Soccer
How can the US beat Bosnia and continue their World Cup journey?
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With Mexico and Canada already through to the Round of 16 after their knockout wins, attention turns to the last of the co-hosts as they take on Bosnia-Herzegovina tonight.
The US progressed from the group stage with a game to spare following impressive wins over Paraguay and Australia, raising expectations that the USMNT could go deeper into the competition than initially expected.
However, they face a new obstacle in the shape of the Bosnians, so what will be the key to overcoming their latest opponent and joining their fellow hosts in the last 16?
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European woe
To reach the next stage of the competition, the US will have to do something they have traditionally struggled to do: beat European opposition.
Their record against European foes is pretty dire, having lost the last ten games in a row and only won once in the last eighteen competitive outings.
True, the majority of those encounters have come against the continent's more heavy hitters, and Bosnia aren't seen as one of Europe's bluebloods, but they have already suffered defeat to Turkey in this competition and therefore need to get over their European funk.
Like Turkey, Bosnia snuck through the play-off door to reach the tournament, but unlike the Turks, they have shown that they have the tools to make a mark in the competition.
Their group stage included a win over Qatar and an opening draw with Canada, but they showed defensive vulnerabilities in losing 4-1 to Switzerland, even though the goals came late on after they went down to ten men.
So, what will be the US's game plan in San Francisco?
How to beat Bosnia(C)Getty Images
The Bosnians got to the World Cup through two penalty shootout wins in the play-offs, and they've brought that fighting mentality into the tournament.
They are quite happy to sit deep and absorb pressure and hit on the counterattack, but also showed against Qatar that they can adapt their 4-4-2 and use the talents of Kerim Alajbegović and Esmir Bajraktarević on either wing to put crosses into the box and cause a threat.
The USA will need to press and press hard against Sergej Barbarez's side to pin them back and use the zip and verve we've seen in the opening games to really hit the Bosnians hard.
(C)Getty images
It's an approach echoed by US legend Brad Freidel, who, speaking exclusively to DAZN News, thanks to Polymarket referral code, believes Mauricio Pochettino can win the game if they play the same way they did in the first two group games.
"Bosnia will normally have tried to play out of the back, and I think that would have played into the US's hands," Frediel said.
"Because the way Mauricio has the team set up and their pressing capabilities have been remarkable - really, really good. So it would have been nice to catch by surprise doing that a little bit.
"In saying that, perhaps Bosnia will go into it thinking that's our style and we're going to play like this, which would be great for the US.
"I think there's a great chance to win the game if things go right for us.
"If we play with the same energy and then technical quality when we have the ball, especially in transition from defending into the attack, then I think we're going to create the chances, and then it's going to be about taking them."
Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Exceeding expectations
Bosnia would benefit from playing in the same way they did in their victory over Qatar and hitting the US with the best they've got. But that could also play into the Americans' hands, who would use the space to allow their front players to create chances for Folarin Balogun.
Some have suggested it's a favourable game for Pochettino's side, but Friedel doesn't agree, adding, "I am not in the camp that any game is easy. I've seen a couple of comments that this will be an easy win for the US. None of these games in knockout competition World Cups are easy."
Things wouldn't get any easier either if the US were to overcome Bosnia and make it three for three for the co-hosts, as next up would be a meeting with either Belgium or Senegal in the Round of 16.
However, thoughts must remain on the job in hand, and that is to continue the momentum gained from the group-stage performances and keep the US believing that anything is possible in this home World Cup.
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