After last-32 upsets, US approach is simple: ‘We’re not going to go crazy’
The United States is scheduled to play Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday evening.
Edin Džeko presents a significant challenge for the American center backs.
When FIFA expanded the 2026 World Cup field to include a last-32 stage, initial expectations were uncertain. However, following Monday’s matches, it became clear that this phase mirrors the familiar intensity of international knockout football. Top teams, including Germany and the Netherlands, cannot afford to be complacent, as uninspired performances are frequently penalized.
The United States is widely expected to be the favored team entering Wednesday’s last-32 encounter against Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly due to a substantial home-field advantage at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.
Mauricio Pochettino previously had a notable disagreement with the US press pack, stating, “No one congratulated us.”
Nevertheless, the last 32 remains a critical knockout stage, where teams face immediate elimination.
Christian Pulisic, who was a member of the squad that suffered a last-16 defeat to the Netherlands four years prior, commented, “It’s a World Cup. You’re never going to get the so-called favorite winning every single time. This is soccer. This is the way things go. You can defend all game and win in a penalty kick shootout, and that’s the beauty of the game. We have to be ready for whatever’s to come tomorrow. We don’t think it’s going to be easy by any means, so we have to put on a really high level performance.”
Bosnia and Herzegovina advanced from Group B by securing a draw against co-hosts Canada in their initial match and triumphing over Qatar in their concluding group fixture. Their campaign also included a significant loss to Switzerland, a game in which they kept the Swiss from scoring until Johan Manzambi and Rubén Vargas initiated what became a 4-1 victory for Switzerland.
Manzambi and Vargas rank among Switzerland’s most skilled players, capable of executing bold and intricate passes and movements to bypass defenders in confined spaces. Fortunately for the US team, coach Mauricio Pochettino possesses numerous creative attacking players to deploy against an opponent employing a low defensive block, such as Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Malik Tillman, and Gio Reyna.
Pulisic, who also mentioned feeling fully fit again after a left calf injury caused him to miss portions of the group stage, stated, “There’s a lot of different ways. I’m not going to give away our whole plan, but yeah, not just being one-dimensional, moving the ball, and trying to find ways to break through.”
The United States team undoubtedly has confidence in its abilities. They convincingly won Group D by defeating Paraguay and Australia in their first two matches, which allowed them to rest important starters against Turkey. Now, they face an opponent that managed only a single point from its matches against other teams that also advanced to the knockout stage.
Wisconsin-born Esmir Bajraktarević is identified as a player who could potentially pose a significant threat to the US team.
Since this current generation of players emerged following the 2017 defeat in Couva, which saw the US fail to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, they have consistently expressed a desire to demonstrate to both domestic and international audiences that American soccer can be more than just hardworking but lacking flair. Following their strong showings in the initial two matches, this squad is eager to perform with comparable energy in the knockout rounds.
Chris Richards commented, “I mean, try to stick to your style, but ultimately, the team that puts in the most effort and sticks to their principles usually will win the game. We’re not going to go crazy if plan A doesn’t work, but we also understand that there are good teams that also deserve to be here. Mostly, we know that how we played so far throughout the tournament has been very successful, so we’re going to try to stick to that.”
A key component of their tactical approach involves defenders maintaining a solid foundation, even as the attacking players adapt their strategies to disrupt the opposition.
Richards added, “Everybody takes pride in clean sheets. For us defenders especially, we take pride in blocking shots and heading the ball away. The guys who are in the backline, we all like to defend. I think that’s rare. I think sometimes, you see players that maybe shy away from kind of doing the dangerous stuff, but ultimately, if our goalie isn’t doing much in the back, then we’ve had a successful day. We enjoy it a lot.”
The match on Wednesday will present the defense with its initial challenge against an opponent that channels its offensive efforts through a central target forward. Additionally, the wing-back pairing of Antonee Robinson and Sergiño Dest will face considerable pressure from the youthful wing duo of Esmir Bajraktarević and Kerim Alajbegović.
Edin Džeko, still a prominent figure, continues to spearhead the attack for Bosnia and Herzegovina, a dozen years after his World Cup debut in Brazil. The forward, who plays for Schalke, featured for precisely 64 minutes in both of his starting appearances against Switzerland and Qatar. While he did not score, his hold-up play was particularly effective against Qatar.
At 40 years old, Džeko’s pace might not be what it once was, though rapid sprints were never his primary attribute. Richards, however, is prepared for what could be a challenging encounter against the experienced veteran.
Richards stated, “I’ve played some experienced strikers in my career. He’s a guy that I think might be Bosnia’s kind of figurehead, when you think of their international soccer team. For me, it’s making sure that I don’t get kind of dragged into his games. Obviously, he’s [been] at the top level for a reason for a long time, so it’s making sure that I do what I do best, which is [to] frustrate people. Ultimately, I plan on coming out on top of that battle.”
