IRVINE, Calif. — Cristian Roldan is not the face of the U.S. men’s national team, not the midfielder around whom Mauricio Pochettino builds his best lineup, not the player casual fans tune in to see.
But on Thursday night, in a World Cup match that matters less in the standings than inside the U.S. locker room, Roldan will be exactly the kind of player Pochettino needs.