Team USA Qualify for Round of 16 – FIFA World Cup Update
The US Men’s National Team have Qualified for the Knockout stages for the World Cup. They now face a tough task beating European powerhouses, the Netherlands. Despite a tough task the Netherlands are not what they were and the US have a fantastic chance in reaching the quarter finals for the first time since 2002 and for only the 3rd time in the country’s history. Take a look at our preview below.
Sign Up For Classes
Choose one of the 1 hour soccer classes on offer for children aged 3 – 14 years old.
We also offer private 1-to-1 and 1-to-2 classes for children under 18.
There are 3 types of classes to choose from:
Join one of our Public Classes currently taking place.
Start your own Private Group Classes with a specified day & time.
Request an Individual Class, a 1-to-1 class with a coach or 1-to-2 class with a coach and a friend.
Join a Public Class
Start a Private Group Class
Start Individual Classes
Netherlands vs USA Preview
USA
Overview
The USA have qualified from the group stage for the 7th time in the country’s history, however this is the first time since 2002 and will be pushing a weaker Netherlands team to achieve only their 3rd time in the quarter finals of the World Cup. The US have shown a street wise and gritty streak in the tournament so far.
Despite not setting the world alight form an attacking point of view, the US have proven to be a very solid and organized outfit, reducing tournament favorites England to a dour 1-1 draw with the US providing the the best goal scoring opportunities. They will be disappointed with the draw against Wales, but the win over Iran in the final group stag game brings a renewed optimism and confidence heading into the next round.
Injury doubt remain about star player Christian Pulisic but if Tyler Adams, Weston Mckennie and Yunus Mousa can hold the midfield again the US really have a great chance to move on and scare some other nations on their side of the bracket.
Form
1-1 Draw vs Wales
0-0 Draw vs England
1-0 Win vs IR Iran
Star Players
Tyler Adams & Christian Pulisic
Netherlands
Overview
Definitely not the Dutch teams form the 70s, 80s, or 90s but still an opposition for the US to worry about and take a different approach to from their last game. The Netherlands have breezed the group stage this time. Coach Louis Van Gaal still recovering from prostate cancer has managed to blend a team of mixed experience and youth. There is definite quality in this team who have yet to get our of second gear. Will it be their their day, their round or even their tournament!
Form
2-0 Win vs Senegal
1-1 Draw vs Ecuador
2-0 Win vs Qatar
Star Player
Cody Gakpo
Round of 16 Preview
Argentina vs Australia
Argentina will be the favorites here. Despite a rocky start losing to traditional group stage strugglers Saudi Arabia, Messi and co bounced back with big performances versus Poland and Mexico.
Australia have raised eye brows knocking out dark horses Denmark and qualifying with France when very few gave them a chance
Argentina Form
2-1 Loss vs Saudi Arabia, 2-0 Win vs Mexico, 2- Win vs Poland
Argentina Star Player
Lionel Messi
Australia Form
41 Loss vs France, 1-0 Win vs Tunisia, 1-0 Win vs Denmark
Australia Star Player
Aaron Moy
France vs Poland
France had been totally dominant in their games up until the Tunisia game, losing 1-0. This does come with a but, they were already qualified and made 8 changes from their normal 11. This France team are stacked and confident and with Kylian Mbappe imperious form it will take a special effort to stop them.
Despite qualifying Poland have offered little to shout about so far and at one stage were only qualifying due to their good behavior (less yellow cards than Mexico). They have one of the worlds best finishers in Lewandowski, but getting him into dangerous areas has proved difficult.
France Form
4-1 Win vs Australia, 2-1 Win vs Denmark, 1-0 Loss vs Tunisia
France Star Player
Kylian Mbappe
Poland Form
0-0 Draw vs Mexico, 2-0 Win vs Saudi Arabia, 2-0 Loss vs Argentina
Poland Star Player
Robert Lewandowski
England vs Senegal
England will be the favorites here. Despite a blistering start smashing Iran, Kane and co struggled to create against a tough USA team and were fortunate against a very poor and generous Wales team
Senegal knocked out Ecuador in their group decider against Ecuador always a likely scenario with a very poor Qatar and a Netherlands team in their group. They boast a solid midfield and in Ismaila Sarr a match winner but the depth of the England team ought to be too much
England Form
6-2 Win vs Iran, 0-0 Draw vs USA, 3-0 Win vs Wales
England Star Player
Harry Kane
Senegal Form
2-1 Loss vs Netherlands, 3-1 Win vs Qatar, 2-1 Win vs Ecuador
Senegal Star Player
Ismaila Sarr
Morocco vs Spain
The North African team have some excellent players in their team such as Ziyech and Hakimi and will pose a serious risk on the counter to Spain.
Spain were in a topsy turvy last group game round with them being out at one point, second at another in the most exciting day our the tournament so far, scraping through after losing to Japan.
Morocco Form
0-0 Draw vs Croatia, 2-0 Win vs Belgium, 2-1 Win vs Canada
Morocco Star Player
Hakim Ziyeh
Spain Form
7-0 Win vs Costa Rica, 1-1 Draw vs Germany, 2-1 Loss vs Japan
Spain Star Player
Pedri
Croatia vs Japan
Wiley European outfit Croatia lead by Luka Modric prove time and time again they are an excellent team. Good individuals and a great unit and not to be underestimated by anyone and the favorites for this tie.
However Japan have surprised everyone by qualifying form the “Group of Death” embarrassing both Germany and Spain in 2-1 wins, from behind, and winning the group. Very exciting to see what they can do.
Croatia Form
0-0 Draw vs Morocco, 4-1 Win vs Canada, 0-0 Draw vs Belgium
Croatia Star Player
Luke Modric
Japan Form
2-1 Win vs Germany, 1-0 Loss vs Costa Rica, 2-1 Win vs Spain
Japan Star Player
Takefusa Kubo
Switzerland vs Portugal
Switzerland often sneak under the radar in terms of soccer prowess, despite rarely going beyond the quarter finals of any tournament the Swiss maintain a healthy ranking in the world on the back of a system of solidity. Rarely losing games has been Switzerland’s strength and weakness, not being able to make their control and solidity pay to push them to the next level.
Portugal managed to get through a tricky group with relative ease although a last group game loss wont help in building momentum for the next round> Fortunately for Portugal their cast of stars including CR7 seem to be doing their bit to take their country on… for now.
Switzerland Form
1-0 Win vs Cameroon, 1-0 Loss vs Brazil, 3-2 Win vs Serbia
Switzerland Star Player
Breel Embolo
Portugal Form
3-2 Win vs Ghana, 2-0 Win vs Uruguay, 2-1 Loss vs South Korea
Portugal Star Player
Bernardo Silva
Brazil vs South Korea
One of the favorites Brazil sailed through the group stage, rarely looking troubled, even a loss to Cameroon, having 17 shots at goal in doing so, wont hamper the Brazilians mood after changing nearly the entire team similar to France. Neymar is facing a race to bit fit after a nasty ankle injury will cause concern among their fans.
South Korea have emerged from the most difficult of groups featuring Uruguay, Portugal and Ghana. With Son coming back to fitness and rocking his very fetching mask to support a broken cheek bone, South Korea will be a real test for the most successful team i world football
Brazil Form
2-0 Win vs Serbia, 1-0 Win vs Switzerland, 1-0 Loss vs Cameroon
Brazil Star Player
Richarlison
South Korea Form
3-2 Loss vs Ghana, 0-0 Draw vs Uruguay, 2-1 Win vs Portugal
South Korea Star Player
Son Heyung Min
