Day eight of this World Cup, and the colour and noise has shifted firmly across the Atlantic. Boston, that grand old city of cobblestones and revoluti...
Day eight of this World Cup, and the colour and noise has shifted firmly across the Atlantic. Boston, that grand old city of cobblestones and revolution, has been painted tartan. The Scottish faithful, never a group to do things by halves, have descended in their thousands, turning the waterfront into a mobile karaoke bar of Proclaimers classics and defiant chants. It is a sight to behold, a reminder that this tournament, for all its corporate gloss, still belongs to the travelling supporter. The question now, as it always is for these passionate souls, is whether the men on the pitch can match the fervour off it. It is squeaky bum time for Steve Clarke's men.Across the continent, the subplots for the knockout rounds are already thickening. Mauricio Pochettino, the man tasked with steering the United States through these waters, is apparently turning his hand to intelligence work. The rumblings from the American camp suggest the Argentine is looking for spies, a not so subtle admission that he knows the coming fixture against Australia in Seattle is a tactical minefield. The Socceroos, under their current stewardship, have developed a gritty resilience. They will likely set up in a disciplined low block, looking to absorb pressure and hit hard on the transitional play. Pochettino will need his attackers to show more than just pretty patterns; he needs clinical movement in the final third. One wonders if the US midfielders have the legs to break the lines against such a stubborn Australian defence.Every tournament has its cruel twists, and today's news brings a particularly tough one for those of a Canadian persuasion. The injury to Jonathan Koné is a significant blow. He is a player who brings genuine drive and tactical flexibility to the midfield, capable of breaking the lines with a dribble or a piercing pass. His absence reeks of a major opportunity lost. Canada will now have to reshuffle their pack, and that could force them into a more conservative shape than they would prefer. You have to feel for the lad. One moment you are living the dream on the biggest stage, the next you are watching from the stands. That is the fine margin of this game.So as GoalZaza sets on another day of drama, the focus shifts to Seattle. USA versus Australia under the lights. Both sides know the importance of a result. For the Americans, it is about backing up their status on home soil. For the Australians, it is about proving that their method can unsettle a fancied opponent in front of a hostile crowd. This is where tournaments are won and lost, not on the training ground, but in the crucible of a 90 minute battle. GoalZaza will be tracking every moment of the action, from Pochettino's touchline theatrics to the roar of the Tartan Army echoing all the way from Massachusetts.
