[h=1]Three keys to beating Portugal[/h][h=3]Limiting Johnson's defensive duties, developing wide attack crucial for U.S.[/h]
By Adrian Melville | ESPN Insider
After securing a crucial three points against Ghana, the United States is in prime position to advance into the second round of the World Cup with a win or draw against Portugal on Sunday. Of course, this is easier said than done, as the 4-0 loss that Portugal suffered against Germany in its opening match means that the talented team is in a virtual must-win situation against the U.S.
Portugal and Ghana create different challenges for their opponents, and while the U.S. used a pre-World Cup friendly against Nigeria to prepare for Ghana, manager Jurgen Klinsmann has stressed that "you can't imitate Portugal, because there is no second Cristiano Ronaldo out there."
At the same time, the U.S. must also cope with the loss of striker Jozy Altidore, and in addition to keeping Ronaldo from establishing momentum in the attack, Klinsmann will need to make tactical adjustments to deal with Altidore's absence in the U.S. attack.
Here are the keys to the United States successfully handling both of these elements, while also doing enough in other critical areas of the field in order to earn a positive result versus Portugal.
Limit Fabian Johnson's defensive duties
There is a lingering question regarding how to stop Ronaldo, and it is clear the U.S. will need to focus on avoiding situations where Ronaldo can generate enough momentum to run at the team's back line. This defensive posture is especially important on the right side of the U.S. defense, as throughout World Cup qualifying Ronaldo exhibited a higher scoring proficiency in games where he was able to run at defenders and establish himself on the left side of Portugal's attack.
ESPN Stats & InformationHeat map of Ronaldo's take-ons in World Cup qualifying matches in which he scored, left, and those in World Cup qualifying matches in which he didn't score, right.
Ronaldo recorded 17 take-ons in the four qualifying games in which he scored (eight total goals), compared to 26 take-ons in the six games he did not score. However, the location of his take-ons in games where he scored implies that getting comfortable on the wing and taking on defenders gives him the confidence necessary to create space and finish scoring opportunities. Conversely, the location of Ronaldo's take-ons in games where he did not score hint that he had trouble getting comfortable in the attacking half, and was caught trying to force things from multiple areas.
In fact, 65 percent of the shots Ronaldo took in those non-scoring games came from outside of the penalty area, and almost 40 percent of the 37 total attempts in those six games were blocked by defenders. In Portugal's 4-0 loss to Germany, a similar trend emerged, although much of that can be attributed to Portugal playing with 10 men for most of the game.
As the right back for the U.S., Fabian Johnson is responsible for defending Ronaldo's side of the field and discouraging the Real Madrid star from aggressively attacking this wide position. However, Ronaldo's presence creates a dilemma for the U.S. because Johnson is also heavily relied on to get forward and contribute to the team's attack, and being pinned in his defensive half could translate to the entire team struggling to get forward.
This dilemma makes the role of right-sided central defender Geoff Cameron more important, as he will be the primary source of support for Johnson against Ronaldo in the defensive third. Because Portugal plays a 4-3-3 formation, its center forward will not need to be marked by both Cameron and fellow central defender Matt Besler, so when the ball is on Ronaldo's side, Cameron should be able to slide over and support, while Besler tucks in to mark Portugal's target striker. Ideally, this should be an advantage for the U.S., as Portugal is missing first-choice target Hugo Almeida due to injury, and his replacement, Eder, saw just 53 minutes of playing time in four World Cup qualifying appearances.
Providing this support will be a special challenge for a converted center back like Cameron (who typically plays right back with club team Stoke City), who has acknowledged that "talking to your teammates, directing people in front of you, different angles and different step-ups all come into play" for his development in a central role. In particular, Cameron's communication with midfielders such as Kyle Beckerman will be critical in enabling Johnson to get forward and join the U.S. attack, and all three players will need to be in sync to ensure the team's success.
Support Clint Dempsey with wide players
Just as important as containing Ronaldo will be the U.S. establishing an attack of its own, as it does not want to repeat a conservative Ghana performance that resulted in a tournament-high 45 clearances throughout the game.
