On Monday in Columbus, in a press conference following the USA’s practice ahead of Tuesday’s friendly against Japan, Mauricio Pochettino explained why he rated “positive” his team’s performance in its 2-0 loss to South Korea on Saturday. He also lashed out against “critics.”

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Soccer America Executive Editor Mike Woitalla has written freelance articles about soccer for more than 30 media outlets in nine nations. The winner of eight United Soccer Coaches Writing Contest awards,...