Can the USMNT take the next step? Final World Cup tuneup offers mixed clues

CHICAGO — A couple hours after Saturday's 2-1 loss to Germany at Soldier Field, the U.S. national team players boarded a bus headed to the airport for a charter jetting west. The training camps and friendlies and regional tournaments that had peppered the calendar since Mauricio Pochettino took charge 19 months ago were behind them now.Destination: Southern California and a moment eight years in the making — a World Cup in the homeland.In spite of the setback, they headed out with a