Di US men’s national team don wait almost four years to get another chance for World Cup last 16. Mauricio Pochettino and im players don dey build for dis moment since di Argentinian take over two years ago. A beatable Belgium team na di only tin wey stand between di co-hosts and a place for di final eight.
Earlier for di day, Portugal and Spain go face each other for a sweet Iberian derby. Di European champions find top form to beat Austria for di previous round. Dem reach level wey go hard for Cristiano Ronaldo and Co to match.
Di two blockbuster ties go decide two more places for di World Cup quarter-finals. All four teams involved get realistic chance to extend dia run for di tournament by at least one more round.
Whether Ronaldo or Roberto Martínez dey to blame for di struggles wey Portugal endure for dis World Cup depend on who you ask. But wetin no dey doubt na say Portugal go need to lift dia level well-well to stand any chance against Spain wey finally dey find dia stride. Di European champions don improve with almost every match dem play for di World Cup. Dia 3-0 victory over Austria na well-rounded display. Spain go play with intensity on both sides of di ball, tin wey go easier for di air-conditioned confines of Jerry World.
Player to watch: Lamine Yamal for Spain. Spain dey grow into dis tournament because Yamal dey grow into di tournament. Dem be completely different team when dem get di Barcelona youngster as dribbling threat on di right wing.
For di evening match, di USA dey play like a Pochettino team. Dia attacking verve and energy don make di co-hosts one of di most exciting sides to watch for dis World Cup. But defeat to Belgium go cause deja vu after last-16 exits for 2010, 2014 and 2022. Belgium beat di USA for di same stage for 2014 World Cup, but di country’s so-called golden generation don fade or altogether disappear since then. Rudi Garcia’s side don toil throughout dis summer tournament and dem no fit be relied upon to create goalscoring chances. Dis na big chance for di USA.
Player to watch: Folarin Balogun for USA. After im one-game red-card ban wey Fifa suspend, Balogun go once again be di USA’s biggest threat for di attacking third. Di Monaco striker dey enjoy a breakout tournament.
