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World Cup: USA 🇺🇸 vs Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇦 will the game go to penalties? Our Prediction

Mambo! The World Cup knockout stage has arrived, and the USA face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 in Santa Clara on Wednesday night. Unlike the group stage, this match must produce a winner. If the score is level after 90 minutes, the teams will play two 15-minute periods of extra time. Still tied after that? Then it goes to penalties.

This is huge for both sides. USA have reached the World Cup knockouts seven times before, but this marks Bosnia and Herzegovina's maiden appearance at this stage, having gone out in the group stage in their only previous World Cup appearance in 2014. The Dragons are making history, and they'll be hungry to push even further.

USA Flying High at Home

Mauricio Pochettino's USA side won their group with 4-1 and 2-0 wins over Paraguay and Australia respectively, showing serious attacking strength. Despite limited action from star player Christian Pulisic, the USMNT were explosive in the group stage as just three teams scored more than their eight goals.

The Americans are playing at home in California, and USA are No. 15 in FIFA rankings, with Bosnia-Herzegovina ranked 61st. On paper, this looks like a USA victory. But World Cup knockouts are different from group games. The pressure is real, and one mistake can end your tournament.

Bosnia's Defensive Grit and Counter-Attack Threat

Bosnia and Herzegovina qualified for the finals after beating four-time world champions Italy in the UEFA play-offs. They've already proven they can handle high-pressure moments. Bosnia and Herzegovina made this World Cup on their ability to be strong defensively and effective on the counter-attack.

Wazi, here's the concern for USA: Bosnia's defense has holes in it as the nation has conceded in 11 of its last 12 matches across all competitions. Bosnia and Herzegovina have also conceded in all six of their World Cup matches in team history. That suggests goals are likely.

But the Americans' defensive third is their weakness as they've kept just one clean sheet over their last 11 matches. Both teams have been leaking goals. This could turn into an open, back-and-forth contest.

Will It Go to Penalties?

There have been 35 penalty shootouts in World Cups since the format was introduced in 1978. The 2022 World Cup saw five matches go to a penalty shootout, the most in the history of the tournament. So penalties happen, but they're not the norm.

Looking at the stats, most knockout games are decided before penalties. Since 1978, World Cup penalties in normal and extra time have been converted at a rate of 79.1%, a higher rate than the World Cup penalty shootout success of 69.4%. The pressure of a shootout is immense.

For this specific match, the odds favour USA winning inside 120 minutes. The latest USMNT vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina odds from FanDuel Sportsbook list USA at -250 on the 90-minute money line, with Bosnia at +800 and a draw at +410. Those numbers show the Americans are heavy favourites to win outright.

Given both teams' defensive struggles and attacking firepower, we're likely to see goals. Cheki this: the over/under for total goals is 2.5, and with both sides conceding regularly, goals in normal time or extra time seem probable. A penalty shootout would require 120 minutes of football without a winner, which seems unlikely when both teams are vulnerable at the back.

Our Prediction

We're predicting NO on the penalty shootout. The match will likely be decided before penalties are required. USA have home advantage, superior FIFA ranking, and more firepower. Bosnia will fight hard, but with both teams conceding goals regularly, we expect a winner to emerge during the 90 minutes or in extra time.

This is the knockout stage. Teams push harder. Substitutions matter more. And with the quality USA have going forward, they should find the breakthrough. But twende, anything can happen in the World Cup. That's why we trade on Kadiplay.

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