The Three Most Important USMNT Players for World Cup Knockout Clash With Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Three Most Important USMNT Players for World Cup Knockout Clash With Bosnia and Herzegovina
The USMNT has not won a World Cup knockout game since 2002. Ben Steiner|
The U.S. men’s national team will look to become just the seventh Concacaf team to ever win a World Cup knockout match on Wednesday when it battles Bosnia and Herzegovina in Santa Clara, Calif., in the round of 32.
After winning Group D with victories over Paraguay and Australia and a loss to Türkiye, the USMNT enters the knockout stage with high hopes. Given the expanded format, there is a possibility of winning a first-round knockout game, since the team qualified for the quarterfinals in 2002.
Things won’t be exceptionally simple against Bosnia and Herzegovina, though. As the tallest team in the tournament, the Balkan nation can be physically imposing on set-pieces and also features several stars, including American-born winger Esmir Bajraktarević and Premier League legend Edin Džeko up top.
Here, Sports Illustrated takes a look at the three most important USMNT players in the clash that will see its winner take on the winner of Belgium and Senegal on July 6 in Seattle.
Folarin Balogun
Folarin Balogun isn’t the fastest, and at 5'10", he’s anything but imposing—yet, he’s still the most important attacking piece for the USMNT, given his prowess for goalscoring through the first two matches of the World Cup.
While he told reporters that he wanted to play against Türkiye to keep pace in the race for the Golden Boot, he didn’t get on the pitch and will enter the match after 12 days of rest since he last played in the win over Australia. Fresh and ready to go, he’ll look to build on the goal he netted against the Socceroos, as well as the brace he finished against Paraguay back in the opening match.
With a towering backline, Balogun’s agility will stand out, as well as his ability to sneak behind taller defenders and play with the ball on the field, instead of in the air. At the same time, his clinical finishing ability will be needed in an elimination match against an often physical and stingy Bosnian side.
Alex Freeman
There are a few players who can rival the size of Bosnia’s defenders, but Alex Freeman, at 6'2" and playing in a wide position, is one of them. Although he could start in the back three, his breakout performance against Australia showed that he can contend with physically focused defenders, as he will have to do this week.
His pace and dribbling skills also make him an indispensable option, given the lack of speed among most of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s talents and the opportunity to help the USMNT find space in counter attacks if they are to absorb pressure.
While the Villarreal man’s 13 minutes off the bench against Türkiye were underwhelming, his qualities from the start could be vital to winning the battle against tenacious and skillful Bajraktarević down his wing.
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Christian Pulisic
Big games call for big players. The USMNT hopes there’s plenty more on offer this summer than just the round of 32 clash with Bosnia and Herzegovina, but to reach the global giants, they have to get past the Slavic nation. Christian Pulisic, who returned from injury off the bench against Türkiye, will have to be part of the solution.
At a high level, Pulisic simply has to show that he’s fit and up to the pace needed to play World Cup knockout-round soccer; after that, he also needs to show that his ability to take over an attack can stand out against a lesser opponent on paper.
Should he play a wide left role and cut inside when in possession, he should be tasked with beating Bajraktarević, Ivan Šunjić and Ivan Bašić, all of whom play at a lower club level than he does with AC Milan.
This will be just the second World Cup knockout game of Pulisic’s career as well, and he’s still looking for his first win. The round of 32, instead of a round of 16 clash in the newly expanded World Cup, makes a win more likely, but it is still a hurdle he has yet to pass in his career.
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Published 41 minutes ago | Modified 41 minutes ago
BEN STEINERBen Steiner is an American-Canadian journalist who brings in-depth experience, having covered the North American national teams, MLS, CPL, NWSL, NSL and Liga MX for prominent outlets, including MLSsoccer.com, CBC Sports, and OneSoccer.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
