US looks to win first knockout match in 24 years against Bosnia-Herzegovina
The United States national team has grown tired of hearing about its traditional shortcomings in World Cup knockout matches.
The Americans will look to change that narrative on Wednesday as they attempt to win their first World Cup elimination game in 24 years when they face Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32 in Santa Clara, California.
The Americans' last, and only, knockout win came on June 17, 2002, when they defeated Mexico 2-0 in the round of 16 in South Korea.
The good news for the Americans is they should have a healthy Christian Pulisic after the star missed the second game with a calf injury and played only 33 minutes as a sub in the final group match against Turkey.
"I feel good and ready to go for tomorrow," Pulisic said.
The U.S. will once again play a knockout round match at a home World Cup in the San Francisco Bay area. The 1994 team made it out of group stage and faced Brazil at Stanford Stadium - less than 15 miles away from the site of this year's game in Santa Clara - only to lose 1-0 to the eventual champions.
Since that round of 16 win over Mexico in 2002, the U.S. is 0-3 at that stage but are favored to advance against Bosnia, according to oddsmakers.
"We understand what it means, you win or you go home. There definitely needs to be a lot of focus and attention detail this week," Pulisic said. "But I think the vibe feels good. We've still kept it light and we still are going to be ready to battle once the whistle blows."
The U.S. has one win in 21 games against European teams with seven draws and 13 losses since making it back to the World Cup in 1990 for the first time in 40 years.
