One Down, Seven To Go
USMNT Burner Week Recap/Preview - 6/178/26 - Vol. 63
The most boring match of the 2026 world cup:
USMNT vs Paraguay Recap
BELT. TO. ASS. This was an instant classic and easily one of the best performances a USMNT team has had in our conscious lives. From start to end, we dominated possession and prevented Paraguay from being able to string anything together in any part of the field. We created 1.42 xG compared to Paraguay’s 0.54.
Our chances came early and often with Folarin Balogun doing what he does exceptionally and running off of center backs’ shoulders. Our first goal of the match came in just 7th minute as Christian Pulisic, who was phenomenal in his first half cameo, took a pass from Weston McKennie, sized up two Paraguayan defenders and split them with a burst of speed. His deft touch between the legs of another Paraguyan defender fell for McKennie. McKennie’s attempt to square the ball for Folarin Balogun was cut out by Paraguay’s Damian Bobadilla but the ball trickled into his own goal to give the US a 1-0 lead within 10 minutes. It was a dream start for the USMNT who really seemed to be up to the task from the very start.
In the 31st minutes, Antonee Robinson played an inch perfect through ball to Pulisic, who has split his markers and was now rushing up the left flank. Pulisic took the ball in stride and found Balgoun in the center of the box, with the help of a deflection. The on rushing Balogun made no mistake from roughly 12 yards out to double the USMNT’s advantage and bag his first World Cup goal. At the point, every worry USMNT fans had was fading and the euphoria of the World Cup was beginning to set in.
On the stoke of halftime, Balogun was able to aquire lifelong USMNT fame when he picked up a pass from Malik Tillman. Balgoun was able to hold off one challenge from a Paraguayan before skipping by another. Then it was just him and the goal and he proceeded to put it as far into the top left corner as humanly possible. Just one of the most unnecessary top bins of all time. The hype train was in overdrive at this point. Balogun had officially announced himself as the player we clamored so hard over in 2023. He is ours and he is perfect.
Unfortunately, following the halftime break and the subsequent substitution of Christian Pulisic due to a calf issue, the US looked flat. To be frank, it looked like we were going to allow Paraguay back into the game. Around the 75th minute, Paraguay were able to get a few lucky bounces and take the USMNT’s clean sheet from them as Mauricio scored for La Albirroja.
The US had chances to put the game to bed through Malik Tillman, Tim Weah, and Ricardo Pepi. All three missed golden opportunities that, luckily, went unpunished. But, the game was finished in the 90+7 minute after a 20+ pass sequence which saw Alex Freeman feed the ball to Gio Reyna. Reyna drove forward at the Paraguayan box and unleashed a trivela, a shot with the outside of his foot, into the side netting. That alone was justification for his inclusion in the squad. He ran toward the corner flag with his hands over his ears as to prove he doesn’t hear all the chatter. The goal provoked the steely Mauricio Pochettino to running into the celebrations with Reyna.
With the emphatic victory, there is a sense of great hope and optimism around this squad who will face Australia on Friday evening. The team seemed to truly captivate the nation last Friday and now will have to prove their worth against an Australian side that want to beat the US more than ever.
Australia Preview
Head to Head
In the last outing between these two sides who call it ‘soccer’, the USMNT ran out 2-1 winners off the back of a Haji Wright brace. The match was a largely comfortable outing with much of the field tilt around Australia’s third in Commerce City, Colorado. Despite a comparable xG of 0.75 from Australia to 0.99 for the USMNT, the Socceroos hardly threatened after their 19’ opener from Feyenoord’s Jordan Bos. The two sides have met 4 times throughout history with the USMNT victorious in 2, Australia in 1 and a draw to round out the series.
What to Expect from the Aussies
Australia lined up against Turkey in what was a predictable 5-4-1 shape. Turkey controlled most of the flow of the match after putting up 1.36 xG and forcing Australia’s 22 year old Patrick Beach into 8 saves on the day. The Aussies were content to sit behind the ball and play in transition with Nestory Irankunda and Mohamed Toure providing exceptional pace going forward. We can expect an exact replica of how they set up against the Turks. Most of the field tilt will be in Australia’s half but they will continue to provide a threat on the counter.
Our USMNT
We ought to expect the USMNT to line up in almost the same way we did against Paraguay both shape-wise and personnel wise. We dominated both sides of the ball with our 3-4-2-1 shape and that will be key as we need to retain possession quickly against Australia before they have the opportunity to run at our back 3. The biggest question mark is Christian Pulisic’s availability since he was pulled at half as a precaution. We’ve seen team personnel go on both sides of his involvement, but we feel he should be in the mix as this is a crucial game to cement our best possible seeding out of the group. Another thing to look out for is how aggressive Tyler Adams is out of possession. He picked up a yellow card last time out and if he gets another he will be suspended. More of the same, fellas. More of the same, please.
Game Details:
🆚 USMNT vs Australia 🇦🇺
🏆 FIFA World Cup Group Stage
⏰ Friday June 19, 3:00 pm EST
📺 FOX, Telemundo, Peacock
📍 Seattle Stadium - Seattle, Washington
Curtains Close on the Weekend and Done Deals
Not much is happening with all eyes on the World Cup!
Zishim Bawa scored for Umea 🇸🇪 against Pitea in the Swedish third tier
Alan Carleton assisted for Sandvikens 🇸🇪 in the Swedish second tier
Lance Friedrich has signed for Worsbrough Bridge AFC 🏴
Patrick Koffi has left Versailles 🇫🇷 to sign for Bordeaux 🇫🇷
Rumor Mill
AS Roma 🇮🇹 have made contact over a potential move for Christian Pulisic (Nico Schira)
Manchester United 🏴 are keeping a close eye on Tyler Adams and believe he would be a strong fit for Michael Carrick’s side (Mail Sport)
Diego Kochen left the USMNT camp as he prepares to join Lyngby 🇩🇰 on loan from Barcelona 🇪🇸
Gio Reyna is set to leave Monchengladbach 🇩🇪 this summer (Nico Schira)
Celtic 🏴 have shown concrete interest in signing Cole Campbell with talks already taken place (Patrick Berger)
Burner’s Star of the Week
⭐️: Malik Tillman, Christian Pulisic, Chris Richards & Folarin Balogun
It’s actually so hard to recognize just one player given that the whole team showed up and showed out. Props to Malik Tillman who was all over the place; he is one of just three players ever to record 3+ shots, 3+ chances created, 3+ dribbles, 3+ final third ball recoveries and 3+ fouls drawn on top of a peach of an assist for Balo’s second. Additional props to Christian Pulisic who had Paraguay’s right back on strings until he was withdrawn at halftime (that doesn’t sound impressive but anyone who watched will know he was unplayable). Chris Richards completed all 83 pass attempts which is the most passes with 100% accuracy by any player in a World Cup match since 1966. Unbelievable. Biggest props to Folarin Balogun. He truly is a lethal finisher. His two goals make him the first American to bag a brace in a World Cup since 1930. One player putting up historical stats is great, but 3 (with a fourth putting on a clinic) is absurd. Go get some tendies, fellas and run it back against Australia please because y’all are our Raising Canes players of the week!
Red Lights, Stop Signs, I Still See Your Face in the White Cars
Mike Duhaney, your time at Mainz in 03/04 will live forever in our memories.