The United States men's national team (USMNT) faces Ghana in an international friendly, offering a crucial opportunity to test themselves against a top-level opponent before the start of major competitions.
Kevin-Prince Boateng scores against the United States in the 2010 World Cup (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
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Team Overviews
United States (USMNT)
The United States have precious few opportunities to test themselves against top-level opposition before the start of the World Cup.
USA head coach Jurgen Klinsmann picked a squad that is younger and mobile, which should pay dividends facing a Ghana side that boasts size and speed in equal measure.
Michael Bradley is the leader of the American squad in the midfield, and he must play well in this match.
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The 11th-ranked USMNT should now face a much easier task against 60th-ranked Ghana.
They’re once again expected to start the match with a close to full-strength 11. There might be some slight rotation but expect the core of Pulisic, Balogun, McKennie, Musah and Dest to take to the field.
Talented youngsters Gio Reyna and Pepi will be pushing for playing time with the former having started the match against Germany.
Ghana
Ghana came into their North American excursion in good form after topping their AFCON qualifying group. The Black Stars managed an unbeaten record of three victories and three draws through their six matches to win the group with a three-point lead.
Ghana has a solid midfield with the likes of Prince Boateng, Kwadwo Asamoah and Michael Essien and a solid striker in Asamoah Gyan.
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Ghana is the slight betting favorite in the match even though they have lost two of their last three World Cup tune-up matches.
A 3-1 home win over Liberia in a friendly back in September had Ghana on a two game winning streak along with a run of five matches unbeaten. They would see both streaks brough to an abrupt end on Saturday after suffering a convincing 2-0 defeat to Mexico on American soil.
Ghana managed just four total shots and not a single one on goal while Mexico fired off 12, including six in the opposition penalty area.
Key Match Dynamics
The counterattack, and defending it, will be crucial in this match, as both squads thrive on it. For Ghana, the counter happens with speed, while for the United States, it happens with creativity, especially in the midfield.
Recent Performances
The United States fell to a 3-1 defeat to Germany three days ago despite taking the lead through a Christian Pulisic strike in the 27th minute. The loss snapped a run of back-to-back wins after matches against Uzbekistan and Oman.
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Sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark had Ghana and the United States at virtually even odds Monday morning.
had unimpressive wins over Azerbaijan and Turkey before a solid win over Nigeria in their last three tune-up matches. However, all three matches were on American soil, so they had the home-field advantage.
Historical Context
The Americans will begin their World Cup in the "Group of Death" Monday when they face a Ghana squad that eliminated them from the last two World Cups.
Every group match is critical, but this one is even more so for each squad since both teams still have to face Portugal and Germany (who play earlier Monday).
and Ghana are the third and fourth choices, respectively, in Group G betting futures.
Key Players
- USA: Christian Pulisic, Michael Bradley, Balogun, McKennie, Musah, Dest, Gio Reyna, Pepi
- Ghana: Prince Boateng, Kwadwo Asamoah, Michael Essien, Asamoah Gyan
Prediction Summary
Considering the recent form and team compositions, the match between the USA and Ghana promises to be a tightly contested affair. Both teams have strengths and weaknesses that could be exploited. The outcome will likely hinge on which team can effectively execute their counterattacking strategies and maintain defensive discipline.
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