My heart says we win. My head says we lose.
In the best sense of the word, I’m thrilled that we found a way to win it against Ghana. I think that’s the greatest omen that we could take out of our first game and take into Portugal — that we faced such adversity and found a way. But I’m not even cautiously optimistic about this game.
The last thing we want is to play a desperate Portugal, and after that Germany game, that’s exactly what they are. But the one thing to be positive about is the U.S. has traditionally — recently and historically — played well against a team with one marquee player. In fact, they actually match up better against Portugal than they did against Ghana.
I remember them beating Spain in the 2009 Confederations Cup — ending the European champ’s 35-game winning streak — tying Wayne Rooney and England in the last World Cup, and I expect the same against Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal. This is the type of team with one marquee player that we have done well against.
Coin toss, I could see getting blown out, or totally stifling Portugal in the midfield and find a way to score a goal. We have strength on set pieces, and we have Clint Dempsey. I think Dempsey’s fitness is going to be a huge factor.
But there’s no magic to dealing with Ronaldo. No one guy is going to stop him. It has to be a team effort.
You have to be more conscious whenever he has the ball — who’s the next guy in line? Like any franchise player in basketball, you have to deny him the ball.
I worry more about Ronaldo when we’re attacking. He’s the guy who’s going to find little pockets to outlet when we lose the ball.
We do better when Portugal has the ball and we’re set. He’s most dangerous when we’re attacking and he finds that pocket to get out and run.
He’s that guy in basketball who is going to be looking to fast break the other way as soon as there’s a rebound. He’s going to drift, and wait for Portugal to win the ball. When we attack, we have to have one eye in him.
This is a gut-check game, with a lot of history behind it after beating them in the 2002 World Cup. For both the U.S. and Portugal, this is the World Cup.
Again, the concern obviously is Portugal, how do they come out? I think we’re going to find a way to stay in the game, and hopefully get a point. But you saw how Uruguay responded after losing to Costa Rica. They were desperate, and they found a way. I put Portugal in the same situation. They’re desperate, and they could play much, much better.
My heart says we win. My head says we lose.
Stopping Ronaldo
A look at the four U.S. players who must step up to help contain Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo:
Right back Fabian Johnson: Johnson, who was partly culpable in surrendering Ghana’s only goal on Monday, has the unenviable task of marking Ronaldo and must curtail his overlapping runs somewhat.
Right midfielder Alejandro Bedoya: If Bedoya starts, as he did against Ghana, he not only will have to be aware of when to stay back and cover Johnson on his forays upfield, but also help central midfielder Michael Bradley squeeze off service to Ronaldo.
Centerback Geoff Cameron: When Ronaldo cuts in from the left flank, Cameron has to be ready to step up and close him down, because he is most dangerous when running at players.
Keeper Tim Howard: When everybody else is beaten, Howard will be the last line of defense. He’s a good one, arguably the most accomplished and decorated player in U.S. history, but facing the best player in the world.
— Brian Lewis