As di USMNT dey face Bosnia and Herzegovina for di World Cup knockout stage, di feeling inside camp na calmness, not pressure. Coach Mauricio Pochettino tok say, ‘I start di conversation with di words of Jorge Valdano. Relaxation brings concentration. Dat na di best sentence and quote we fit apply.’
Dis match na one of di biggest for American soccer history. E dey happen for home soil, for primetime, and di whole world dey watch. E no be just game; e be moment wey fit shape di next phase of American soccer.
Despite di high stakes, di players no dey feel di weight. Defender Tim Ream ask, ‘Would e be weird if I tell you say I no really feel too much pressure at dis minute? E be game wey we want win. E be game wey we must put everything inside and perform like we do for group stage. Den we go see where e take us. For pressure, nothing added, nothing extra.’
Pochettino push back against di idea say USMNT be favorites. ‘Germany were favorites,’ e tok. ‘So too, Netherlands. Maybe di title of favorite fit save for after di game. Until den, e mean nothing.’
Di coach wan make im players rely on dia preparation and confidence from group stage. ‘E go be really tough,’ Pochettino admit, ‘but we dey believe for us and go dey transform all dat expectation and pressure and energy and try to be natural and play. Di job done, dem need to relax and no think. Tomorrow, play with intuition and confidence.’
So wetin di game fit bring? GOAL look at five keys to di USMNT clash with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
