please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Belgium are troubled by defensive injuries, with captain Vincent Kompany and Thomas Vermaelen both doubtful. Laurent Ciman and Anthony Vanden Borre are ruled out, while midfielder Steven Defour is banned for one game after being sent off against South Korea. The USA have Jozy Altidore available after a two-match absence with a hamstring injury. He is the only doubt for head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who may opt to name an unchanged side. Head-to-head Belgium and USA have met just once before in the World Cup, at the first tournament in 1930. The US ran out 3-0 winners in Montevideo. Belgium have won the four subsequent meetings, keeping a clean sheet in three. The Red Devils won 4-2 in Cleveland last year in their most recent encounter. Christian Benteke scored twice for Belgium that night, with Kevin Mirallas and Marouane Fellaini also among the goals. Clint Dempsey and Geoff Cameron replied for the USA. Belgium Belgium won all three of their group matches at a World Cup for the first time. It was also the first time they had won three successive World Cup games. Marc Wilmots' side scored four goals during the group stage, the second lowest tally of the 16 teams who qualified for the second round (Greece scored twice). The last six Belgium goals at World Cups have come in the closing 20 minutes of games. Every outfield player featured during the group stage with the exception of defender Laurent Ciman. Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois remains unbeaten at international level. USA The USA have reached the knockout stage in three of the last four World Cups. They have kept just one clean sheet in their last 10 World Cup games, but have scored in all but one of their last nine. Three of their last five strikes have come from set-piece situations (two corners, one penalty). Clint Dempsey has four goals in nine World Cup appearances, scoring in each of his three World Cup tournaments (2006, 2010, 2014). He needs one more goal to equal Landon Donovan as the USA's all-time World Cup top scorer with five goals.
Come on Belgium. It is bad enough the US have gone further than us. Working for an American company, this USA progress is not good.
I think 2/1 the USA to progress is quite tempting. The 7/2 for the win in normal time possibly less so, given how tight all these last 16 games have been.
Klinsmann unhappy about French-speaking ref. I would have thought the man would have a smattering of English surely...makes sense in a tournament with so many languages spoken. The same as the requirement that all pilots speak English.
Yeah, fair enough. But I could live without either. I couldn't live without Rock n Roll, Jazz, Blues, Funk and Soul. Not to mention Country n Western. Cmon you Yankee Doodle Dandies.
