Match Analysis

1st Half (USA)

Formation: USA: 4-2-3-1 |Belgium: 4-4-2

Description

- When in attack, the US tried to have Zusi & Bedoya play a bit more narrow so that Johnson and Beasley could get forward to hit crosses.

- Jones would push forward to join Bradley to play more of a 4-3-3 when the US had gained comfortable possession.

- USA Sub in the 32nd minute: Yedlin for Johnson straight swap.

Key Individuals:

- Beasley did well to get forward to hit some crosses. Jones covered a lot of ground and tried to get involved in the attack. Dempsey did ok to stay high and create depth, but rarely saw the ball. Bradley and Bedoya were relatively ineffective and quiet.

Group Functions:

- Forwards and Midfielders: Dempsey tried to stay high. Typically, when one outside midfielder tucked in, the other tried to stay a little wider. Zusi was aggressive in staying inside, Bedoya rarely saw the ball. Cameron looked to get the ball to Bradley or Jones immediately, and provide support for them to get forward.

- Defenders and Midfielders: Johnson tried to get into the attack, but wasn't as successful as Beasley. Beasley was able to get a few crosses into the area. When Johnson went down with injury, Yedlin had a bit more success with Zusi working down the right, and there was a spell where the US controlled the ball more. Beasley and Bedoya were able to have a fair amount of success, too.

- Goalkeeper and Defenders: Howard was able to bail out the defenders time and again as they got beat by the more technically skilled Belgians. Origi, Mertens and De Bruyne were able to create a lot of chances through their individual speed and technical quality. Besler and Gonzalez were caught out a few times from the speed and strength of Origi, but Howard was there to clean it up. Johnson (and Yedlin) and Beasley had to be aware of getting caught high and stuck with a coutner-attack.

How do they build up?:

- When the US was in comfortable possession of the ball, Jones would look to get forward, and they would try to operate out of a more traditional 4-3-3.

- If Howard got the ball, he would look to try to get it to the Midfielders, and skip the 1st layer of the team. Mainly achieved this with a throw.

- If they built out of the back, generally went to Beasley's side more.

How do they move into final 3rd?:

- They would try to get the ball "Up-Back-Wide" to an overlapping outside back; Zusi and Bedoya would cut inside to create that space.

- If this combination play didn't work, it would try to go directly wide for a cross into the box.

Group Functions of USA Defense:

Forwards and Midfielders:

- Bedoya and Zusi would pinch in towards the middle, and Jones and Bradley would get central/compact to create a bank of 4. Dempsey would check back, and stay roughly around the bottom of the center circle.

Defenders and Midfielders:

- Cameron would drop into the middle of the back line to create a bank of 5. Zusi and Bedoya would tuck in, and Jones and Bradley would stay central.

Goalkeeper and Defenders:

- Defenders tried to stay as compact and connected as possible. Besler and Gonzalez would occasionally get pulled out of position when Beasley and Johnson (Yedlin) got caught high up the field. Howard played off his line well and controlled the box. He stayed connected to the back 4.

Belgium

Formation: USA: 4-2-3-1 |Belgium: 4-3-3

Description

Belgium Subs

- Mirallas for Mertens in the 60th minute straight swap.

- Lukaku for Origi in the 90th minute straight swap.

- Chadli for Hazard in the 111th minute straight swap.

Style of play (Belgium)

- Attacked out of a 4-2-4 really as De Bruyne, Hazard and Mertens pushed high up the field and had the freedom to create with Origi. Ball was immediately given to one of those three playmakers to penetrate and probe the US. Would play direct to try to release Origi or Mertens as fast as possible for them to try to get in behind or have the US facing their own goal. Hazard tucked central to leave the entire left open for Vertonghen to get forward and serve crosses into the box. Fellaini and Witsel held in the middle and tried to just keep the play in front of them and provide support for the front 4. Van Buyten would inch forward to help Witsel and Fellaini in the middle with Kompany in behind.

Defending of Belgium:

Forwards and Midfielders:

- Origi, Mertens and De Bruyne would look to press and win the ball back quickly and Hazard would stay wide on one side for the counter. Hazard and De Bruyne would alternate in that counter role. Witsel and Fellaini would hang central and shield the back 4.

Defenders and Midfielders:

- Witsel and Fellaini were the main midfielders to help out the back 4. They acted as a sheild for the flat four.

Goalkeeper and Defenders:

- Relatively simple game. Bank of 4 defenders to protect the goal. Not under a lot of intense pressure.