Four Things to Watch as the USMNT Chases Its Biggest Win Since 2002
From Balogun's return to Belgium's wide spaces, four storylines that will define Monday night in Seattle.
The United States fought hard for its first knockout win in 24 years. Now comes a harder test.
The 2–0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina gave the Americans proof that they could win a World Cup match when everything was on the line.
Photo by Bryan Berlin, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Folarin Balogun scored before halftime. Malik Tillman’s free kick gave the Americans breathing room. After Balogun’s dismissal early in the second half, the United States spent more than 30 minutes protecting its lead with 10 men. It survived.
Belgium is next. For American soccer fans, those two words bring back memories immediately.
The last World Cup meeting between these countries produced one of the most unforgettable performances in United States soccer history. Tim Howard made 15 saves in Salvador in 2014 (which is still tied for the most ever in a World Cup match) and somehow the United States still fell 2–1 after extra time.
For many fans, that was the night they learned what a World Cup knockout match feels like.
Twelve years later, the United States gets another chance. Welcome to the USMNT’s edition of Monday Night Football.
Here are four things to watch.
Photo by Bryan Berlin, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).
What does Balogun’s return change?
It seemed like the United States would have to face Belgium without its starting striker. Instead, Balogun was cleared to play and will be available Monday night after FIFA ruled he could participate in the Round of 16. That changes the conversation.
Balogun gives Mauricio Pochettino’s side something few American teams have had at a World Cup: a striker who can stretch defenses and force center backs into uncomfortable decisions.
His movement creates space for Christian Pulisic and Tillman to operate freely underneath him. The Americans need to punish Belgium when opportunities appear because they won’t have much possession.
Balogun is the player most capable of making that happen.
Can the United States attack Belgium’s wide spaces?
Belgium advanced to the Round of 16 after one of the wildest matches of the tournament.
The Red Devils trailed Senegal 2–0 late in regulation before goals from Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans forced extra time. Tielemans eventually scored the winning penalty to complete an unlikely comeback.
Senegal repeatedly found success attacking the spaces behind Belgium’s fullbacks and forcing the Belgian defense to turn toward its own goal.
Antonee Robinson and Sergiño Dest could be two of the most important players on the field Monday night. When the United States is at its best, it plays with speed and pushes its fullbacks high. Against Belgium, those moments could determine the match.
That does not mean recklessly throwing numbers forward against players like De Bruyne and Lukaku. It means being brave enough to attack when the opportunities appear.
The United States cannot spend 90 minutes waiting for Belgium to make mistakes; it has to force them
How does the United States handle Belgium’s experience?
Belgium is no longer the young Golden Generation that arrived in Russia with expectations of winning the tournament. However, the experience remains.
De Bruyne is still one of the best creators in world football. Lukaku is one of the most dangerous penalty-box forwards in international soccer. Tielemans just dragged Belgium through a knockout match that looked lost.
And Thibaut Courtois remains one of the world’s greatest goalkeepers.
Photo: Эдгар Брещанов / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois making a save during the match against Brazil, 6 July 2018
Belgium does not need many chances. One De Bruyne pass and one Lukaku run across a defender can decide this match. A Courtois save can keep Belgium alive long enough for momentum to shift.
Belgium wants control. The United States wants energy, pressure and transitions.
Controlled chaos has often brought out the best in this group.
Is this finally the breakthrough moment?
Photo by Bryan Berlin, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).
This is where the game becomes bigger than tactical analysis.
There was Mexico in 2002. Ghana in 2010. Belgium in 2014. Netherlands in 2022.
Different teams, different eras and different circumstances, but all part of the same search for a defining knockout moment.
The victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina moved the United States forward. Beating Belgium would move this team into a different category historically. It would give this generation of players the result American soccer has spent decades chasing.
The pieces are there.
Pulisic is in his prime. Balogun is playing. Tillman is coming off the goal that sealed the United States’ first World Cup knockout victory since 2002. Adams gives the midfield balance every successful tournament team needs. Robinson and Dest can turn the wide areas into an advantage.
And Pochettino has this team looking more comfortable in difficult moments than it has in a long time.
The setting feels right. Seattle hosted Belgium’s comeback victory over Senegal earlier in the week and will stage its final World Cup match of the tournament Monday night. The atmosphere should be among the best of the competition this summer.
The United States has spent 12 years waiting for another shot at Belgium. Tonight, it gets one.
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