That “connection between the fans and the team,” Pochettino said, “that is the connection that we [would] like to see in the World Cup. That connection that makes you fly.”

The team’s response to Tillman’s miss was just what Pochettino wanted to see from his squad. “That means a lot. It means that we are connected, that we care about [our] team

Mauricio Pochettino insisted the U.S. men’s national team’s thrilling penalty shootout victory over Costa Rica in the Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinals on Sunday would be of “priceless” benefit as he desperately tries to instill confidence and momentum in his team after a miserable recent slump.