High noon in Seattle.
That is when the United States duels Australia on Friday in a World Cup match hyped by a budding rivalry, next-phase magnitude, and home-field aura.
Winner, by night’s end, could clinch first place in Group D and an accompanying July 1 ticket to Levi’s Stadium to open the Round-of-32 knockout stage.
Should they draw, the drama rolls into their respective group-stage finale next Thursday.
Drama already exists. Enough gas has been added to the U.S.-Australia matchup that a bonfire could erupt.
“I expect it to be very, very heated,” Australian defender Kai Trewin said Wednesday from base camp at the former Oakland Raiders’ headquarters in Alameda.
The Aussies’ physical nature riled – then inspired – the Americans last October in a friendly tune-up to the World Cup, a 2-1 U.S. win in Colorado.
“Maybe they didn’t expect us to be as aggressive and on the front foot as we were,” Socceroos midfielder Aiden O’Neill said Wednesday. “That might have surprised them a little bit and they didn’t quite like it.”
For the past six months, the Aussies have stewed – and rallied — behind a one-word analysis from the World Cup draw that put them in the same four-team pod with Team USA, Turkey and Paraguay. Seeing how the Americans dodged the likes of Argentina, France, Spain, and other high-ranked squads, CBS Golazo Network analyst Mike Grella called Australia a “layup.”
Meanies, those Americans, huh?
“No, not really. I think Americans actually love Aussies,” O’Neill added. “That’s probably their general consensus.”
Perhaps think of this matchup as: Two co-workers bucking for the same promotion during a 90-minute meeting at Friday’s office. It just will take place at what’s been the NFL’s noisiest downtown amphitheater the past 25 years during Seahawks’ games.
The Socceroos flew up Thursday in high spirits via their World Cup-opening, 2-0 win over Turkey last Saturday in Vancouver.
As thoroughly impressive as the U.S. team was a day earlier in its 4-1 debut over Paraguay, this week’s dominant storyline has been whether forward Christian Pulisic will rebound from a calf issue. Sebastian Berhalter replaced him at halftime, and an alternative replacement this game could be Brenden Aaronson, who plays for Leeds United, an English Premier League club owned by the San Francisco 49ers’ investment arm.
Such cause for concern, instead of opening-match celebration, perhaps reflects cultural differences between the U.S. and Australia, so says Trewin, who plays alongside O’Neill for New York City FC in the MLS.
“I would say the media in Australia is, in my opinion, a lot more positive towards the Socceroos, which is great compared to the U.S.,” Trewin said. “The U.S. media sometimes, it would be harsh towards their national team who are doing a great job at the moment.”
The U.S. can secure Group D’s top spot by winning this matchup, then parlaying it with a Paraguay win or tie against Turkey in an 8 p.m. match at Levi’s Stadium. If those results are reversed, Australia wins the group.
The only U.S. squads to triumph twice in a World Cup are those from the inaugural 1930 version and the 2002 quarterfinalists; this year’s field expanded from 32 to 48 teams.
“They may have the most talented (U.S.) team probably in many years, probably close to challenging the 2002 team,” said Bruce Arena, the San Jose Earthquakes’ coach who presided over the U.S. team from 1998-2006. “But again I think group play might be a little deceiving. Don’t get me wrong because every opponent looks like they have some quality to them and you can ask that out of Spain and some other teams as well.
“But we need to get into the Round of 32, which I believe the U.S. will be there. I think they’re going to win their group and probably have three wins, maybe two wins and a draw,” Arena added. “But they’re going to advance as the group leader and play here in Santa Clara in the Round of 32 and then we’re going to find out a little bit more. Certainly when you get to the Round of 16, it’s all the big boys playing.”
Australia reached the Round of 16 in the last World Cup and in 2006; this is the Socceroos’ seventh appearance. It’s their first matchup with the U.S. side, not counting “friendlies” such as last October’s that sparked memories this past week.
“t was good to watch as an Aussie. It was quite feisty and, you know, a lot of big tackles, which, obviously, you’ve got to be careful,” Trewin said. “No one wants to do anything silly, but I’m sure there’ll be lots of big moments or strong tackles from both sides. I don’t think anyone will be leaving anything out there.”
Added O’Niell: “They’ve got some quality players. I’ve said before, so do we. So we’re just looking forward to the game, it’s gonna be a great atmosphere, and it’ll be an exciting one.”
The Bay Area News Group’s Darren Sabedra contributed to this report