The US teams, both women`s and men`s, are in action this weekend, while the Club World Cup knockout stages are also set to begin.
Club World Cup: Are Manchester City the Favorites?
With the Club World Cup`s group stage now concluded, it still feels early to draw definitive conclusions about Europe`s elite clubs. Many of the anticipated contenders appear to be either preparing for the next season or showing a lack of interest, leading to significant defeats against their Brazilian opponents. Manchester City, however, stands apart. Pep Guardiola`s squad is the only European team to have navigated the initial phase of the competition flawlessly, winning all three matches. As Guardiola himself might attest, no performance in the United States has been as complete as their dominant 5-2 victory over Juventus.
Guardiola: `It has been a long time since we had a performance like this on and off the ball. The players were committed and we are happy to beat a top side. This is just one game, but I think the players felt again what it was like to be a good team. The belief always comes from your performances, not your past.`
City`s command in the match was reminiscent of their past triumphs. They maintained 76% possession and generated 24 shots, accumulating a remarkable 3.92 expected goals. On the left flank, Jeremy Doku was devastatingly inventive, while Savinho was nearly as effective on the opposite side. It`s still early for Rayan Ait Nouri, but he has made a remarkably bright start, displaying tactical intelligence by shifting his position fluidly, sometimes hugging the touchline and at other times joining the midfield.
Furthermore, Rodri`s return was encouraging. It`s understandable that he didn`t quite appear to be the player he was before his ACL injury in September – that version of him was arguably the world`s best, a clear contender for the Ballon d`Or he later won. In this recent outing, the Spanish international passed accurately and showed strength in duels. Crucially for Guardiola, Rodri`s presence prevented the issues seen without him in the side.
Guardiola: `In the last few games we have conceded a lot of transitions but it didn`t happen this time. Everyone knows how important Rodri is. He is one of the best players in the world. When they`re not in a team, they`re missed.`
The City manager would be the first to state that performance in the U.S. wouldn`t compensate for a poor season at the Etihad. However, being crowned world champions now seems a realistic goal for this team. Finishing atop Group G meant avoiding Real Madrid in the Round of 16 and steering clear of the bracket containing Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich. The path has cleared somewhat for City, who will face Al-Hilal in the Round of 16 followed by a challenging but manageable quarterfinal against Inter Milan or Fluminense. Once again, the team under Guardiola`s management appears to be the one to beat on the sport`s grandest stage.
USMNT Face Test from Defensive Costa Rica
After comfortably advancing through the group stages, the USMNT enters the Gold Cup knockout rounds facing what could be a challenging fixture against Costa Rica. Los Ticos haven`t been electrifying in the tournament, and excluding three penalties, their attack seemed somewhat lacking potency in their initial three games.
However, perhaps the most telling indicator of the test awaiting Mauricio Pochettino`s side is how Costa Rica performed in their 0-0 draw against Mexico. Facing a team with superior attacking talent, they employed their frequently used tactic: sitting deep and relying on Keylor Navas to make necessary saves. This approach worked, with the veteran goalkeeper repelling all four shots on target while the defense in front of him ensured Mexico`s 69% possession resulted in only 13 shots with an expected goals value of 1.45. While this style might not win a league title, it is absolutely viable in a knockout match, possibly even two.
To break down such stubborn resistance, the U.S.` B team attackers will need to perform cohesively, similar to their (largely successful) efforts in the group stage. Put simply, this match is an opportunity for Malik Tillman to solidify his position as the primary number 10 with the World Cup on the horizon. As Pardeep Cattry explains, he appears to be the ideal player, working with the right coach, within the optimal system:
Cattry: `Tillman seems like the first genuine benefactor of Pochettino`s arrival, who seems to be deploying the player in a way that could remind some of Christian Eriksen or Dele Alli when the Argentine was in charge of Tottenham Hotspur. It has worked like a charm so far this month, with Tillman bagging three goals and one assist in his last five games for the national team and so far emerging as the breakout star of their Gold Cup run.`
Naturally, the U.S. will need more than just one player performing well to navigate their quarterfinal, let alone the potential tie against Canada or Guatemala that might follow. Patrick Agyeman has been finding promising shooting opportunities, while Brenden Aaronson and Diego Luna have provided creative impetus. Sustaining this level of performance in the quarterfinals would allow these players to significantly strengthen their case for a place in Pochettino`s World Cup plans.
Dominic Ashworth