‘Streaks Are Meant to Be Broken’: USMNT Focused on Knockout Stage Opportunity | OneFootball

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – With the group stage behind us and the knockout stage officially underway, the chaos of the FIFA World Cup is on full display. From stoppage-time winners by Canada and Brazil to penalty shootout upsets by Paraguay and Morocco, it’s evident that anything can happen to any team at any time.

The Stars and Stripes topped Group D with a 2W-1L-0D record that featured victories against a pair of knockout stage-bound sides in Paraguay and Australia. Even though the pressure was there for all three group stage matches, the intensity reaches a new level starting with the win-or-go-home Round of 32.

“The knockout round is unforgiving, it's not like the group stage,” defender Chris Richards said. “Every team that's in the knockout round has earned it and deserved it. So, we’re going into it with the same mentality that we also earned it, and like I said, hopefully we can get the job done.”

In an intriguing matchup against a capable Bosnia and Herzegovina side this Wednesday at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, the United States is pushing for its second knockout stage victory in program history. The only previous instance of the USMNT winning in the knockout stage of the World Cup was the famous ‘Dos a Cero’ victory against Mexico in the Round of 16 at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea Japan. That victory paved the way for the USMNT’s path to the Quarterfinals, its best finish at a World Cup in the modern era.

Despite the weight of Wednesday’s match, seasoned forward Chrisitan Pulisic isn’t worried about his side’s ability to perform when the lights are the brightest.

“To be honest, it doesn't feel that much different,” Pulisic shared. “We understand what it means, you win or you go home. There definitely needs to be a lot of focus and attention to detail this week, but I think the vibe feels good. We've still kept it light and we still are going to be ready to battle once the whistle blows.”

Thirty-eight-year-old captain Tim Ream maintained a similar perspective when he spoke with the media on Monday, asking, “Would it be weird if I told you I don't really feel too much pressure at this minute?”

Still, the stakes will be high and the expectations higher. To advance to the Round of 16 for the fourth time in as many tries, the USMNT will need to defeat a European side in Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, not since a 2021 victory against Bosnia and Herzegovina in December 2021 in Carson, Calif., has the USMNT has defeated a European opponent.

Two draws against Wales and England to kick off the 2022 FIFA World Cup gave way to a difficult 10-match losing streak against UEFA sides, something that will need to end if the USMNT hopes to advance beyond the Round of 32.

“It's tricky,” midfielder Tyler Adams explained. “When you don't have an opportunity to [regularly] play against certain competition, it’s tricky. If you told me we had a 10-game losing streak against Concacafopponents, well, we have an opportunity against Concacaf opponents all the time, so that's not good, you know what I mean? But when you get an opportunity to play, maybe twice a year against European competition, it's difficult. The flow of the game, understanding that kind of thing, the rhythm, all those kinds of things are difficult. But we have a lot of high-quality players that are playing in Europe, so this shouldn'thappen.”

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino chalked it up to chance, saying, “Maybe it's pure coincidence. Tomorrow, we have good opportunity to fight against the history, not only against Bosnia and Herzegovina. It’s good, we have another challenge,” while Richards summed things up succinctly: “I think streaks are meant to be broken, so that's the plan.”

Echoing the sentiments of his teammates, Richards—who is one of four players (min. 170 pass attempts) at this year’s tournament with a 98% passing accuracy or greater—understands the ramifications of Wednesday’s contest against the Dragons.

“Ultimately, we try not to think worst case scenario, but in training we prepare for everything,” Richards added. “Whether it's penalty kicks, whether it's extra-long training, it’s just making sure that we haven't left any stone unturned. So, for us, it's [about] going into this game with confidence, while also understanding that things don’t always go your way, so let's make sure you're prepared for everything.”

Pulisic—now one goal shy of matching Eric Wynalda’s 34 to move into a tie for fourth place on the USMNT’S all-time scoring list—is back to full fitness after missing the Australia game and playing a half houragainst Türkiye last week. Relishing the opportunity to play on the sport’s biggest stage, the 27-year-old goalscorer is aware of the challenge—and opportunity—tomorrow’s match against Bosnia and Herzegovina poses.

“It’s a World Cup,” Pulisic said. “We'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 the penalty kick shootout, and that's the beauty of the game. So, 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.”