Top News

DON'T MISS A MOMENT OF THE WORLD CUP

The Rondo, USMNT edition: Can the United States clinch the group early with a win against Australia? How crucial is Christian Pulisic’s involvement? And who will be the key danger man for the Socceroos?

The USMNT’s second group fixture could either ensure a relaxed path into the knockout rounds or set up a tense deciding match later on.

Now comes the decisive encounter. The opening clash with Paraguay was all about starting strong. Failing to win the first World Cup match often triggers panic — things can quickly spiral from there.

Fortunately for the Americans, they did quite the opposite. They dominated their CONMEBOL opponents, earning a convincing 4-1 victory after an exhilarating first half of play. The equation now is simple: if results favour them, a win over Australia this afternoon could see them seal top spot in the group. Should Turkey and Paraguay draw in the other match — a realistic scenario — the USMNT would complete the job with a game to spare.

However, the Socceroos are far from easy opponents. They opened the tournament by defeating a strong Turkey side, and while they may lack the attacking flair of previous generations, they remain a well-drilled team that rarely concedes ground easily. The Americans will need to work hard for anything they get. To make matters worse, Christian Pulisic — who has struggled with injuries throughout his career — is again a doubt. He has been labelled ‘day to day’ all week, and as of now, his involvement remains uncertain.

So, no room for error then... GOAL’s writers break down the big clash in this latest edition of The Rondo. EDITOR’S NOTE: Pulisic has been ruled out of the USMNT’s fixture against Australia.

Who wins USA vs Australia?

Tom Hindle: It’s difficult to predict anything other than a USMNT victory here, isn’t it? They were outstanding against Paraguay, and if they can deliver a similar level of performance, this should be a fairly straightforward affair. There’s been some entertaining pre-match banter around this one, but the Americans should simply have too much quality on the day.

Ryan Tolmich: The USMNT should edge it, but it’ll be nervy. Expect a physical, tightly contested battle decided by individual brilliance. Australia have a few gamechangers — Nestory Irankunda showed his potential against Turkey — but the US appear to have more in their ranks. After seeing Turkey’s complacency, the Americans will be wary and better prepared this time.

Alex Labidou: A win for the United States, but it could go down to the wire. Expect a late winner from Gio Reyna to continue his redemption arc. Keep an eye on this one.

If Christian Pulisic can’t play, how worried should we be?

TH: Losing your best player is never ideal! The USMNT have options at striker, but that’s about it. Pulisic is central to everything they do — the team isn’t the same without him. The big question is what Mauricio Pochettino decides. Does he take a calculated risk, play him to secure the win, and then rest him for the final group game? Or does he err on the side of caution and leave him out entirely? Personally, I’d start him and then protect him afterwards, but Pochettino is the boss.

RT: Quite concerned. Breaking down Australia won’t be easy, and there aren’t many players in this squad who can beat defenders like Pulisic. He proved that with his involvement in the opening goal of the last match — moments like that create real chances. When asked who was the best one-on-one dribbler in the USMNT (besides himself), Sergino Dest named Pulisic. If Pulisic is unavailable, someone else will have to step up and unsettle the Australians.

AL: Concerned about the longer-term implications, but the U.S. should still be able to overcome Australia without him. The larger worry is that the Americans might be on the brink of something special in this tournament, and they’ll need their best player fit to achieve that.

Who is Australia’s biggest threat?

TH: This generation of Australian players is somewhat unusual — not many are playing at top Premier League clubs right now. That said, we often judge too harshly through a Eurocentric lens. They’re still a capable side. Nestory Irankunda is a lively presence on the left flank and will certainly keep Sergino Dest occupied.

RT: Irankunda again. It’s no secret the USMNT defence has been shaky in recent months, and their backline is vulnerable to pace. Irankunda brings exactly that. If he ends up in a sprint against Tim Ream, we all know how that will end. Chris Richards is coming off an ankle injury, and with the fullbacks often pushing forward, Irankunda could find space to exploit — and when he does, he moves fast.

AL: Either Irankunda or one of Australia’s tall centre-backs. Let’s keep things moving.

Who needs to deliver a big performance?

TH: Honestly, everyone! Australia aren’t a defensive fortress, but they’ll likely sit deep with five at the back. That puts the spotlight on the U.S.’s attacking difference-makers. Pulisic is the obvious choice, but it would be great to see Malik Tillman contribute more offensively. His off-the-ball work against Paraguay was excellent, though his final-third output could improve. A goal or assist would boost his confidence immensely.

RT: Folarin Balogun. The Paraguay match was open, but this one won’t be. Balogun needs to stay sharp. If Pulisic is unavailable, he’ll have to shoulder more attacking responsibility, either by scoring himself or involving others. That’ll be key.

AL: Malik Tillman again, especially if Pulisic isn’t fit or at full strength. Tillman did everything but score last week, and Pochettino may have found a new role for him — moving him from a classic No.10 to a No.8. If the Bayer Leverkusen midfielder maintains his current form, the Americans should be able to wrap up the group without issue.

Should Mauricio Pochettino alter his starting XI?

TH: No need. Keep things steady. Perhaps a slight tactical tweak — maybe revert to a traditional back four or use Sergino Dest as a right winger — but no drastic changes are required.

RT: If everything’s working, there’s no reason to adjust. The current lineup is flexible enough to adapt tactically. As the saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

AL: No.

How damaging would a defeat be?

TH: Not ideal, but not catastrophic either. It’s still possible to progress from the group with three points. However, for momentum’s sake, it would be best to secure qualification early — ideally without needing a must-win situation in the final game. Get it done now.

RT: Quite damaging. A loss would make topping the group difficult and could lead to a potential clash with Argentina later on. Getting a result here is essential, as it shapes the rest of the tournament for this team.

AL: It wouldn’t be disastrous, but it would represent a familiar pattern for the Americans. Over the past two decades, they’ve had several chances to take the next big step, only to fall short. U.S. Soccer needs this team to win the group — not just for progress, but to validate the investment in Pochettino and the direction of the programme. Time to deliver.