision

Shaun Edwards' true feelings on Andy Farrell as he ordered boss to make decision Edwards and Lions head coach Farrell were team-mates in their playing days before becoming two of the best rugby union coaches in the world Andy Farrell, the Lions head coach (Image: 2025 Getty Images ) When Andy Farrell leads the Lions in Australia this summer he will hope for fewer obstacles than his experience three decades ago when he was thrust into a leadership role on a very different Lions tour. At just 21, Farrell was part of what is regarded as one of the most disastrous rugby tours ever embarked upon when he captained Great Britain Lions rugby league team in Papua New Guinea, Fiji and New Zealand. ‌ Even for such a precocious talent, the fact that Farrell was captaining the side was an indication of the challenges facing the side before they even left English shores. ‌ Set against the backdrop of a rugby league civil war, proposed mergers and the imminent professionalisation of rugby union, meant that a host of experienced internationals were forced to withdraw from the squad. Then when the team arrived in Papua New Guinea, things did not get any better, with tour manager Phil Lowe dealing with personal issues and finance becoming a major issue for those on the ground. Phil Larder, who went on to be the mastermind of England's defence on their way to 2003 World Cup glory in union, was the head coach, and remembers how Farrell was able to rise above the many obstacles thrown the players' way. Article continues below He said: 'It was pretty difficult, we didn't realise how difficult it was until we landed in Papua New Guinea. That was our first stop, there were problems straightaway. We hadn't got any finance in the group to purchase water, so we had no water. 'So after four or five days, myself and half the squad were puking up and shitting all the time because we had this infection. 'We managed to get a reasonable result against PNG and by the time we hit Fiji, things had turned out a little bit better. But it was a major concern and some of the players were still struggling, they had lost quite a bit of weight.' ‌ Things got even worse when Maurice Lindsay, the chief executive of the Rugby Football League, brought home half of the squad early to cut costs, destroying the morale of those who remained. And yet Farrell, who was not initially named as captain, very quickly became the leader of this group. Watch the Lions rugby tour on Sky Sports This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more £35 Sky Get Sky Sports here Product Description Sky Sports is the exclusive broadcaster of the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, with all three Tests and six warm-up matches available to enjoy with Sky's Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle. ‌ Larder added: 'Andy wasn't somebody who I had identified to be captain, but as the tour developed, it was obvious that he was the leader of the lads, he was the one that they all looked up to and he was playing exceptionally well, as well. He became my captain, that was how it happened. 'He, like me, and like Phil Lowe, found it very difficult. It wasn't easy for Lowey, because he had no money to play about with, it wasn't easy for me as head coach and it certainly wasn't easy for the players. And Faz just came through as a natural leader, not only on the pitch but outside as well. Everybody in the squad looked up to him. This was the reason I made him captain. 'The thing about Andy is he's got presence. If he walks into a room, he seems to attract people to him. Players latch onto that. ‌ 'I'd been to Papua New Guinea and Fiji and seen the boys train and play and seen how Andy bossed the show. It became an automatic choice to make him captain. 'For everybody, it was a completely miserable tour but particularly the second string who were forced to go home before the end of the tour. That broke everything up and the Test team were furious about it because their mates were in the other team. It was the most difficult job that I've had and the most difficult job for the players. But Andy was the one that seemed to be able to handle the situation better than most and the players looked up to him.' That should probably not have come as a surprise. After all, Farrell had been tipped as a massive talent from his early schoolboy days. ‌ Shaun Edwards' order to Wigan boss Shaun Edwards was one of the key figures at Wigan at the time, and told Lindsay, who was the Wigan chairman, that he had to do everything in his power to get Farrell onboard. The France defence coach recalls: 'Everybody was after him, he was potentially one of the best players ever. I thought it was absolutely vital that he signed for Wigan. I remember speaking to Maurice because I was a senior player by that stage. Whatever financial packet it took, we needed to give it to him because he was a special talent. Alan Tait of Leeds is tackled by Shaun Edwards and Andy Farrell of Wigan during a match in 1995 ‌ 'He settled straight in, he is probably one of the most mature lads I've ever known at 17. He was physically mature and also mentally mature. He was playing in his first-ever final, Dean Bell was the captain of our team. They put Faz in with Dean Bell because they thought he would help support Andy with it being his first game at Wembley. 'The morning of the match, Faz was watching TV and Dean Bell was in the toilets being sick with nerves, so Faz went and had his arm around him saying 'Don't worry Deano, we'll batter these lot'. That sums him up, very confident, with a bit of humour about him and absolutely world class.' France defence coach Shaun Edwards (Image:) ‌ A 20-14 win over a Larder-coach Widnes duly ensued and Farrell has not looked back. Having achieved everything there was to achieve in league, he made the jump across to union in 2005, joining Saracens and quickly becoming a dual-code international. When injury forced him into retirement in 2009, he turned his hand to coaching, for Saracens and then under Stuart Lancaster with the England Saxons. ‌ Lancaster recalled: 'On a hunch, not really knowing Andy at all, I asked if he was interesting in helping me coach the Saxons through the Six Nations games and the Churchill Cup. 'We both got on very well straightaway. I needed someone to come in a coach the backs and run the defence. 'I think Andy enjoyed the responsibility of coaching the attack, the backs as well as the defence. There were only two of us so we basically did it all together. Not only was he very good on the defence, but he was also very good as a second set of eyes but also as a second presence. ‌ 'As a head coach, you are always looking for someone who could support you. Sometimes you can step back a bit and the other coach steps up, Andy was very good at that. He would bring energy at the right time and bring his presence to support me as the head coach.' That word presence is one that keeps coming up, and will no doubt be a big part of how he leads in Australia. Nearly 30 years from the absolute disaster of New Zealand, expect Farrell the head coach to enjoy a lot more success this time around. After all, as Edwards says: 'He's a proven winner.' Article continues below A Lions Rugby Club membership gives you access to a whole series of member-only benefits such as priority ticket access, live events, bespoke welcome pack, competitions, exclusive content, and much more. Find out more at

