\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 USMNT<\/h2>\n\nThe GIST:<\/strong> For anyone still stuck on last week\u2019s 3\u20132 loss<\/a> to T\u00fcrkiye, USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino would say you\u2019re thinking too small<\/a>. This squad won their group after just two games, something only two other countries accomplished in this tourney.<\/p>\n\n- Furthermore, the U.S. made massive lineup changes against T\u00fcrkiye to rest their starters for the knockout rounds \u2014 and frankly, they learned more in the loss than they would have from a low-stakes dub. In other words, a deep run is definitely still on the table.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u23f1\ufe0fThe biggest takeaway: Close out each half. <\/strong>Allowing late goals was a serious Achilles\u2019 heel for this squad prior to the WC and against T\u00fcrkiye. The good news is, their first two WC tilts showed that the U.S. can play to the whistle and even punish opponents with late goals of their own<\/a>.<\/p>\n\ud83e\udd13 Now that the tourney is single-elimination, the starters will be running the show. <\/strong>Here are some names you need to know ahead of tonight\u2019s match:<\/p>\n\n- \ud83d\udd34 Christian Pulisic | Forward: <\/strong>Captain America is back, baby. Pulisic rode the bench against Australia while nursing a calf injury, but he immediately changed the tone and pace after coming on in the second half against T\u00fcrkiye.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- \u26aa Sergi\u00f1o Dest | Defender: <\/strong>With BIH likely focusing on Pulisic on the left, expect to see things open up for Dest on the right. He\u2019s a natural playmaker and will try to exploit a slower opponent while making quick runs down the flank with fellow defender Alex Freeman.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- \ud83d\udd35 Tyler Adams | Midfielder:<\/strong> The heart of this USMNT team, everything goes through Adams. His smart play will be key to stretching the BIH defensive lines.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
\ud83c\udde7\ud83c\udde6 Bosnia and Herzegovina<\/h2>\n![\"Win](\"https:\/\/cdn.sanity.io\/images\/rdxk7lfa\/production\/8d73f07e5d4b1e257a34cd56f5b7e4eee00e9162-5163x3442.jpg?w=600&h=400&q=75&fit=max&auto=format\")
<\/p>\nSource: Henry Rodenburg\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nThe GIST: <\/strong>BIH are not to be taken lightly. The Dragons upset Italy<\/a> in a do-or-die playoff to reach the WC earlier this spring and frustrated fellow co-hosts Canada in the group stage with a 1\u20131 draw. They use their staggering height to their advantage<\/a> and will be bringing out all the stops to play spoiler tonight.<\/p>\n\ud83d\udc09 To reach the Round of 32, the Dragons downed Qatar 3\u20131 behind a relentless early attack,<\/strong> an uncharacteristic move for this squad. <\/strong>The tactical switch up shows their true strength \u2014 the drive to do anything to sabotage the opposition.<\/p>\n\n- Even worse for the home team, BIH has already won two high-stake penalty kick shootouts this year against Wales and the aforementioned Italians. The USMNT should do everything they can to avoid a shootout this time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\ud83d\udc40 Who else should USMNT fans get to know before kickoff?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- \ud83d\udd35 Esmir Bajraktarevi\u0107 | Forward:<\/strong> In 2024, the Wisconsin native made his debut for the USMNT, then switched to represent<\/a> his parents\u2019 home country. Bajraktarevi\u0107 is a rising star for BIH and even scored the penalty that sent them to the WC.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- \ud83d\udfe1 Edin D\u017eeko | Forward: <\/strong>The captain of the Dragons, D\u017eeko is BIH\u2019s most experienced player and leading all-time scorer. At 40 years old, he is still a lethal threat in the air and a clinical finisher who will undoubtedly test U.S. goalie Matt Freese.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
\ud83d\udd11 USMNT\u2019s keys to success<\/h2>\n![\"Win](\"data:image\/jpeg;base64,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\")
![\"Win](\"https:\/\/cdn.sanity.io\/images\/rdxk7lfa\/production\/81abae76e34133a1791532f06e0e6ca175be0844-2048x2048.jpg?rect=279,264,1490,1490&w=600&h=600&q=75&fit=max&auto=format\")
