USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina Predictions
The United States have home advantage and enough attacking quality to get the job done in Santa Clara.
I have my stake in the USA to win with over 1.5 goals scored, while I also fancy both teams to get on the scoresheet.
USA Backed on Home Soil
- USA won 3 of their last 5 matches
- USA scored 2+ goals in 8 of their last 10 matches
- USA have seen BTTS in 9 of their last 11 matches
- Bosnia and Herzegovina have seen BTTS in 11 of their last 12 matches
USA Unbeaten in H2H Record
USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina have met three times since 2013. USA won two of those games, including a thrilling 4-3 win in Sarajevo 13 years ago.
Just one goal settled their most recent encounter - a 1-0 US win in 2021.
Co-Hosts Slip-Up Against Already-Eliminated Turks
USA make the trip to Levi's Stadium after a narrow 3-2 defeat in their dead-rubber Group D fixture against Turkiye.
Auston Trusty got the US off to a flyer with a third-minute opener, but the Turks hit back through Arda Guler and Baris Alper Yilmaz before Kaan Ayhan struck a stoppage-time winner to secure their only victory of the competition.
Mauricio Pochettino's side had already secured top spot in Group D with impressive wins against Paraguay (4-1) and Australia (2-0) before their entertaining defeat against the Turks.
The attack-minded co-hosts have shown plenty of quality in the final third this summer. USA registered a collective xG of 4.63 across their three group fixtures while scoring eight goals in the process.
Over a longer period, Pochettino has begun to get the best out of his attacking options. The Stars and Stripes averaged 2.16 goals per game across their last 12 internationals.
Still, they have yet to look totally secure in defence. USA conceded at least one goal in all but two of their last 17 matches.
Bosnia Secure Knockout Place
Bosnia and Herzegovina booked their ticket to the round of 32 after a 3-1 win against Qatar secured third place in Group B. Ermin Mahmic's late goal settled Bosnian nerves and confirmed their place in the knockout stage.
Sergej Barbarez's side were clinical in front of goal, scoring three times from an xG of just 0.68.
The European qualifiers began the competition with a 1-1 draw against Canada before a heavy 4-1 defeat left their qualification hopes hanging by a thread.
Competing at the World Cup for only the second time in their history, Bosnia now face their first-ever knockout tie after falling at the group phase in 2014.
While underdogs this week, Barbarez’s men can usually be relied on to at least get on the scoresheet. The Dragons scored at least one goal in 17 of their last 18 international fixtures. Fifteen of those games saw BTTS land.
Squads and Team News
USA Squad
Goalkeepers: Matt Turner, Matt Freese, Chris Brady
Defenders: Sergino Dest, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Auston Trusty, Miles Robinson, Tim Ream, Alex Freeman, Max Arfsten, Mark McKenzie, Joe Scally
Midfielders: Tyler Adams, Giovanni Reyna, Weston McKennie, Sebastian Berhalter, Cristian Roldan, Malik Tillman
Forwards: Ricardo Pepi, Christian Pulisic, Brenden Aaronson, Haji Wright, Folarin Balogun, Timothy Weah, Alejandro Zendejas
The USA are expected to recall several key players after making nine changes in the defeat to Turkiye.
Captain Christian Pulisic returned from a calf issue as a second-half substitute against the Turks, and should be available to start. Folarin Balogun is also expected to lead the line after impressing earlier in the tournament.
Head coach Pochettino was left frustrated by the reaction to USA's 3-2 defeat against Turkiye, reminding reporters that his side had still finished top of Group D.
“It cannot be possible that Turkiye celebrate three points, and Australia and Paraguay celebrate qualification, and for you not to say ‘congratulations’ that we won the group,” Pochettino said.
“That is very sad. I need to remember that we won the group. Sorry, guys.”
Bosnia and Herzegovina Squad
Goalkeepers: Nikola Vasilj, Mladen Jurkas, Martin Zlomislic
Defenders: Nihad Mujakic, Dennis Hadzikadunic, Tarik Muharemovic, Sead Kolasinac, Amar Dedic, Nikola Katic, Stjepan Radeljic, Arjan Malic
Midfielders: Benjamin Tahirovic, Armin Gigovic, Ivan Basic, Ivan Sunjic, Amar Memic, Amir Hadziahmetovic, Dzenis Burnic, Kerim Alajbegovic, Esmir Bajraktarevic, Ermin Mahmic
Forwards: Samed Bazdar, Ermedin Demirovic, Edin Dzeko, Haris Tabakovic, Jovo Lukic
Bosnia are expected to keep faith with much of the same side that edged past Qatar last week. Amar Dedic is the only confirmed absentee with a thigh strain.
Tarik Muharemovic is available after a red card against Switzerland and is likely to return to the first XI.
Experienced forwards Edin Dzeko and Ermedin Demirovic are expected to lead the Bosnian attack.