Daily Mirror

35 minutes ago

• Daily Mirror

Lionel Messi's 'not friends' claim as Cristiano Ronaldo left rival in no doubt

Fans have long wondered just what the relationship between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo is like, and the Argentinian legend has now opened up on where he stands with his rival The relationship between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has been the source of feverish speculation for years. The duo, often regarded as the two best players of all time, honed their intense rivalry in La Liga with Messi starring for Barcelona and Ronaldo for Real Madrid. While fans are eager to know if the pair are pals, the Argentinian World Cup winner has now opened up on where he stands with his Portuguese rival. Messi, 37, is still causing waves on the world's stage for Inter Miami, while Ronaldo, 40, now plays for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. ‌ Messi gave a timely reminder of his genius on Thursday, giving Miami their first win the Club World Cup with a breathtaking free-kick against FC Porto. ‌ Afterwards, he discussed his long-term adversary Ronaldo, claiming that they are not actually friends. However, he explained that's only the case as the pair barely get a chance to cross paths. "I have a lot of respect and admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo and for the career he's had and continues to have, because he's still competing at the highest level," Messi told DSports. "The competition with him was on the pitch. Each of us wanted to do the best for our team. Obviously, as always, everything stayed on the field. Off the pitch, we are two normal people. We're not friends obviously because we don't spend time together, but we've always treated each other with a lot of respect." His comments echo his take on the relationship that he made eight years ago. Messi told Spanish outlet Marca in 2017: "I don't know if we will be [friends]. Friendship is built through spending time together and getting to know each other. "We have no relationship, mainly because we only see each other at awards ceremonies and that's the only time we speak. Everything is fine, but our lives don't cross over very often." ‌ Does Ronaldo feel the same way? In an interview with Spanish outlet El Chiringuito earlier this year, the ex-Manchester United star claimed he is on good terms with the Miami star due their 'healthy' rivalry – although he has distanced himself from having a friendship with Messi in the recent past. "I have a good relationship with Leo Messi," said Ronaldo this year. "I was translating him in English at an award ceremony too! It was funny. It was a healthy rivalry, we got along." However, speaking in 2023, Ronaldo explained: "I don't see things like that [as a rivalry], the rivalry is gone. It was good, spectators liked it. ‌ "Those who like Cristiano Ronaldo don't have to hate Messi and vice versa. He's followed his path, and I have followed mine, regardless of playing outside of Europe. "The legacy lives on, but I don't see the rivalry like that. We shared the stage many times, it was 15 years. I'm not saying we're friends, I've never had dinner with him, but we're professional colleagues and we respect each other." While the constant debate of just who is the better player, as well as their La Liga battles, have spurred on the question of whether the two are friends - there is another point of contention between the pair: the Ballon d'Or. Messi has been crowned the winner of the prestigious award eight times, while Ronaldo is his closest challenger on five, which has caused some friction. Yet it seems the iconic duo, while not likely to be spotted dining together any time soon, have put their famous rivalry to one side, for now.