US face unpredictable Bosnia test in World Cup round of 32
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Tim Ream of the United States talks to the media during a training session at Great Park Sports Complex on June 29.
PHOTO: AFP
IRVINE – A confident United States team eyeing a deep World Cup run will encounter a Bosnia and Herzegovina side looking to spoil the co-hosts’ party in a last-32 clash in Santa Clara on July 1.
The US won their opening two group-stage matches to secure early qualification for the knockout rounds and will look to rebound from a last-gasp defeat by Turkey in a dead rubber in Los Angeles when they head north to the San Francisco Bay Area.
The Americans are heavy favourites, but captain Tim Ream said they would not take Bosnia lightly after the Balkan nation beat Italy in qualifying to deny the four-time champions a place in the tournament and finished third in a group behind Switzerland and Canada.
“They’re a difficult team to play against and they’re in the tournament for a reason,” he said.
“It’s not a fluke that they’ve gone through the play-offs and knocked Italy out and made it through to the World Cup. We know they’re a strong team, a physical team. They’ve obviously qualified and made it through the group stages (as well).
“They went through a little bit of a conflict to get there and they’re just a really tough team. At the end of the day, the game is going to be about us and what we’re prepared to do and what we need to do to advance.”
Bosnia, nicknamed the Dragons, have built their campaign on defensive organisation, but Ream said the US were preparing for all scenarios.
“I don’t know if we really expect Bosnia to just be defensive. We have to expect the unexpected,” the 38-year-old defender said.
Mauricio Pochettino’s team will be seeking to score first for a fourth consecutive World Cup match, hoping to ignite a home crowd behind an attack led by Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun.
Bosnia are captained by 40-year-old striker Edin Dzeko, widely regarded as the greatest player in the nation’s history, and carry threats through physical forward Ermedin Demirovic and teenage winger Kerim Alajbegovic.
Goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj has been another key figure for Bosnia, playing an important role in qualifying and in penalty shoot-outs, and Ream said the US had placed particular emphasis on spot kicks and set pieces.
“We’ve been doing a lot of work on penalties. I won’t go into that,” he said with a laugh.
“That’s something that we’ve been working on throughout the week together, even before the tournament started, so that’s taken care of really.
“We know that, especially in the knockouts, one mistake on a set play can send you home. So we’re fully focused on all aspects and all phases of the game.” REUTERS, AFP
