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MOTD Preview: USA v Belgium

By on July 1, 2014

Venue: Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador

KO Time: 21:00 BST

The last game of the second round takes place in the Arena Fonte Nova between Belgium v USA. While some of the second round games thus far have not produced what have been expected of them, hopefully this will go against the trend and be a cracker.

The Americans qualified from a group they were not expected to progress from containing Portugal, Ghana and Germany, the latter of them also coming through with the Americans. Throughout the group stage they impressed and picked up 4 points on their way to qualifying for the next round, and only a a last minute goal from Portugal prevented them from gaining all 3 points in their second game. However, they won’t mind that now as that goal didn’t prove to be vital and the USA qualified for the next stage.

Several players have impressed for USA in the World Cup, one which has impressed the most is Fabian Johnson – the attacking left back has worked hard in each area of the field, assisting attacks but also showing he is more than capable in defence as well. He has all the attributes to be a top class left back and it would not suprise me to see him plying his trade at a bigger club than where he is currently playing, no disrespect to Hoffenheim. Clint Dempsey has netted twice in the World Cup so far and has scored some key goals for the Stars and stripes, If the Seattle sounders man can score in today’s game he will tie Landon Donovan as the all time American World Cup goalscorer with five goals.

The Americans in recent times have always got so far but haven’t really been able to get past the Quarter finals of the competition, they have reached the quarter finals 3 times in the last 4 competitions and this current side will be hoping they will be able to go one further, It’s definitely possible.

Belgium won all 3 games in their group as was expected of them, although they made the games a lot harder than they would have liked. They have scored all of their 6 World Cup goals in the last 20 minutes of games, scoring late goals in games against Russia and South Korea and having to come back against recently eliminated Algeria. They have not been the side everyone expected they would be but the best teams take time to reach their peak in competitions such as the World Cup, and this may just be the case with Wilmots’ side.

The Belgians have all the ability to win the World Cup but experience is what they lack and need to conjure up if they want to go far in this years competition, the last time the Belgians reached the Quarterfinals was back in 1986, most of the current squad were not even born back then! Will they buckle under the pressure and let the Americans sneak through at their expense? It could definitely happen.

Prediction: Belgium 2-1 USA

About Callum Kenwright

Evertonian. Angler. Oasis. Spanish Football. Aspiring Football Journalist.