Sports

Altidore’s return keeps this magical run alive

After surviving the World Cup’s Group of Death largely without Jozy Altidore, now the U.S. will get its hamstrung striker back for the knockout round. Now the question is: Can the 24-year-old-New Jersey native help the U.S. on its stunning run that has captivated the nation?

How much — or even if — Altidore plays Tuesday against favored Belgium is anyone’s guess. But whether he starts or never gets off the bench, the U.S. — which reached consecutive knockout stages for the first time in its history — is confident of pulling off another upset and reaching its first quarterfinal in a dozen years.

“It gives the team a lift,’’ captain Clint Dempsey said. “He’s a great player. He’s part of the reason we’re in the World Cup. He scored some important goals for us. It’s great he’s available for selection. It’s a great lift for the team.’’

Just having Altidore available for selection is a help, even if it’s just more gamesmanship by coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who appears to love mind games almost as much as he loves soccer games.

Altidore hasn’t played since straining his left hamstring in the 21st minute of the opening win over Ghana on June 16. Klinsmann opted to leave Dempsey as a lone forward in the tie against Portugal and loss to Germany. And even though Altidore jogged at practice over the weekend and trained Monday, Klinsmann was coy about how much he’d use him.

“Now, difficult to say [regarding] Jozy — in the two or three days he’s been with the team — how much work is in his legs. … But it’s now difficult to say how many minutes,’’ said Klinsmann, who has proven blunt but not above misdirection.

“Well, we don’t know how much because we have to see how things going, but we will. This is what we want, this is what we hoped for, this is what the medical staff has been working since the injury on him; and they’ve done a tremendous job. They worked day and night with Jozy, so just having him with us is huge. How many minutes? We’ll see that during the game.”

With Altidore the only U.S. target forward capable of holding up the ball, Klinsmann might just be giving Belgium something to prepare for, along with his decision between Geoff Cameron or Omar Gonzalez at center back. And he’s not averse to gamesmanship, expressing concern over Algerian referee Djamel Haimoudi being assigned to the Round of 16 tilt.

“Well, we hope it’s not a concern. … Is it a good feeling? No,’’ said Klinsmann, referring to the fact Haimoudi’s mother tongue is French (so he’d be able to speak more easily with the Belgians) and his mother country was moments from reaching its first Round of 16 four years ago when Landon Donovan’s stoppage time winner eliminated it.

Still, once the ball kicks off the smoke screens will end, and the U.S. will be facing a talented Belgium team that routed it 4-2 in a friendly last year, and — with the third-most expensive roster in the World Cup — is a dark horse to win the title behind winger Eden Hazard and a devastating counterattack.

Belgium has allowed only one goal, but coach Marc Wilmots said injured Thomas Vermaelen won’t play and Vincent Kompany is a 50-50 gametime decision. Klinsmann knows whether Altidore plays or not, the U.S needs to attack that ailing defense and feed the ball to Dempsey in the penalty area.

“Go forward and attack them and you create chances and get him some balls in the box because you give him two and he makes one … at least,’’ said Klinsmann.

“They have quality, and a lot of players that can go at you from wide positions,’’ said Dempsey. “But we played against quality teams from our group. Look at Ghana, Portugal and Germany; they’re tough teams and in two of those games we able to get positive results. It’s a matter of making sure we’re at our best.

“We have to be little more [attack-minded], take more risks. We did a good job being compact defensively, but [need to] be a little bit more confident in attacking third, have a little bit me more confidence in possession. We’ll be fine.’’

The game may come down to the U.S. getting good play out of its spine — goalkeeper Tim Howard, midfielder Jermaine Jones and struggling Michael Bradley — and containing Belgium on the wings. Oh, and playing like a team, which is more than the gifted Belgians did in an unbeaten but unimpressive group stage.

“I am not impressed by Klinsmann,” Belgian defender Daniel van Buyten was quoted as saying by Goal.com. “He is just a coach who knows how to conduct his group and get the maximum out of them by motivating them.’’

Exactly what they’re counting on Tuesday.

Pet-keys to the game

With the U.S. trying to get the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 2002, Red Bulls coach Mike Petke — who appeared twice for Team USA — breaks down Tuesday’s game against Belgium for The Post. Here are his keys to the game:

Attack, attack, attack: Especially coming off the heels of the Germany game, we have to come out attack-minded right from start. Look at the Ghana game, from the opening whistle down in their half. From the get-go they have to put in an offensive-minded performance.

Wing and a prayer: We need to win the flank battle. Belgium’s best player, Eden Hazard, plays on left, and if Dries Mertens starts on the right, Fabian Johnson and DaMarcus Beasley have to be very aggressive stepping up and denying them. But Johnson still has to do what he’s done so well, getting forward. A big part of the game is who wins the wings.

Play it clean: Cut out individual mistakes. We have to be positioned in the right way. A team like Belgium is going to make you play.