When the USA take on Belgium in their round of 16 FIFA World Cup 2014 encounter in Salvador, they will need to be keyed-in for the entire 90 minutes, plus stoppage time -- plus any extra time if necessary. In every single of the three group matches Belgium have shown they are the masters at wearing down their opponents, with all four of their goals in this tournament coming late in the game – in the 70th, 80th, 88th and 78th minutes.
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The pre-quarterfinal is set for a 5 pm local time (1.30 am IST, 9 pm BST, 4 pm ET) start, with live coverage on Sony Six a nd Sony Six HDin India. The match can also be watched via live streaming online in India HERE. Viewers in the US can catch the action on ESPN and ABC, with the option to live stream the game HERE or HERE. UK viewers can catch the action in BBC and ITV while the matches can also be live streamed HERE or HERE. Catch the game in Australia HERE, while South Africa viewers can do so HERE. Viewers in Africa can catch the action HERE, while audience in the Middle East and North Africa can live stream the match HERE.
So, concentrate, will be the buzzword for the USA when they take on Belgium at a ground which has seen plenty of goals.
Belgium, while picking up three wins out of three, have not exactly set the World Cup alight as everyone expected. Tipped to be one of the teams to watch out for, and even capable of sneaking their way to the final of the 20104 FIFA World Cup, Belgium have been a little underwhelming, with their football not setting those jaws dropping to the floor.
It probably is not for the want of trying, though, but the teams they have met have been well organised units capable of shutting out the opposition with their suffocating defence. In their last game against South Korea, they won 1-0 despite playing with just ten men for large parts of the match – that, apart from the ability to score late goals, shows a spirit quite necessary to succeed in tournament football.
While Algeria, Russia and South Korea gave them difficult games, the US should give them the toughest of the tournament yet, and how they cope with that challenge will determine the outcome of the match.
"If someone had told us before the World Cup that we'd finish with nine points out of nine in the group stage, we never would have believed it," Belgium's veteran defender Daniel Van Buyten said. "We could have tried to be spectacular, but that wouldn't have made much sense if we'd just got eliminated at the end of it
"Everyone has seen that we've had difficulties, especially against Algeria. It's tough to make things happen when you're up against sides who build a wall in front of their goal."
The USA are not likely to build that defensive wall, if their three group stage matches are anything to go by. In all three games, Klinsmann's men showed a real appetite for attacking football, and quality attacking football at that. Also, the Americans have showed they do have the talent to cut it with the rest of the big boys, with Klinsmann's fearless intent running through the entire squad as well.
"We have no fear at all," Klinsmann said. "I think it is going to be an exciting and hopefully entertaining match. "We feel fresh, we have recovered well after every game so far. We feel we have just started this adventure.
"The World Cup for all of us is huge. You don't want to wait another four years to get into the quarter-finals, you want to do it now."
While the USA have showed plenty of quality going forward, they will probably have to put in their best attacking performance of this World Cup to break through that Belgium rearguard. Marc Wilmots' men have conceded just one goal in the entire tournament, and that too a penalty in the 25th minute of their first group game.
"We are going to take it to them," said Klinsmann. "We believe we have enough confidence now going into this game to beat them. We know we have to go to our extremes to make this happen."
Team news: Belgium: One of the major factors behind Belgium's rock solid defence has been their captain Vincent Kompany, who is a major doubt for the crunch last 16 match with a groin problem. Fellow defender Thomas Vermaelen is definitely out after failing to recover from a knee injury, while Steven Defour is suspended following his red card against South Korea.
"There is a good chance we can make it," Wilmots said of the chances of his captain being available. "I know this kind of injury. I played for a year with a similar injury."
USA: Striker Jozy Altidore is available after returning to training from a hamstring injury he picked up in the first group game, but Klinsmann is likely to go with Clint Dempsey again as his lone striker.
Key men: Belgium: Eden Hazard has not quite starred at this World Cup as he would have wanted and the ridiculously talented playmaker will want to come to the fore come Tuesday. "I have every confidence in Eden," Wilmots said on Monday. "I'm sure that we'll see a massive Hazard performance tomorrow which could prove decisive.
"We are asking a lot of a youngster who has already given much. But we also have other youngsters who can make a difference. Sometimes we play with four attackers. Eden is relaxed, pressure doesn't get to him. He just wants to have fun on the field. But he also has the right ambition."
USA: Dempsey has been inspirational for the Americans so far at this World Cup, and Klinsmann and co. would love another goal or two from their talisman.
Expected lineups: Belgium: Courtois; Alderweireld, Van Buyten, Kompany, Vertonghen; Witsel, Fellaini; Mertens, De Bruyne, Hazard; Lukaku.
USA: Howard; Johnson, Gonzalez, Besler, Beasley; Beckerman, Jones; Zusi, Bradley, Davis; Dempsey.
Prediction: 2-1 to USA in extra time
