Tuesday’s dramatic 1-0 win over Iran was just the ticket for the US, as they finished second in Group B behind England and therefore booked their spot in the round of 16. Up next, however, is another potentially tricky opponent: the Netherlands, who finished top of Group A by virtue of beating Senegal and host nation Qatar in Group A.
The two will go head to head at Khalifa International Stadium on Saturday (10 a.m. ET) to see who advances to the quarterfinals, where the winning team will take on Argentina or Australia on that side of the bracket. Can the US keep this momentum going? Or will the Dutch, led from midfield by the mercurial Frenkie De Jong, bring that dream to an end?
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ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura and ESPN Netherlands’ Bob Ligthart break down Saturday’s game.
What has worked for the US at this World Cup? And what hasn’t?
If every team in the World Cup was judged based on how they’ve played in the first half alone, the United States would be considered one the best teams in the tournament.
On a per/first-half basis, it ranks No. 5 in chances created (5.3), No. 10 in xG (0.7) and No. 6 in goals (0.7). Defensively, it hasn’t conceded and allowed just one first-half shot on goal. That’s largely a credit to the tactics and team selection of Gregg Berhalter, but mainly to the midfield trio of Tyler Adams, Yunus Musah and Weston McKennie, which has drawn praise from all corners of the world. The US has midfield has been nearly impossible to play through early in games, even nullifying England’s Jude Bellingham and Mason Mount in that 0-0 draw.
However, the US has been significantly worse after halftime in each game, too. Looking at the same stats as above for the second halves, the US ranks No. 29 in chances (2.3), No. 30 in xG (0.2) and is one of just four teams not to score. The drop off isn’t as steep defensively as the only goal allowed came on a penalty, but opposing teams have six second-half shots on goal and more than triple their xG.
Part of that is due to game state. Against Wales and Iran, the US was protecting a lead in the second half and adopted a more defensive approach — especially against Iran, when it went to five-in-the-back in the 82nd minute (with 10 minutes of stoppage time). However, what was more clear during each game is that when McKennie and Musah began to tire, everything else suffered. And other than Walker Zimmerman‘s insertion against Iran — he entered the game in the 82nd minute and was an assertive, dominant force in the air — not a single substitute made a tangible positive impact. — Bonagura
That tense, well-balanced dynamic is why the “Case of the Missing Gio” is such a talking point. Only Christian Pulisic — who was last seen exiting the field before a visit to the hospital — is in Gio Reyna’s class when it comes to being able to turn nothing into something.
It’s hard to allow for the possibility that injury isn’t the reason he hasn’t feature more than the brief cameo against England, but let’s go ahead and assume he is available. Why not let him play as the No. 9? Josh Sargent put in a workmanlike shift against Iran trying to hold the ball up, but Reyna can do that just as well — if not better — and is more of a threat. Maybe his pressing isn’t what Berhalter wants, but Haji Wright appeared lost when it came to that instruction, too. — Bonagura
