This game doesn’t need any type of build up. It’s the
knockout stage of the World Cup. Win or you have a long flight home and an even
longer wait until your next meaningful international game.
1) Aerial battle
Tight soccer games often come down
to one set piece. Both defensively and offensively set pieces will be gigantic
in this game, and unlike the typical US game we are at the disadvantage in this
one. Belgium has a ton of big targets who are great in the air with Lukaku, Fellaini, Kompany (who although is not a certainty to play,
did train today and has on many occasions fought through injury for Manchester
City and I fully expect him to play), Dembele, and Witsel. Because of this, I think we need to start
either Brooks or Gonzalez at center back to help deal with the aerial threat, as well as to
provide a target in our offensive box. Due to Jurgen’s insistence on starting
one RCB and one LCB, that means we have a choice between a Besler-Gonzalez
pairing and a Brooks-Cameron pairing. Besler has been fantastic in his five
halves of play and Gonzalez played one of the games of his life against
Germany, but I would go with the Brooks-Cameron pairing. Brooks and Cameron bring
much better technical ability to the backline, as both are better than Besler
and Gonzo with the ball at their feet. Cameron also brings a better aerial game
than Besler does, and I would be worried about Gonzalez playing center back on
the side that Hazard will be on. Additionally, the pairing showed in the 2nd
half against Ghana that they work well with each other and communication wise
they are fine.
2) Defensive flanks
Belgium runs a hybrid 4-3-3 and
4-2-3-1 formation with wingers who are extremely dangerous. Their front 3
consists of Lukaku in the center with Hazard on the left and Mertens on the
right. This poses a big problem for the US, who’s Achilles heel over the past
year has been its back four. Fabian Johnson has had an incredible tournament
thus far, and I don’t expect that to change. However, he has been much more influential through his offensive abilities rather than his defensive ones.
To be frank, Johnson being defensively responsible for Eden Hazard terrifies
me. For this reason, I have Alejandro Bedoya starting at right midfield. Bedoya
has an extremely high motor and is more than willing to cover defensively for a
fullback that likes to get forward. Bedoya doesn’t provide the poise or crosses that Graham Zusi does, but I would rather sacrifice that than Johnson’s freedom going
forward. On our left flank, Beasley will have to come up very big. The game
against Germany was probably Beasley’s best game in 2014, and we are going to
need a repeat performance as he will most likely be on somewhat of an island
defensively. The options at left midfield are Zusi, Davis, and Jones—none of
whom will provide anywhere near the support that Bedoya will on the
right. Beasley should have the speed to keep up with Mertens and the veteran
experience to know not to get caught up field with no coverage, but he can’t
afford a single mental lapse.
3) Making runs/combinations against their back four.
This might sound like a classic
John Madden quote, but offensively tomorrow’s game will come down to our
forwards against their defenders. Belgium has been starting four center
backs throughout the World Cup, as their roster has no top-level fullbacks.
Thomas Vermaelen was officially ruled out today due to injury and as mentioned
earlier, Vincent Kompany is dealing with an injury of his own and is not guaranteed
to play. This doesn’t only mean that two incredibly talented players will be
either out or hampered in the center of the Belgium defense, but also that
there won’t be the chemistry in the back line with players coming in off the
bench. The US needs to exploit this. The way to do this is to get your
forwards making runs behind the defense and beating some hopefully mistimed off
sides traps. The forwards should also bring the defenders out wide, as center
backs aren’t typically great defending 1v1 on the wings. The best way to
accomplish these two things is by having multiple forwards on the field at the
same time, something that the US hasn’t been able to do since the Ghana game.
However, Jozy Altidore was officially cleared to play today and says that he is
ready and able to participate in tomorrows game. The timing couldn’t be better
for the US, as so much of the plan for the team going into the World Cup relied
on what Jozy brings to the table. There’s no way that he is fully fit and
there are definitely concerns about reinjury and effectiveness. But if there is
a chance that he can be as impactful as Jurgen expected him to be coming into
the tournament, he has to play up top next to Dempsey. If you don’t start him,
you don’t have any chance to see him play because subbing him in risks losing
two substitutions rather than one (one to put him in, one to take him out if he
reinjures himself or is not physically able/ready to play). Have Aron
Johannsson ready to go in from the get go in case it doesn’t work out, and
fully expect to take Altidore out after 60 to 70 minutes, but start him and
take advantage of a new Belgium backline. This also would allow Johannsson to come in fresh against tired legs and become the US' first ever true supersub.
4) Kyle Beckerman and Michael Bradley
Kyle Beckerman has been superb in
the first three games of his World Cup career. He has been phenomenal in his
positioning to slow down the oppositions attack, has taken key fouls when
needed, and has been careful in possession and with his passes. Michael Bradley
has had a lackluster World Cup for his standards. Tomorrow, we will need
Beckerman to keep up his play and see Bradley elevate his level to match it.
Playing with two forwards means we have to go back to a four man midfield. It
pushes Jones out to the left and gives Beckerman more ground to cover
defensively. It also puts Bradley into a true box-to-box role, something that
fits his style of play perfectly. Bradley will be relied upon to push play
forward as well as being responsible coming back but won’t have to play so high
up the field that his biggest assets—late runs into the box, long balls and
through balls that stretch the defense, and controlling the center of the
field—are much more difficult to accomplish. Belgium has a lot of talent in the
center of their midfield. They can play any combination of Dembele, Witsel,
Fellaini, and De Bruyne and it’ll be up to Beckerman and Bradley to shut them
down and control the middle of the field, or else we will get burned on the
wings (center backs will need to step up, fullbacks will need to fill for them
leaving the side wide open).
5) Tim Howard
Jurgen Klinsmann says that Tim Howard
is a top five goalie in the world. Howard hasn’t done anything to prove him
wrong this tournament, but he also hasn’t done anything to prove him right.
Tomorrow, Howard gets his opportunity to prove it. He will be staring across the field at a goalie many consider to be in the "world's best" discussion (Thibaut Courtois), and Belgium will get their chances; Howard will have to be up to
them.
Throughout those keys, I gave my starting XI and the
reasoning behind each selection, but here is how I would like to see the USMNT
line up tomorrow in your traditional field view.
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