Updated

Updated · CBS Sports · Jun 29

USMNT's Tim Ream Downplays Round-of-32 Pressure Before Bosnia Clash as 3 Players Miss Training

Updated

Updated · CBS Sports · Jun 29

USMNT's Tim Ream Downplays Round-of-32 Pressure Before Bosnia Clash as 3 Players Miss Training

Q: Can the USMNT's aggressive attack overcome its European curse against the tournament's tallest team?

Yes — but only if the U.S. turns its attacking edge into an early lead and avoids feeding Bosnia and Herzegovina’s biggest strength: aerial situations. The matchup favors the USMNT on paper. Mauricio Pochettino’s side has leaned into an aggressive, fluid attack, won Group D, and has more individual quality in players such as Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun and Gio Reyna, who is fit again and offers the kind of creativity needed to break down a compact defense. Bosnia, ranked well below the U.S. and making its first World Cup appearance, is expected to defend in a tight 4-4-2 and look for direct transitions. The real danger is the profile of the opponent. Bosnia is described as the tournament’s tallest team, averaging about 6-foot-1, with a major set-piece threat led by 6-foot-4 veteran Edin Džeko. That matters because the U.S. has struggled against European opposition, going 13 matches without a win against UEFA teams and losing the last 10. It also matters because the Americans’ defensive vulnerability has shown up against stronger sides, including in the 3-2 loss to Turkiye. So the answer is less about the U.S. attack alone than game control. If the Americans press well, move Bosnia’s back line side to side, and let Balogun and Reyna attack space rather than crosses into traffic, they should have enough to advance. If they concede cheap free kicks and corners, the “European curse” could continue.

Q: Can a fit Gio Reyna unlock a disciplined Bosnian defense known for historic upsets?

Yes — if Gio Reyna is truly fit, he is the U.S. player most likely to break open this matchup. That is less about Bosnia being easy to play through and more about the specific problem they present. Bosnia and Herzegovina are expected to defend in a compact 4-4-2, stay aggressive, and look for direct transitions. They are also the tournament’s tallest team, which makes crossing and set-piece battles less attractive for the U.S. In that kind of game, the U.S. needs a “lock-picker” between the lines, and Reyna is the clearest option. The timing helps. Reyna is available and coming off more than 70 minutes against Turkiye, his longest meaningful outing in some time, and he has said he feels sharp. Pochettino has also made clear he trusts Reyna’s creativity in tight spaces. Against a defense likely to sit deep and deny obvious lanes, his value is in receiving under pressure, slipping final passes, combining quickly around the box, and forcing defenders out of shape. Still, Reyna alone will not decide it. Bosnia’s discipline, physical size, and threat on the break mean the U.S. must avoid cheap turnovers and unnecessary set pieces. The Americans will also need movement from Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun or Ricardo Pepi to turn Reyna’s passes into chances. So the answer is yes, but with a caveat: Reyna can unlock Bosnia, yet only if the U.S. gives him runners, controls transitions, and avoids turning the match into an aerial contest.

3 articles · Updated · CBS Sports · Jun 29

Tim Ream said the United States feels less pressure heading into Wednesday's World Cup round-of-32 match with Bosnia and Herzegovina, arguing the squad put more expectation on itself before its opener against Paraguay.
Wednesday's knockout game at Levi's Stadium comes after the U.S. closed group play with a 3-2 loss to Turkiye, though Ream said the team has grown more confident since camp opened on May 27.
Three players missed training for a second straight day: Auston Trusty and Cristian Roldan worked individually, while Mark McKenzie received treatment; Roldan has not trained since June 18 because of a quad issue.
Gio Reyna is expected to be available after playing 70-plus minutes against Turkiye—his longest outing since Dec. 2024—and said he has had no issues since.
Bosnia, playing in its first World Cup, is expected to test Mauricio Pochettino's attack-minded side defensively as the U.S. shifts into a survive-and-advance mindset on home soil.