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 brought on 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.