While there were slight differences between the two games, the concepts remain the same. Numerical advantages are the name of the game. The secret is, though, that everything isn’t defined by what the USMNT do on the ball, but rather what they do off it.
The big uniting principle in the two games is the press. It is aggressive and quick and, so far, impossible to deal with. The moment the USMNT lose the ball, the team swarms, and it swarms in packs. After most turnovers, the team has seven players in the attacking end fighting to win it back, and neither Australia nor Paraguay had the ability to cope.
Even the team’s other three players, Tim Ream, Chris Richards and Alex Freeman played high, too. Against Paraguay, they were often stationed several yards into Paraguay’s half, eager to swat away any hopeful long balls. That’s largely what happened: after a few too many turnovers caused by the USMNT press, the best bet was to hoof it long and hope Ream, Richards or Freeman messed up. They never did, which meant the USMNT immediately had the ball back every time.
The numbers say how effective this was. Against Paraguay, they had 65 percent possession. They had 277 passes in the opposing half compared to just 68 for Paraguay. They had 53 touches in the box compared to just 11 for the opponent. Against Australia, more of the same: 63 percent possession and more than twice as many passes in the opposing half as the Socceroos had.
So, while everyone is eager to break down what the USMNT does on the ball, and rightfully so, it’s all about what the U.S. does off of it. Those moments are defined by relentless, but organized, pressure that, ultimately, ensures the team doesn’t lack the ball for too long.
“They’re very powerful, very cohesive,” Popovic explained. “They have a lot of players, even the ones who come on (as substitutes), with experience and quality.”
