(Photos taken by Francisco Avila) (Photo: USMNT Sub-23 Head Coach Marko Mitrovic,
Center-Back Tanner Tessman, and Midfielder Paxten Aaronson)

U.S. Men’s Soccer Team Under-23 head coach Marko Mitrovic and his squad played their final
game ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games against Japan losing 2-0 at Children Mercy Park,
Kansas City. Mitrovic and players Center-Back Tanner Tessman, and Midfielder Paxten
Aaronson spoke to the media after the game not only on the loss to Japan but highlight
expectations and preparation ahead of the Olympics in Paris.
Greg Berharlter initially reacts to a historic result against Brazil and opening thoughts on
the game’s main points
Initially, Marko Mitrovic comments that despite the loss against Japan games against opponents
of this caliber will help Mitrovic and his coaching staff decide what players will be called up to
the Olympics and be part of the roster that heads to Paris.
“Every day that we are with the guy’s impact is going to impact our decisions and we are
evaluating everything last eight months when they are in their environment where they’re in our
environment we tried to learn about some players if we can use them in some different positions
today kind of mixed a lot their spots but that knowing that we have a roster of 16 field players
and two goalkeepers we have to know that what we can expect not just to throw them in a fire
there and like I said with hem is a good new evolution and learning process for us.”
Tanner Tessman spoke to the media on the team’s chemistry and building relationships
heading into the Olympics
The media asked Tessman about USMNT’s chemistry and relationships being built as the team
looks to build a team with harmony ahead of the Paris Olympics.
“Yeah, it’s tough. I mean, we only get four, five, six camps before we have to go play in the
games. And it helps that a lot of these guys (have played in the league or different teams and also
the youth national teams together already. Similar to me and Gianluca Buzio, we play together in
Venezia and it helps us on the field together. But really it’s just about being with the group off
the field and getting along with each other and then on the field earning each other’s respect.
(2:21) And the coaches as well, integrating with us, the staff, we have great relationships now
from when we started. And yeah, going to the Olympics, we all have to just be on the same
mindset, the same idea, the same tactics, which is a little bit what we lacked tonight and it
showed, but that’s something we’ll work on for sure, just being on the same page and going 100%
with that idea.”
What’s Next
UMNT Under-23 Head Coach Marko Mitrovic and company will now look towards final days of
training and preparation ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics beginning for the U.S. team on
Monday, June 24th with their group stage matches consisting of games against France, Guinea,
and New Zealand.