Red Bulls coach Mike Petke – an ex-U.S. National Team defender – gives his three keys for the U.S. National Team before each World Cup game. Here is his analysis for Sunday’s tilt vs. Portugal and FIFA Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo.
The first key is whether the storm early. Portugal is a team under extreme pressure, desperate coming in. If we whether that storm early, we can frustrate them, not let them get behind the defense early.
Which leads to the second point: Look to counter when it’s on. One thing the U.S. has been great at the last couple years is keeping defensive shape and counter out of it. If we do that, not only can you get a goal but put them on notice to keep a couple guys back, even things out.
Obviously the third thing is keep Cristiano Ronaldo in check. Really, the only way to do that is have numbers around him at all times, don’t leave him 1 on 1 with Fabian Johnson out wide. We need our holding midfielder or wide midfielder out there to help out. If he comes inside we need numbers in there to crowd the midfield. We can’t leave him isolated with any defender deep towards goal.