With two days to digest one of the most impressive collective performances in U.S. men’s national team history, it’s time to look back at the individuals who carried out Mauricio Pochettino’s master plan.The USMNT’s 4-1 win was dominant, inspiring, and above all, miles better than the disjoined and lackluster efforts the team had delivered for the better part of the past five years.So what changed? One of the more encouraging factors was the collective defensive effort, which triggered countless counterattacks and kept Paraguay under relentless pressure. It’s one thing to generate chances, it’s another to smother your opponent to the point that the chances keep on coming as a result.Everyone wanted to talk about Folarin Balogun, and his two goals, which were deserving of praise, but let’s not forget his two goals came courtest of excellent service, first from Christian Pulisic and then from Malik Tillman. There’s no denying Balogun is arguably the most talented USMNT striker in a generation, but a target man without service is a statue.As impressive as the Americans were, don’t be fooled into believing it was perfect. The Paraguayans didn’t do much to test the USMNT, but there were occasions when chances came, and not just on the consolation goal.Pochettino will no doubt focus in on those few lapses, because there are tougher opponents ahead, both in the group stage and eventually the knockout rounds, that will feast on some of the hiccups that were easy to ignore as the Americans were pounding Paraguay into submission.Here is a closer look at the USMNT’s individual performances against Paraguay:MATT FREESE (5) – Didn’t have much to do, but didn’t look completely convincing in the moments he was called to be involved.ANTONEE ROBINSON (7) – Got forward as often as possible, but he was also making blocks and tackles at the back when needed.CHRIS RICHARDS (7) – An ironman in the back, and the target man up front. Put the ball inches wide off a first-half header. Completed all 83 of his passes.TIM REAM (6.5) – Looked shaky at times, but somehow managed to keep the ball away from the goal. Failed to clear the ball that led to the consolation goal.ALEX FREEMAN (7) – Very solid performance, but his early second-half giveaway could have been costly, and he was out of position on the consolation goal.TYLER ADAMS (7) – A defensive force in the midfield, and his penetrating run inside the box set up Balogun’s offside goal. An unnecessary yellow card and his unfortunate backward header led to the consolation goal.MALIK TILLMAN (7.5) – Delivered his best performance in a USMNT uniform to date. Skilled on the ball, moved incredibly well to give teammates space and passing outlets, and set up Balogun’s second goal with a peach of a pass.WESTON MCKENNIE (7) – Showed off his two-way ability, combining his tireless defensive work with some dangerous forays into the attack, including his effort to help create the opening goal.SERGINO DEST (7) – Showed the dynamic attacking quality that led Pochettino to deploy him as an out-and-out winger, consistently testing Paraguay’s defensive with probing dribbles.CHRISTIAN PULISIC (8) – Did everything offensively but score until getting subbed out of caution after getting kicked in the back of the leg.FOLARIN BALOGUN (8.5) – Man of the Match with a brace and real presence in the box. Dangerous throughout the 72 minutes he played.SEBASTIAN BERHALTER (6) – Worked well beside Adams, but his forward forays did not pay off.GIO REYNA (7) – Relatively quiet appearance before his stunning goal, which reminded us that he can, in fact, still create magic.TIM WEAH (6) – Came close, but couldn’t finish. Had to cover more ground than Dest with Paraguay pressing late in the game.RICARDO PEPI (6) – Didn’t do much to chip away at Balogun’s vice grip on the starting striker role.What do you think of these ratings? Think any were too generous, or too harsh?Share your thoughts below.