Three former national team stars stressed the importance of reaching the semifinals for Mauricio Pochettino's USMNT

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Donovan on competitive games ahead of World CupLalas says this is a chance for the U.S. to win back fansEdu believes winning is the most important goalFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

The U.S. men's national team are just two wins away from reaching the Gold Cup final, and team icon Alexi Lalas said Sunday that the tournament is a crucial building block for Mauricio Pochettino to "battle for hearts and minds" for his squad.

"It's worth revisiting why this tournament matters and why this moment matters. It’s 347 days away from the World Cup next summer – I think what it's going to be a seminal moment in American soccer history and very, very important to these players," Lalas said on FOX Sports Sunday. "However, coming into this tournament, let's be honest, there was angst, an apathy relative to this team. So what we have here in this inexperienced new group of players that has now gotten through the group stage undefeated with three wins, is a battle for hearts and minds. It's kind of a reclamation project, if you will, a redemption project."

Lalas insisted a win Sunday against Cost Rica could go a long way.

"What you hope for is by the end of this tournament, and certainly by the end of the day, some more people are actually clapping. And at some point, maybe at the end of the tournament, maybe even some hugs," he said.

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Another U.S. legend, Landon Donovan, pointed to the fact Canada, one of the tournament's favorites, were eliminated, opening up a path for the USMNT.

"This is a warning sign for the U.S., they'll be walking out of the tunnel and saying, 'Oh my god, Guatemala. But this is also an opportunity… The U.S. now can look at Guatemala as a team the U.S. should beat, and this is a path to the final," Donovan said.

He also called the tournament a stepping stone for players such as Malik Tillman.

"Usually, the Gold Cup at this point is 100 percent only about the team advancing and winning, but the subplot here is that there are chances for all these players," he said. "Malik Tillman, this is a massive opportunity for him. The best way to keep impressing Pochettino is to play another game. and play another game. And so you need to win the game.

"But individually, Malik Tillman, if he plays three more games, the way he's played this tournament, not only is he on the roster next summer, he's going to be starting. This could be, we hope not, the last competitive game before the World Cup. So you need to give yourself another one and then another one and keep impressing Pochettino."

Getty Images SportWHAT MAURICE EDU SAID

Maurice Edu, who made 46 appearances for the USMNT, underscored the value of building confidence.

"Winning is the cure-all for everything. Winning puts smiles on our faces, winning gets us that feel-good factor in building momentum going into the World Cup next summer," Edu said. "But I've appreciated seeing players emerging. Players take an opportunity, players saying, 'Hey, not only do I want to be a part of this pool going for, but I want to be a starter.’ Chris Richards came into the tournament as a center back, saying, ‘I want more responsibility, I want to assume more leadership.

"He's done that in many ways, both in scoring goals, but more so being an anchor in leading that back line."

Edu also agreed with Donovan's sentiments about Tillman.

"The guy who's really stolen so much attention, and rightly, is Malik Tillman," he said. "The No. 10 spot is up for grabs at this national team, and Malik Tillman is coming to this tournament and said, ‘I want that position. I want to show you that I have the quality to score goals, to create goals, to do the dirty work that sometimes we don't get from attacking players.’

"But now we're going to get a chance to see how much these players are really made of."

WHAT NEXT FOR THE USMNT?

Should the U.S. advance, they would face Guatemala Wednesday in the Gold Cup semifinals.