{"id":496734,"date":"2026-06-17T04:27:11","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T04:27:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/496734\/"},"modified":"2026-06-17T04:27:11","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T04:27:11","slug":"the-threats-australia-must-neutralise-in-world-cups-battle-of-seattle-against-usa-world-cup-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/496734\/","title":{"rendered":"The threats Australia must neutralise in World Cup\u2019s \u2018Battle of Seattle\u2019 against USA | World Cup 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the so-called \u201cBattle of Seattle\u201d, the Socceroos face a range of threats against the USA on Friday (Saturday AEST): physical, technical and tactical. A draw will almost certainly secure a place in the round of 32 for the Socceroos and, after their heroics against Turkey, Australia<\/a> can rightfully feel this is a game they can win. To do so, they will need to neutralise the most dangerous components of the USA menace.<\/p>\n

Christian Pulisic<\/p>\n

The focal point of the USA attack, and the face of the team across many of the advertisements screening during the World Cup<\/a>, Pulisic has become a consistent performer for AC Milan since the end of his up-and-down stint Chelsea in 2023.<\/p>\n

The 27-year-old operates in an inverted left wing role, leaving him the scope to cut inside when the team has possession or drive wide on counter-attacks. Both strategies were evident in his electric first half display against Paraguay.<\/p>\n

Pulisic suffered a knock in that game and came off at half-time, but is due to play against Australia<\/a>. He will pose a challenge for Alessandro Circati on the right-side of the Socceroos\u2019 three central defenders. The young defender will not always be marking the American, but will be responsible for ensuring the right full-back \u2013 likely Jacob Italiano \u2013 and the right-sided central midfielder \u2013 probably Aiden O\u2019Neill \u2013 are on Pulisic watch.<\/p>\n

Antonee Robinson<\/p>\n

The problem for Circati and the others on the Socceroos\u2019 right flank is that they cannot worry about just Pulisic. The preference of Mauricio Pochettino to use wingbacks \u2013 which is not dissimilar to Tony Popovic\u2019s preferred system \u2013 means Robinson becomes an outlet in possession and an attacking complement to Pulisic on the left side.<\/p>\n

Fulham\u2019s Antonee Robinson is likely to be a handful for the Socceroos. Photograph: Matthew Childs\/Reuters<\/p>\n

The Socceroos are likely to concede the bulk of possession to the tournament hosts, leaving Connor Metcalfe \u2013 set to be Australia\u2019s right winger again \u2013 as the first line of defence against Robinson. The American finished last season strongly for Fulham, and offers pace, endurance and capacity to overlap in an area targeted by Switzerland in the World Cup warm-up game and Turkey at the weekend. They both clearly saw something they liked down Australia\u2019s right.<\/p>\n

Sergi\u00f1o Dest<\/p>\n

Unfortunately for the Socceroos, the USA<\/a> pose threats on both flanks. Dest is a skilful right-sided wingback or winger who helped PSV to the Dutch title. His duel with Jordy Bos, Australia\u2019s dangerous left full-back, is set to be the game\u2019s most compelling one-on-one contest. The pair played each other twice in the Eredivisie last season, and Bos\u2019s Feyenoord \u2013 who finished second in the league \u2013 were beaten on both occasions.<\/p>\n

Of course, they will not always face down each other in possession. Both players will also be marked at times by opposition midfielders, but Dest\u2019s tendency to attack is likely to place him in the proximity of Bos more often than not. The Australian\u2019s ability to gain possession behind Dest, and force the Americans onto the back foot, will help relieve pressure in what is likely to be a 100-minute-long assault from the hosts.<\/p>\n

Dest motors forward during the co-hosts\u2019 opening game against Paraguay. Photograph: Ringo Chiu\/ZUMA Press Wire\/ShutterstockFolarin Balogun<\/p>\n

The striker scored twice against Paraguay<\/a>, including a gorgeous second which highlights the risk for Australia. Balogun\u2019s speed will test Australia\u2019s loping central defence, whether that\u2019s Harry Souttar in the middle, or on the left where Cam Burgess or perhaps Lucas Herrington will be called upon.<\/p>\n

The Socceroos conceded a similar goal to Balogun\u2019s second against the USA in their friendly last year, when a quick free-kick in midfield found Burgess napping. That time it was Haji Wright \u2013 a likely substitute on Friday \u2013 who cut in and scored. The danger will be even more intense with Balogun, who finished with 19 goals in all competitions for Monaco last season.<\/p>\n

Gio Reyna<\/p>\n

The midfielder looms as a lock-pick against what is likely to be Australia\u2019s low block, even if he comes off the bench as he did against Paraguay. Reyna has the technical ability to find spaces for him and his teammates in between the lines, and the polish to make the most of half chances. His finish against Paraguay, with the outside of his right foot, was a delight.<\/p>\n

Gio Reyna chats to head coach Mauricio Pochettino during a training session. Photograph: John Dorton\/USSF\/Getty ImagesMauricio Pochettino<\/p>\n

Paraguay came into the World Cup with a similar reputation to the Socceroos, as conservative and physical opponents. Despite the Paraguayans\u2019 outstanding defensive record in South American qualifying, they were dismantled by an irresistible American display in the first half last week.<\/p>\n

The USA players can take credit, but the foundation of their success was coach Pochettino. The Argentinian \u2013 whose tactical nous helped Tottenham to their first Champions League final in 2019 \u2013 is not afraid to tweak his system to exploit opponents\u2019 weaknesses. That pragmatism, together with the technical flexibility and athleticism of his squad, mean Australia will need to be prepared for surprises. Or, hopefully, have some of their own.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In the so-called \u201cBattle of Seattle\u201d, the Socceroos face a range of threats against the USA on Friday…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":496735,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[85,46,105],"class_list":["post-496734","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-il","tag-israel","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/496734","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=496734"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/496734\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/496735"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=496734"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=496734"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=496734"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}