US vs Bosnia Pre-game:

• This Bosnia team is tough. They're big, physical, and defend well. US is going to have a tough time breaking them down.
• My bet is Bosnia's gameplan is to defend deep in the first half, let the US run themselves ragged with all of the stadium energy behind them, then in the second half push up and get more men forward on counterattacks.
• US wore down quite a bit in the second halves of the Paraguay/Australia games. In the Paraguay/Australia games, US came out of the gates on fire buoyed by the crowd energy. Their pressing, dynamic deep runs from the midfield, wingbacks running the length of the field over and over allowed them to dominate the first halves. Unfortunately, that intensity isn't sustainable over an entire game.
• Assuming US comes out with the same gameplan, they're going to need to a first half goal. If they go into halftime tied, they could find themselves in a really tough, coin-flip type of game.
• Bosnia is big. They're going to be playing for set pieces. Freese will be tested. He's largely been untested. It'll be interesting to see if the MLS keeper comes through on the biggest stage.
• Key for the US will be Tillman and McKennie breaking down the low block with their clever movements/passes in tight space and unlocking 1v1s on the outside for Pulisic and Dest.

Other WC Thoughts:

• I was watching the France game with some friends and we all had a good chuckle when they brought Cherki off the bench in the second half. It's just ridiculous how loaded that France team is. The last time I remember a team being this much better than the rest of the field in a major tourney were some of those Xavi/Iniesta/Busquets/Puyol Spain teams. Not sure how anyone is going to beat them this year.
• Mexico look great. Similar to the US, that's a team that has a lot of continuity, they're seasoned, and they're all in their primes. The home field advantage at Azteca is real and makes a difference. Remember that Ecuador was a very trendy pick to make a deep run. They were considered to have one of the best defenses given their center mids and defenders playing on some of the biggest clubs in the world (PSG/Arsenal/Chelsea). Mexico came out and absolutely dismantled them.
• It'll be interesting to watch England/Spain/Argentina over these next few days. If a team were to beat France I think it'd be one of these. I could also see Brazil giving them a run. Brazil is going to get better and better each game as they continue to gel under Ancelotti. Ancelotti also know how to play a defensive counterattacking game and they have the personnel to do it. They have excellent center backs, center-mids, and incredible pace up front with Cunha/Vini/Raphina. Their weakness is their wide defenders.