Aiding the U.S. is the fact that Portugal will be missing key players on its back line, as Real Madrid teammates Pepe (red card suspension) and Fabio Coentrao (injury) will need to be replaced in their respective central and left back positions. While both players have significant value to Portugal, this is still a team that possesses capable defenders. In particular, central defender Ricardo Costa is sound in his defensive positioning and ranked second on Valencia with 112 total clearances during the 2013-14 La Liga season.
But creating an attacking presence will not be easy without Altidore, and it is likely Dempsey will become the central target in the U.S. attack. As I outlined earlier this week, playing Dempsey as a lone forward would allow Klinsmann to insert his strongest attacking options regardless of position, and would attack particular vulnerabilities that Portugal's formation creates. It is important for the U.S. to establish its own attack in wide areas, as the central three midfielders that Portugal deploys in its system leaves it vulnerable on the flanks. This is why a player like Graham Zusi might be more useful than a more prototypical forward like Aron Johannsson, as Zusi and fellow wide midfielder Alejandro Bedoya have proved that they can take defenders on and deliver crosses from out wide, while also being creative enough to tuck in and combine with Dempsey and Michael Bradley.
The impact of these wide players in the U.S. attack would ensure that the team has an outlet in the immediate moments when it recovers possession, and from there the issue would be finding overlapping runs so that Bedoya and Zusi are never too far away from Dempsey in the center of the field. These runs would ideally be provided by Johnson and left back DaMarcus Beasley, who combined for 30 percent of the team's attacking-half touches against Ghana.
But in order to successfully implement this strategy and establish an attack, the U.S. will need to do a better job of keeping possession and dictating the pace of the game than it did in its World Cup opener.
Win the midfield battle
In addition to attacking the flanks, the U.S. must defensively win the battle in the central part of the field against Portugal's 4-3-3 formation in order to be successful. The trio of Beckerman, Bradley and Jermaine Jones should be capable of handling that task, as each possesses defensive qualities that can disrupt Portugal's ability to get behind the U.S. back line.
Portugal's main midfield threat is Joao Moutinho, whose vision and deft touch led to eight assists for Monaco in the 2013-14 Ligue 1 season, along with the team lead in chances created for Portugal throughout World Cup qualifying. Along with central midfielders Miguel Veloso and Raul Meireles, Portugal specializes in sealing the attacking third with a creative presence, and is capable of holding the U.S. in its own end for long stretches of time.
The most important factor in controlling this pressure is Jones, who was excellent in an unexpected wide role against Ghana. However, as mentioned, the loss of Altidore means that the U.S. will likely need a more experienced attacker filling a wide role and supporting Dempsey. Moreover, the creativity within Portugal's central midfield is superior to what Ghana provided in the first game, which suggests that Jones would be more useful in his typical central role.
ESPN Stats & InformationHeat map of Jones' touches versus Ghana, left, and those in World Cup qualifying matches, right.
While Jones should still be encouraged to join the attack when possible, the defensive support that he provides in central midfield also frees Bradley to join the attack on select occasions. As a supported central midfielder, Bradley can find opportunities to get forward and put pressure on Portugal's holding midfielder Veloso, who created two chances and completed 95.6 percent of his passes against Germany, and could effectively cut off the supply of U.S. passes forward to Dempsey if he is not properly occupied.
Meanwhile, Jones and Beckerman are capable defenders if Bradley happens to get caught in the attack, and their ability to break up plays in Portugal's midfield will be essential in diffusing any potential scoring chances hatched ahead of the U.S. back line.
Outlook
The United States should feel confident about its chances against Portugal, especially considering the opponents are missing three starting players in various parts of the field. Klinsmann will look to tactically exploit these absences by attacking the flanks and defending centrally, while at the same time making sure that his team is aware of Ronaldo's location at all times.
However, in addition to executing this game plan, it will be equally important for the U.S. to match the intensity that Portugal, which desperately needs three points, will bring to this game. If they can do that for 90 minutes in the hot, humid conditions of Manaus, the Americans will at least secure a draw and move a step closer to earning a berth in the round of 16.
