'I don't believe we are the favourites': Pochettino downplays USA expectations

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/germany/ptQide1O/"]Germany[/a] exited the tournament with a shootout ‌loss to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/paraguay/YaNlqp6j/"]Paraguay[/a] on Monday and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/morocco/IDKYO3R8/"]Morocco[/a] also sent ‌the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/netherlands/WYintcWb/"]Netherlands[/a] packing on penalties.[/p][p]"[b]First of all I don't believe that ‌we are the favourite team because ... the last few ‌days[/b] (we have seen) [b]how difficult it is for everyone[/b]," Pochettino told reporters at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on Tuesday.[/p][p]"I think favourite is (something) ‌to talk (about) after, no? Everyone said the favourite ⁠is Germany but Paraguay ‌beat (them) and Morocco against Netherlands.[/p][p]"[b]In this World Cup, there are many things, ​factors that can influence the performance. We need to be careful when we say, OK, one is ​favourite[/b] (over) [b]another[/b]."[/p][p]While [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bosnia-herzegovina/fqe7WYTr/"]Bosnia[/a] finished third in their group, the U.S. topped Group D by winning their first two matches against ⁠Paraguay and Australia ​to reach the knockout phase early.[/p][p]Talisman [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pulisic-christian/vTuaEfRq/"]Christian Pulisic[/a] has declared himself fit to start against the Bosnians after playing off the bench in the 3-2 defeat by Turkey but Pochettino all ‌but ruled out centre back [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mckenzie-mark/S44zFHdC/"]Mark McKenzie[/a], who has been nursing a foot problem.[/p][embed guid="49194902-1e0b-40ef-ba90-d7280c1b166a" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGVv_P8__jM" social-type="youtube" /][p]There was a better prognosis for left back [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/trusty-auston/fDXyO1al/"]Auston[/a] Trusty who came off on a stretcher near the final whistle against Turkey after rolling an ankle.[/p][p]"[b]Auston is much better than we expected. We'll make one final assessment but hopefully he'll be available on the bench,[/b]" said Pochettino.[/p][p]The winners will play Senegal or Belgium, who meet earlier ‌on Wednesday.[/p][p]Pochettino said the U.S. needed to regard the Bosnia ​game as a final and respect their opponents' quality.[/p][p]"[b]They ‌deserve that respect,[/b]" he said.[/p][p]"You can see that they have quality, not only that they are aggressive and have good organization. They have players with quality and a coach that provides the platform to perform.[/p][p]"[b]That is a ⁠good thing. That is why, ⁠for us, this is ‌the final of the World Cup tomorrow.[/b]"[/p]