Published Jul 2, 4:34am ET by
Alex Dudley - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Jul 2, 4:34am ET
Credit: Shutterstock
Updated Jul 2, 4:34am ET
All eyes will be on Seattle on July 6, as the USA bid to make history as they chase a spot in the round of 16 stage of the FIFA World Cup when they come up against Belgium.
The European nation will likely be favored in the betting, but the confidence is oozing through Mauricio Pochettino’s side at this stage, and that could ultimately prove to be the difference.
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|
|---|---|
| USA | +157 |
| DRAW | +250 |
| Belgium | +178 |
This has been a summer when soccer has truly captured the imagination of the American public, and at the heart of that have been the decisions made by Mauricio Pochettino.
The USMNT topped Group D in the opening round, and the positive momentum continued in the round of 32 with a straightforward 2-0 win over Bosnia. Victory on Monday would see the U.S. reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup for the first time since 2002. A notable concern would be the suspension of Folarin Balogun, who has scored three goals in as many games this summer.
The striker was sent off in the win over Bosnia. Ricardo Pepi is likely to replace the top scorer, while Christian Pulisic proved his fitness in midweek after playing almost the entirety of the 90 minutes.
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Belgium should be running out of lives at this summer’s World Cup, as they have flattered to deceive throughout the competition.
After falling into the top spot in Group G, the Red Devils were lucky in their fight back in the round of 32 against Senegal, progressing despite being the worst team for at least 80 minutes of the contest. Credit should be given for the character shown, with the introduction of Romelu Lukaku ultimately turning the game in their favor.
Youri Tielemans scored twice in the win, and was a constant threat due to his excellent passing ability. However, Belgium looked weak defensively throughout the contest, and they lacked any sort of creativity in the final third before they were encouraged to attack in the final stages when Senegal continued to sit deeper and deeper.
I’m not entirely sure how Belgium are still in the World Cup, as they could have easily exited the competition in the group stage and they were incredibly fortunate in the round of 32. The USA have looked assured defensively this summer, and that should give them the platform required to overcome the Red Devils on Monday. Therefore, despite being without their top scorer, we foresee the U.S. recording a 2-0 win to reach the quarterfinals.
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Pick
USA (+157)
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