Pre-match: USA v Australia Game 2 6/19 3 pm ET

How to play against a fast team, according to AI. But I am sure Poch already know this.



If the other team is significantly faster, the key is to **take away the space where speed matters**. Many successful teams have beaten faster opponents by being organized and disciplined.

### Defensive tactics

**1. Play a deeper defensive line**

* Don't leave large gaps behind your defenders.
* Force the fast attackers to receive the ball in front of you rather than running onto through balls.
* This is one reason why slower teams often "sit deep" against quick opponents.

**2. Stay compact**

* Keep the distance between defenders, midfielders, and forwards small.
* Fast players are most dangerous when they can attack isolated defenders 1-v-1.
* Compact teams force them into crowded areas.

**3. Show them outside**

* It's usually easier to defend speed on the wings than through the center.
* Funnel attacks toward the touchline where space is limited.

**4. Delay rather than dive in**

* Defenders should backpedal and contain rather than trying to win the ball immediately.
* Make the attacker slow down and wait for help to arrive.

### Offensive tactics

**1. Possess the ball**

* The fastest player in the world can't hurt you if your team has possession.
* Quick passing and ball circulation can tire out a speed-based team.

**2. Switch the field**

* Fast teams often press aggressively.
* Long diagonal passes and quick switches can exploit the spaces they leave behind.

**3. Make them defend**

* Speedy attackers often don't enjoy tracking runners for 90 minutes.
* Force them to work defensively.

### Individual defending tips

Against a very fast winger:

* Give a little extra cushion.
* Angle your body to force them one direction.
* Never get square to them.
* Make them beat you with skill and decision-making, not just pure pace.

### Real-world examples

Teams have often used these approaches against fast international sides such as France national football team or Brazil national football team, whose attackers thrive on open space. A disciplined, compact defensive block can neutralize much of that speed advantage.

A common coaching phrase is:

> "You can't make your team faster during the game, but you can make the field smaller."

That's usually the most effective counter to a team built around pace.

 

Who do we play on Friday? Who could it be now?

 

That kettle looks PISSED.

 

Pulisic trained separately again today, and his status remains questionable for this match.

https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/art...world-cup-clash-with-australia-193053867.html

 

He came out onto the field with the rest of the players as the media where being shown out. Only a portion of training is open to the press.

 

Of course one of the big dangers of playing negative football and living in your own final 3rd is that some point a defender will make a mistake and concede a penalty or a deflected shot will go in or fall kindly for an attacking player to put in.

Australia were lucky none of those occurred against Turkey but if you live in your own 18 eventually those things will happen.

 

But they aren’t equal probabilities.

We see weaker teams play this negative football all the time.

It usually doesn’t work.

 

Sure mate.

Relying on MoTM performances from your keeper is a very healthy place to be.

I would just as much rather rely on a 90 minute haram ball low block than I would on being the dominate team with a dozen opportunities to create a goal.

Aus got lucky, they could again against the US but its unlikely.

You won’t sh** house your way that far.

 

You bring guns to a gun fight

 

This is the World Cup and our last game is against a very good team that could come in as a wounded animal, we absolutely have to play Pulisic if he can go, even if we know he can only go 60 or whatever.

IMO he's definitely playing and this is just mind games.

 

Herc with his preview. Love that Herc is doing detailed tactical breakdowns. Aussie preview starts at 14:31.



As I posted a couple of days ago, Australia will defend in a low block 5-4-1 and they are very comfortable sitting very deep. I expect that we will see US in the same aggressive, smothering counter press that we saw against Paraguay, spearheaded by the movement and pressure of McKennie and Tillman with Adams cleaning up behind them.

Irresistible force vs immovable object?

 

If he can play 45 min, then start Pulisic. Then adjust at the half as needed.

 

I wouldn't start him. Let those defenders get some yellows in the first half, sub him if needed.

 

The CIWYW crew concluded don't risk Puli and discussed Weah, Gio, and Zendejas as potential replacements. In the stream that this was taken from their graphics consensus was Weah.

Charlie brought up a good point that Poch may do what he did in the 2nd half v Paraguay; Move Tillman into Puli's slot and bring on Seb to replace Malik as Adams' partner.

 

If Pulisic doesn’t go I hope Aaronson starts in his place.

there is no like for like replacement for Pulisic but Aaronson is the closest wide left.

Thought the offense in the second half was much worse when we brought in Berhalter and moved Tillman wide. Hope we don’t see that from the start.

 

Who would have predicted we'd be getting our bulleting board material from Harry Kewell and the Aussies would be getting it from Mike f'in Grella....

Harry Kewell, who played for Liverpool and Leeds United, isn’t too happy with the things USMNT fans and pundits are saying about Australia. 😳

He believes his generation of Australian players would beat any version of the USMNT.

[via CODE Sports and FOX Sports Australia] pic.twitter.com/PB6NEBJm8u

— Anthony (@AnthonyKyaw) June 16, 2026