Bruce Arena Flags Belgium's 6 Top-Caliber Threats Before USMNT Round-of-16 Test
Updated
Updated · ESPN · Jul 6
Bruce Arena Flags Belgium's 6 Top-Caliber Threats Before USMNT Round-of-16 Test
3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Jul 6
Summary
Bruce Arena said Belgium will be the first team at this World Cup with "a half a dozen" starters equal to or better than the U.S., making the round-of-16 match the Americans' toughest test yet.
Belgium's danger runs from Thibaut Courtois through Kevin De Bruyne and Youri Tielemans to wide attackers Leandro Trossard and Jérémy Doku, whom Arena said the U.S. must contain with help defense.
Doku and De Bruyne were benched in Belgium's comeback win over Senegal, and Romelu Lukaku has emerged as a late-game weapon with 2 goals off the bench, including the strike that sparked that rally.
Arena expects Mauricio Pochettino to keep the U.S. pressing style intact, with Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie and Malik Tillman key to preventing Belgium from breaking pressure and attacking in transition.
The U.S. enters after a record 3 World Cup wins and 10 goals, chasing its first quarterfinal since 2002 against a Belgium side that needed 2 goals in the final 5 minutes to survive Senegal.