USA enter this World Cup with a strange mix of excitement and pressure. Playing at home should lift them, of course, but it also makes every loose touch feel louder. Pochettino has had time to shape the squad, and now comes the uncomfortable part: proving the plan works.
The Americans have tested themselves against elite opponents in the build-up, which may explain why recent results look a little rough on paper. Still, there’s value in those hard games. They’ve had to defend deep, chase matches, and find attacking rhythm under stress. That matters when tournament football gets tense.
Paraguay arrive with a very different personality. Alfaro’s side are compact, stubborn and happy to let the opponent carry the ball. Some might call it negative. Others would call it smart tournament football. Their set-piece threat gives them a puncher’s chance, especially if the USA grow impatient.
This could settle into a match where the USA see more of the ball, push wing-backs high, and try to feed runners between Paraguay’s midfield and defence. Paraguay, meanwhile, should look for second balls, early deliveries and those slightly ugly moments that decide big games. Not glamorous, maybe, but dangerous.
The rhythm probably won’t be wild from the first whistle. Both teams know a Group D opener can shape the whole tournament. Even so, the attacking names on both sides suggest we should not expect a sterile stalemate. One mistake, one set piece, one Balogun run, and the match changes.
