USA beat Australia 2-0 to make it two on the bounce, currently sitting top of Group D on six points after two games played.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side got off to a notoriously fast start, grabbing the first goal of the game after just 11 minutes, with Folarin Balogun running beyond and providing a cutback which was turned in by Cameron Burgess for an own goal.
Alexander Freeman then added a second at the end of the first half, staying alive inside the box and nodding it home after a deflected effort from Sergino Dest, making it 2-0 at the break.
The second half followed a different rhythm, especially after the second hydration break, where Australia started to get some chances, but USA managed to keep them out, keeping a clean sheet and securing all three points to put them top of Group D as things stand.
In this article, we’ll cover
Different shape, same principles
Pochettino looked to set his side up in more of a 3-5-2 on paper, with two natural strikers in Ricardo Pepi and Balogun.
USA’s opening goal was a brilliant example of their principles remaining the same despite this change in shape.
They attracted the press before looking to find runners into the channel, with Balogun attacking the space behind Jacob Italiano, driving into the box and cutting it back leading to the own goal to make it 1-0.
By replacing Christian Pulisic, who naturally wants to play as a third number 10 between the lines, with Pepi who operates more on the last line, USA were able to pin the Australia back five.
Pepi and Balogun pinned Australia’s three central defenders extremely narrow, meaning if they could bait the press, USA could either find space between the lines or exploit the space behind the wing-backs.
With Pepi and Balogun pinning the three central defenders, it was difficult for Australia to jump out if Malik Tillman or Weston McKennie received the ball between the lines.
The pair of attacking midfielders were clever with their movement, dropping deep at times to drag a midfielder out, making runs into the vacated channels when the opposition wing-backs jumped out, or even crossing over to the opposite side to overload the spaces on the sides.
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Diagonal affordances
Another key principle of play USA seem to abide by under Pochettino is the willingness to play on a diagonal axis, looking to find their way inside the defensive block.
USA want to probe the opposition defensive unit to make decisions and provoke their behaviours, which they do by looking to come inside whenever possible.
Due to the fact this is a clear principle of play under Pochettino, the entire network of players are attuned to this line of thinking, meaning the opportunities for these passes are not only noticed more, but executed more frequently.
With USA’s change in shape, there was some brilliant opportunities to execute these patterns of play, with the wing-back receiving, the near side pocket player drifting into the space and the near side striker also placing themselves on the diagonal angle to create a staircase (Escadinha).
This opens up a larger pool of possibilities for this single passing action, as Tillman for example can provide a dummy or flick into the path of Pepi to accelerate the play inside, or he can look to turn and drive inside himself.
Alexander Freeman stars
Alexander Freeman received man of the match after scoring his first ever World Cup goal at 21-years-old, reacting quickly to nod it home after a deflected effort from Dest.
But aside from his goal, the young defender impressed throughout, showing why he is so highly rated, offering versatility in possession and defensive steel off the ball.
On the ball, Freeman would often shift between a more nominal right centre-back position, a wider right-back position on the outside of Nishan Velupillay, or even stepped up into midfield to form a temporary 2-2-6 shape.
Defensively, Freeman was a huge part of USA’s first clean sheet in their last 10 matches, winning four of his six aerial duels, winning six of his eight ground duels and making five clearances in the match.
USA dig in
After holding 70% of the ball in the first half, taking nine shots, creating one big chance and generating 1.21 expected goals, Pochettino’s side had to dig in more second half, as Australia looked to find their way back into the game.
In the second half, USA had just 54% of the ball, only taking one shot, while Australia began to put crosses into the box, going from three in the first half to a whopping 16 attempted crosses in the second half.
But USA dealt with whatever Australia chucked at them, having three central defenders to deal with those crosses, while also having the likes of Tyler Adams, McKennie and Tillman ready to snap at the heels of the opposition on second balls.
While Turkey lost against Australia, USA vs Turkey could be the toughest game of the group, with both sides wanting to have the ball and control proceedings.
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