Weston McKennie has hailed the USA's commanding 4-1 opening victory over Paraguay as the perfect start to their home World Cup campaign. 'A victory like this was exactly what I was hoping for,' McKennie told La Gazzetta dello Sport. 'We know what we're capable of, and the world has taken notice.'
The USMNT midfielder recalled the pivotal moment when Christian Pulisic's individual brilliance set up Damian Bobadilla's own goal. 'Probably after the own goal, I thought: Okay, luck is a bit on our side today. But the moment that truly gave me goosebumps was when we walked onto the pitch and sang the anthem all together with the fans.'
McKennie praised head coach Mauricio Pochettino's preparation-focused approach. 'The coach often tells us that the hard work is what we do before the match. The sacrifices, the time invested, the commitment: that's the real graft. Then you go out there and the fun begins, because opportunities like these don't come around often.'
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