Tim Ream, the USA captain, is a likely starter for Wednesday's round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Speaking to the press on Monday, Ream downplayed the pressure of the knockout stage, saying, "Would it be weird if I told you I don't really feel too much pressure at this minute?" He added, "I just think there's so much pressure that we put on ourselves. It feels very different this time around than 2022."
First Competitive Meeting Between USA and Bosnia
This will be the first competitive clash between the two teams, following three friendlies. The most recent friendly, on 18 December 2021, featured only three members of Mauricio Pochettino's current World Cup squad; just one Bosnian player from that match is on their 26-man roster this summer.
Despite the lack of history, the USA's record against European opposition looms large. The Americans have failed to win in 13 consecutive matches against UEFA teams since a victory over Northern Ireland in March 2021, losing the last 10 of those. The aftermath of a dead-rubber defeat to Turkey has reignited concerns.
Reyna's Challenge and Role
Gio Reyna, who has struggled for playing time at both club and country level, cracked Pochettino's rotated lineup in the group stage finale, playing 76 minutes for his longest run-out since December 2024. Reyna showed rust, struggling to find passing lanes and seeing most of his upfield passes fail. His frustration was visible when he slammed the ball into the turf at halftime.
"With knockout rounds, anything can happen," Reyna said. "This team really does well with challenges." If group play is any indication, lock-pickers like Reyna will be necessary to unsettle a well-structured Bosnian side. Bosnia managed only 20 passes into opponents' boxes across three group games, the third-fewest of any team advancing to the knockouts.
Expecting the Unexpected
Pressure will likely come from wide areas, as the youthful wing tandem of Esmir Bajraktarević (PSV) and Kerim Alajbegović (Bayer Leverkusen) offers dynamism and a threat to cross onto the forehead of veteran striker Edin Džeko. However, Ream cautioned that Bosnia might change their approach.
"I don't know that we completely expected Paraguay to be the way that they were in the first game," Ream reflected. "There's always things that get thrown at you. I think we have to be able to expect the unexpected, as we proved against Australia. That's down to us as players to figure those puzzles out."
The USA will need to solve those puzzles to advance, with the knockout round journey beginning Wednesday in the Bay Area.
