World Cup co-hosts the United States banished any doubts hanging over the team with a decisive 4-1 victory over Paraguay on Friday.
Read full article on ESPNThis preview links to the original publisher. Full article content and rights belong to ESPN.
More headlines
In the USMNT's World Cup-opening win, Folarin Balogun and Christian Pulisic share the spotlight as the team's best players.
Folarin Balogun scored twice, and Gio Reyna struck a sensational goal late as the U.S. beat Paraguay 4-1 to start the World Cup.
United States legend Clint Dempsey had some choice words for former national team assistant Jesse Marsch, who suggested Thursday that some American players needed encouragement to sing the anthem ahead of games.