| The situation in the group before this final round is completely clear, which also determines the radically different motivations for the two teams. Turkiye is out of the World Cup after two consecutive losses to Australia and Paraguay and zero goals scored. Vincenzo Montella's team will play only for their honor and for the fans. The USA recorded two convincing victories 4-1 against Paraguay and 2-0 against Australia as they have already secured first place in the group. Mauricio Pochettino is expected to rotate the squad in order to preserve his key players for the 1/16-finals. After heavy criticism for the lack of efficiency the Turkish national team should play more freely without pressure. Hakan Calhanoglu will direct the tempo. Since the USA will not be pressing as aggressively, Turkiye will have the opportunity to have possession for longer. For the Americans, players from the bench will have a chance to prove themselves for the knockout stage. Even with the reserves, the USA has tremendous speed on the wings. The hosts will aim for an economical and calm pace, without unnecessary risks of injuries or cards. |
