The World Cup knockout stage is officially here, and Tuesday gave us a pretty clear picture of who showed up ready to play. France put away Norway late but comfortably. Mexico handled business as a host nation should. Now it’s the USMNT’s turn.
The Americans face Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday night in San Francisco, and on paper this looks like a mismatch. The U.S. sits 15th in the FIFA World Rankings. Bosnia is 61st. But anyone who watched this tournament knows rankings don’t mean much once the whistle blows.
Why Bosnia Could Make This Ugly
Bosnia is big. They’re physical. They’re the kind of team that can disrupt a possession-based side like the U.S. by muscling guys off the ball and turning games into a scrap. They already beat Qatar 3-1 and drew 1-1 with Canada, so they’re not just here to take pictures.
Edin Dzeko is still out there at 40 years old, still scoring goals at a high level in Europe. And then there’s Esmir Bajraktarević, a 21-year-old who grew up in Wisconsin but chose to play for his parents’ home country. He’s got something to prove, and the U.S. defense better know where he is at all times.
The Americans have the talent advantage. Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams — they’ve got guys who play at the highest levels. But talent alone doesn’t win knockout games. You have to deal with the other team’s game plan. Bosnia’s plan is pretty simple: make it uncomfortable and see if the U.S. can handle the pressure.
England’s Magic Question
England started the tournament looking like a juggernaut. They carved up Croatia 4-2 and everyone started talking about them as legitimate contenders. Then came a 0-0 draw with Ghana and a sluggish 2-0 win over Panama. Now the questions are piling up.
Thomas Tuchel is getting hammered in the British press over squad selection. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer — all sitting at home while the team struggles to create chances. Harry Kane is still there, and Jude Bellingham is Jude Bellingham, so an offensive explosion could happen at any moment. But if DR Congo packs it in like Ghana did, England could be in for a long afternoon in Atlanta.
It’s not a crisis yet. But it’s close enough that people are starting to ask if this team has another gear or if what we’ve seen the last two games is just who they are.
Belgium vs. Senegal and What It Means for the U.S.
Belgium looked old and slow in draws with Egypt and Iran. Then they turned around and smashed New Zealand 5-1. So which Belgium shows up against Senegal? The winner plays the U.S. (assuming the Americans get past Bosnia) in the Round of 16.
If the real Belgium is the one that scored five goals, that’s a problem for the U.S. Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku can still punish anyone on their day. But if Senegal wins, that’s also a problem. Sadio Mané and company are dangerous, organized, and playing with the kind of confidence that comes from being an African champion.
Either way, the path doesn’t get easier. The U.S. has to take care of business first, but whoever wins this game is going to be a real test in the next round.
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