By Adrian Melville | ESPN Insider
After securing a crucial three points against Ghana, the United States is in prime position to advance into the second round of the World Cup with a win or draw against Portugal on Sunday. Of course, this is easier said than done, as the 4-0 loss that Portugal suffered against Germany in its opening match means that the talented team is in a virtual must-win situation against the U.S.
Portugal and Ghana create different challenges for their opponents, and while the U.S. used a pre-World Cup friendly against Nigeria to prepare for Ghana, manager Jurgen Klinsmann has stressed that "you can't imitate Portugal, because there is no second Cristiano Ronaldo out there."
At the same time, the U.S. must also cope with the loss of striker Jozy Altidore, and in addition to keeping Ronaldo from establishing momentum in the attack, Klinsmann will need to make tactical adjustments to deal with Altidore's absence in the U.S. attack.
Here are the keys to the United States successfully handling both of these elements, while also doing enough in other critical areas of the field in order to earn a positive result versus Portugal.
Limit Fabian Johnson's defensive duties
There is a lingering question regarding how to stop Ronaldo, and it is clear the U.S. will need to focus on avoiding situations where Ronaldo can generate enough momentum to run at the team's back line. This defensive posture is especially important on the right side of the U.S. defense, as throughout World Cup qualifying Ronaldo exhibited a higher scoring proficiency in games where he was able to run at defenders and establish himself on the left side of Portugal's attack.
ESPN Stats & InformationHeat map of Ronaldo's take-ons in World Cup qualifying matches in which he scored, left, and those in World Cup qualifying matches in which he didn't score, right.
Ronaldo recorded 17 take-ons in the four qualifying games in which he scored (eight total goals), compared to 26 take-ons in the six games he did not score. However, the location of his take-ons in games where he scored implies that getting comfortable on the wing and taking on defenders gives him the confidence necessary to create space and finish scoring opportunities. Conversely, the location of Ronaldo's take-ons in games where he did not score hint that he had trouble getting comfortable in the attacking half, and was caught trying to force things from multiple areas.
In fact, 65 percent of the shots Ronaldo took in those non-scoring games came from outside of the penalty area, and almost 40 percent of the 37 total attempts in those six games were blocked by defenders. In Portugal's 4-0 loss to Germany, a similar trend emerged, although much of that can be attributed to Portugal playing with 10 men for most of the game.
As the right back for the U.S., Fabian Johnson is responsible for defending Ronaldo's side of the field and discouraging the Real Madrid star from aggressively attacking this wide position. However, Ronaldo's presence creates a dilemma for the U.S. because Johnson is also heavily relied on to get forward and contribute to the team's attack, and being pinned in his defensive half could translate to the entire team struggling to get forward.
This dilemma makes the role of right-sided central defender Geoff Cameron more important, as he will be the primary source of support for Johnson against Ronaldo in the defensive third. Because Portugal plays a 4-3-3 formation, its center forward will not need to be marked by both Cameron and fellow central defender Matt Besler, so when the ball is on Ronaldo's side, Cameron should be able to slide over and support, while Besler tucks in to mark Portugal's target striker. Ideally, this should be an advantage for the U.S., as Portugal is missing first-choice target Hugo Almeida due to injury, and his replacement, Eder, saw just 53 minutes of playing time in four World Cup qualifying appearances.
Providing this support will be a special challenge for a converted center back like Cameron (who typically plays right back with club team Stoke City), who has acknowledged that "talking to your teammates, directing people in front of you, different angles and different step-ups all come into play" for his development in a central role. In particular, Cameron's communication with midfielders such as Kyle Beckerman will be critical in enabling Johnson to get forward and join the U.S. attack, and all three players will need to be in sync to ensure the team's success.
Support Clint Dempsey with wide players
Just as important as containing Ronaldo will be the U.S. establishing an attack of its own, as it does not want to repeat a conservative Ghana performance that resulted in a tournament-high 45 clearances throughout the game.