<\/p>\nSource: USMNT\/X<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\ud83e\udd85 The USMNT are the favorites in this game, and they need to play like it. <\/strong>In their two competitive group stage matches, they dictated the tempo and stuck to their own strategy instead of reacting to their opponent. Formation and fluidity played a big role in both dubs, too.<\/p>\n\ud83d\udcaa In last month\u2019s 4\u20131 dub over Paraguay \u2014 <\/strong>a game that could be considered our full-strength blueprint <\/strong>\u2014 the Yanks came out in a 5-3-2 formation (five defenders, three midfielders, two forwards) but then flowed into a 3-2-4-1 (three defenders, two wingbacks<\/a>, four midfielders, one forward), and the result was goals galore.<\/p>\n\n- Then against Australia, they successfully changed to a 3-5-2 to make up for Pulisic\u2019s absence, showing they can win with very different formations\u2026and the Dragons won\u2019t know which one they\u2019re getting until the game starts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\ud83d\udccd Another key to success will be strict defense on BIH set pieces<\/a>.<\/strong> Tied with Norway as the tallest team in the WC, the Dragons have a lot of big targets who will look to capitalize on aerial duels. A tiny lapse in focus could have devastating consequences. No pressure.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The GIST:<\/strong> For anyone still stuck on last week\u2019s 3\u20132 loss<\/a> to T\u00fcrkiye, USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino would say you\u2019re thinking too small<\/a>. This squad won their group after just two games, something only two other countries accomplished in this tourney.<\/p>\n \u23f1\ufe0fThe biggest takeaway: Close out each half. <\/strong>Allowing late goals was a serious Achilles\u2019 heel for this squad prior to the WC and against T\u00fcrkiye. The good news is, their first two WC tilts showed that the U.S. can play to the whistle and even punish opponents with late goals of their own<\/a>.<\/p>\n \ud83e\udd13 Now that the tourney is single-elimination, the starters will be running the show. <\/strong>Here are some names you need to know ahead of tonight\u2019s match:<\/p>\n Source: Henry Rodenburg\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The GIST: <\/strong>BIH are not to be taken lightly. The Dragons upset Italy<\/a> in a do-or-die playoff to reach the WC earlier this spring and frustrated fellow co-hosts Canada in the group stage with a 1\u20131 draw. They use their staggering height to their advantage<\/a> and will be bringing out all the stops to play spoiler tonight.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc09 To reach the Round of 32, the Dragons downed Qatar 3\u20131 behind a relentless early attack,<\/strong> an uncharacteristic move for this squad. <\/strong>The tactical switch up shows their true strength \u2014 the drive to do anything to sabotage the opposition.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc40 Who else should USMNT fans get to know before kickoff?<\/strong><\/p>\n Source: USMNT\/X<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \ud83e\udd85 The USMNT are the favorites in this game, and they need to play like it. <\/strong>In their two competitive group stage matches, they dictated the tempo and stuck to their own strategy instead of reacting to their opponent. Formation and fluidity played a big role in both dubs, too.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcaa In last month\u2019s 4\u20131 dub over Paraguay \u2014 <\/strong>a game that could be considered our full-strength blueprint <\/strong>\u2014 the Yanks came out in a 5-3-2 formation (five defenders, three midfielders, two forwards) but then flowed into a 3-2-4-1 (three defenders, two wingbacks<\/a>, four midfielders, one forward), and the result was goals galore.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd Another key to success will be strict defense on BIH set pieces<\/a>.<\/strong> Tied with Norway as the tallest team in the WC, the Dragons have a lot of big targets who will look to capitalize on aerial duels. A tiny lapse in focus could have devastating consequences. No pressure.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\ud83c\udde7\ud83c\udde6 Bosnia and Herzegovina<\/h2>\n
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\ud83d\udd11 USMNT\u2019s keys to success<\/h2>\n
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