Malik Tillman Poised to Unlock Australia After Rare 3-3-3-3 World Cup Display

Q: What is Coach Pochettino's plan B if Australia’s back-five successfully neutralizes America's primary playmaker?

Pochettino’s likely Plan B is to shift creation away from Malik Tillman and attack Australia’s block through multiple channels rather than one central playmaker. If Australia’s back five closes Tillman’s space, the U.S. can lean on Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams to move the ball faster from deeper areas, while using Antonee Robinson and Sergiño Dest to create width and deliver from the flanks. That matters against a compact 3-4-2-1 because Australia tends to protect the middle and concede possession, leaving room for wing-backs and wide overloads. Pochettino also has personnel options to change the profile of the attack. Gio Reyna is the clearest alternative creator if the U.S. needs another passer between the lines, while Timothy Weah offers more direct running and can stretch the back line. Brenden Aaronson or Sebastian Berhalter provide energy and pressing, with Berhalter also adding set-piece quality. If the match becomes more physical or transitional, Pochettino can reinforce midfield with a harder-working option such as Cristian Roldan or Tanner Tessmann and push McKennie higher. A formation tweak is also available. Pochettino has used flexible structures that can shift from a three-at-the-back buildup into a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 shape, allowing the U.S. to add another attacker or redistribute playmaking duties. If open-play combinations stall, the fallback is simple: feed Folarin Balogun earlier, attack from wide areas, and make set pieces a major weapon.

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 19

Malik Tillman enters the U.S. World Cup match against Australia as a key attacking fit after his standout showing against Paraguay sharpened focus on his role.
Australia’s 2-0 win over Turkey came from a deep back-five that conceded 72% possession but compressed central space, a setup likely to give U.S. midfielders time on the ball while demanding incisive final passes.
Tillman’s profile matches that task: the 24-year-old can dribble through pressure, combine in tight areas and slip passes into the box, while also pressing quickly to stop Australian counterattacks at source.
Opta said he became one of only three players — with Eden Hazard and Neymar — to post at least three shots, three chances created, three dribbles, three final-third recoveries and three fouls won in a World Cup match.
That all-around form reflects a rise built at PSV and Bayer Leverkusen and now under Mauricio Pochettino, with the U.S. likely needing patience and Tillman’s imagination to break Australia down.