Aiding the U.S. is the fact that Portugal will be missing key players on its back line, as Real Madrid teammates Pepe (red card suspension) and Fabio Coentrao (injury) will need to be replaced in their respective central and left back positions. While both players have significant value to Portugal, this is still a team that possesses capable defenders. In particular, central defender Ricardo Costa is sound in his defensive positioning and ranked second on Valencia with 112 total clearances during the 2013-14 La Liga season.
But creating an attacking presence will not be easy without Altidore, and it is likely Dempsey will become the central target in the U.S. attack. As I outlined earlier this week, playing Dempsey as a lone forward would allow Klinsmann to insert his strongest attacking options regardless of position, and would attack particular vulnerabilities that Portugal's formation creates. It is important for the U.S. to establish its own attack in wide areas, as the central three midfielders that Portugal deploys in its system leaves it vulnerable on the flanks. This is why a player like Graham Zusi might be more useful than a more prototypical forward like Aron Johannsson, as Zusi and fellow wide midfielder Alejandro Bedoya have proved that they can take defenders on and deliver crosses from out wide, while also being creative enough to tuck in and combine with Dempsey and Michael Bradley.
The impact of these wide players in the U.S. attack would ensure that the team has an outlet in the immediate moments when it recovers possession, and from there the issue would be finding overlapping runs so that Bedoya and Zusi are never too far away from Dempsey in the center of the field. These runs would ideally be provided by Johnson and left back DaMarcus Beasley, who combined for 30 percent of the team's attacking-half touches against Ghana.
But in order to successfully implement this strategy and establish an attack, the U.S. will need to do a better job of keeping possession and dictating the pace of the game than it did in its World Cup opener.
Win the midfield battle
In addition to attacking the flanks, the U.S. must defensively win the battle in the central part of the field against Portugal's 4-3-3 formation in order to be successful. The trio of Beckerman, Bradley and Jermaine Jones should be capable of handling that task, as each possesses defensive qualities that can disrupt Portugal's ability to get behind the U.S. back line.
Portugal's main midfield threat is Joao Moutinho, whose vision and deft touch led to eight assists for Monaco in the 2013-14 Ligue 1 season, along with the team lead in chances created for Portugal throughout World Cup qualifying. Along with central midfielders Miguel Veloso and Raul Meireles, Portugal specializes in sealing the attacking third with a creative presence, and is capable of holding the U.S. in its own end for long stretches of time.
The most important factor in controlling this pressure is Jones, who was excellent in an unexpected wide role against Ghana. However, as mentioned, the loss of Altidore means that the U.S. will likely need a more experienced attacker filling a wide role and supporting Dempsey. Moreover, the creativity within Portugal's central midfield is superior to what Ghana provided in the first game, which suggests that Jones would be more useful in his typical central role.
ESPN Stats & InformationHeat map of Jones' touches versus Ghana, left, and those in World Cup qualifying matches, right.
While Jones should still be encouraged to join the attack when possible, the defensive support that he provides in central midfield also frees Bradley to join the attack on select occasions. As a supported central midfielder, Bradley can find opportunities to get forward and put pressure on Portugal's holding midfielder Veloso, who created two chances and completed 95.6 percent of his passes against Germany, and could effectively cut off the supply of U.S. passes forward to Dempsey if he is not properly occupied.
Meanwhile, Jones and Beckerman are capable defenders if Bradley happens to get caught in the attack, and their ability to break up plays in Portugal's midfield will be essential in diffusing any potential scoring chances hatched ahead of the U.S. back line.
Outlook
The United States should feel confident about its chances against Portugal, especially considering the opponents are missing three starting players in various parts of the field. Klinsmann will look to tactically exploit these absences by attacking the flanks and defending centrally, while at the same time making sure that his team is aware of Ronaldo's location at all times.
However, in addition to executing this game plan, it will be equally important for the U.S. to match the intensity that Portugal, which desperately needs three points, will bring to this game. If they can do that for 90 minutes in the hot, humid conditions of Manaus, the Americans will at least secure a draw and move a step closer to earning a berth in the round of 16.
