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There’s a saying that goes, ‘It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.’ Yet, that’s not always true. At times, the way you begin can directly shape how you end up finishing.

And if by some remarkable chance the United States are still alive in the World Cup come July 19, playing in the final at East Rutherford, New Jersey, they will surely look back at Friday’s performance as the spark that ignited their campaign.

Because the USA did not merely defeat Paraguay in Los Angeles – they completely outclassed them from start to finish, dictating the tempo and forcing their opponents to concede control.

“We sent a message to the other teams in this tournament, and also to those in our group,” said USMNT fullback Sergiño Dest to FourFourTwo.

“It was crucial to win the first game, but the dominant way in which we did it… it was incredible.”

The USMNT set the tone early, dismantling Paraguay with sharp movement and precise passing. Christian Pulisic opened proceedings by cutting between two defenders and threading the ball to Weston McKennie, whose attempt to cross for Folarin Balogun was deflected off Damián Bobadilla and ended up in the back of the net.

From that moment, there was no doubt about the outcome. The only question left was how big the margin of victory would be.

“It was massive. We wanted to show that we’re not just here to take part, but to compete to win it all,” said left back Antonee Robinson to FourFourTwo.

“With a performance like that – we’ve got to do it again against two more tough sides – but it shows we’re a high-level team capable of facing anyone.”

“I’ve said this before the tournament, and not just because of tonight’s result – you only come to a tournament aiming to win it. Real success would mean lifting the trophy. The journey there, we’ll see how it unfolds. We’ve got to get out of the group first, win the next two games, and take it from there.

“I’m not settling for just reaching the Round of 16 or quarter-finals or semi-finals. Why set limits? We want to win it, go all the way.”

The USA featured a diverse mix of players – Balogun and Robinson from England, Dest from the Netherlands, and Malik Tillman from Germany.

But above all, they came together as brothers. Whether raised in Europe or the United States, starting or on the bench, every player shared one mission: to leave Inglewood with all three points.

Unlike the inexperienced and somewhat hesitant side that took the field in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, this squad played without fear. They pressed relentlessly, pushed numbers forward, and suffocated Paraguay with intensity and confidence.

This produced arguably the finest half of football the US has ever displayed in a World Cup. Balogun doubled the advantage before striking again to make it 3-0 at halftime. The immaturity that once held them back was gone; for 90 minutes, they looked like a disciplined unit on a mission.

“We can talk about tactics and on-field stuff, but this team has bonded so well,” said winger Timothy Weah to FourFourTwo. “I know my brothers like I know my own family, and I love these guys. I’ve been with the national team for nearly a decade, and playing alongside them has been amazing.

“We’re one big family now, we all know each other inside out. During preparations for this World Cup, we faced challenges and made adjustments.

“But now, it feels right. I’m really proud of what we did today, and I’m really proud of Pochettino. It’s not easy coming in and rebuilding. It took time, but we looked fantastic. I’m super excited.”

Even after Pulisic was substituted for Sebastian Berhalter at halftime, the USMNT didn’t lose momentum. While Paraguay’s substitute Maurício pulled one back in the 73rd minute, there was never any sense of panic among the American supporters.

The co-hosts kept pressing, overwhelming La Albirroja with wave after wave of attack. In stoppage time, Giovanni Reyna sealed the 4-1 victory with a stunning trivela finish. Paraguay, who had conceded more than two goals in only one of their 12 World Cup qualifiers under Gustavo Alfaro, were dismantled. Meanwhile, the USA made a statement of intent, marking themselves as potential dark horses for a memorable summer.

“Mauricio [Pochettino] summed it up perfectly: what a result, but more importantly, what a performance,” said goalkeeper Matt Freese to FourFourTwo. “The performance gives us something solid to build upon.”

The United States now travel to Seattle to face Australia before returning to Los Angeles to meet Turkey, while Paraguay will head to Santa Clara to play Turkey and Australia in their remaining group fixtures.