Former United States striker Brian McBride says that the US national team have a tough job on their hands to find the goals that would put them in the quarter-finals of the World Cup. He feels that the US team have not hit the heights of the past world cups, but they have been able to get the results that have seen them progress to the last 16 of the tournament. Now, they will be up against Belgium, who are one of the outsiders to win the title. A victory in tonight’s match will put them in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
Ahead of the encounter, McBride says that the US have everything to do – especially to score the goals. The US have not progressed to the quarter-finals since they last did it in 2002. With the American interest in the competition being significantly higher than what it was a few years ago, McBride says this is a great opportunity to improve the fortunes of MLS as well. MLS, as a league, has been growing in the last few years, but it is still a long way away from being considered as one of the top.
Growing interest from the fans, though, could change this and McBride says progression to the quarter-finals as a vital part. “Belgium’s an extremely good team, they’re deep, I don’t think they’ve hit their best yet which is scary for us, but hopefully that continues through this game and if we’re at it and they’re not at it, I think we’ve got a great chance. I’ll be watching the lineups coming out and I think that’s going to be a big part of it. If [Vincent] Kompany is injured and unable to go and Jozy [Altidore] is able to go, I think we’ve got a great opportunity,” said McBride.