USA vs Portugal
Eight years ago I suggested that the USA national football team seemed a world away from the halcyon days of 2002 when they reached the World Cup quarter-finals.
Fast forward to now and I don’t believe much has changed.
However, under a coach as talented as Mauricio Pochettino, appointed in the autumn of 2024, they have a chance and we will soon find out if they have improved sufficiently to match the achievement of their predecessors.
Furthermore, a World Cup group comprising Paraguay, Australia and the winner of this week’s play-off between Kosovo and Turkey, potentially gives them a fair chance of progress.
Talking Points
Judging by their latest international friendly and, while the results are largely irrelevant at this time, my gut instinct could be correct.
Certainly, their collapse against Belgium in Atlanta on Saturday night would have caused alarm for the Argentine boss.
The 5-2 defeat, featuring five straight goals for the Belgians after a US opener, was an embarrassment and easily among the USMNT’s worst losses of his tenure. At times, it felt the margin of victory could’ve been significantly wider.
Granted, this was a first defeat for the US in six and Pochettino was missing both his first choice centre backs in Chris Richards and Miles Robinson.
Yet after Weston McKennie’s opening strike six minutes before the break, arriving to convert a well-worked set piece, it proved a miserable night for the hosts who promptly conceded five and didn’t have even a second consolation goal to cheer until two minutes from when a Belgian defensive blunder sprung Derby County striker Patrick Agyemang in on goal.
Not that their next opponents in Atlanta, Portugal, had many international friendly 2026 highlights to enjoy either.
Without their star captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, due to a muscle injury, they had to settle for a goalless draw with Mexico.
The closest they came to a goal was when Goncalo Ramos flicked a post following a super pass from Bruno Fernandes.
Seven changes at the interval meant the Selecao struggled for intensity after the break.
Portugal, led by the ageless Ronaldo, have been World Cup regulars over the past two decades and reached the quarter-finals in 2022 where they surprisingly lost 1-0 to Morocco.
I expect them to do reach the latter stages again this summer and history suggests we shouldn’t read too much into the result of this friendly for sure.
History
All seven meetings between these two nations have been played since 1978, only two of them competitive (with respect to the US Cup clash in 1992).
When they met in the group stages of the 2002 World Cup, the USA sprang a real surprise, racing into a three-goal lead inside 36 minutes thanks to John O’Brien, an own goal and future Everton and Fulham striker Brian McBride.
Portugal came back through Beto and an own goal but Bruce Arena and his players were the heroes as the States ran out 3-2 winners against the Portuguese, who had reached the semi-finals of Euro 2000 just a few years earlier.
The US actually went all the way to the quarter-finals that year.
They met again in the group stages of a World Cup, this time in Brazil in 2014.
Portugal took the lead within five minutes when Nani scored from close range.
The United States equalised just after the hour mark when Jermaine Jones curled in a right-foot shot and they looked set to repeat their 2002 triumph when, with nine minutes remaining, Graham Zusi crossed for Clint Dempsey to score with his midriff.
Had the US held on for the win, they would have clinched a place in the knockout stages while eliminating Portugal at the same time. But, in the fifth minute of injury time, Ronaldo crossed for substitute Silvestre Varela to head in the equaliser.
The only time they have met since then was a 2017 friendly in Leiria when Weston McKennie gave the ‘Stars n’ Stripes’ a 21st minute lead only to be begged back by Vitorino Antunes 10 minutes later.
A goal from Costa settled their first ever match, a friendly in Setubal earning Portugal a friendly success in September 1978.
Overall, they have two wins apiece with a further three draws.
Betting Tip
The SBOTOP international friendly 2026 betting odds all lean towards Portugal who are priced 1X2 @ 1.84 and Asian Handicap -0.50, also @ 1.84.
A US success is on offer 1X2 @ 3.39 and Asian Handicap + 0.50 @ 1.98.
The draw will pay out @ @ 3.31 and I have been temped by both that and another 1-1 draw which is on offer @ 7.00 with Correct Score.
Goal options range from over 2.75 @ 1.80 to total goal 0-1 @ 3.88, 2-3 @ 2.05 and 4-6 @ 2.79.
I do think this will be close but I also think Portugal will edge the contest and, ultimately, I am plumping for a *** tip of Half Time Full Time Draw Away @ 5.20.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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