Slovenia v USA: match preview

Slovenia v USA
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Kick-off: Fri June 18, 12.30pm BST
TV: BBC1 12pm, BBC1 HD 12pm
Drawing their opening game with England has imbued the United States squad with a quiet confidence, with talisman Landon Donovan the latest to intimate that he will improve on his impressive showing against Fabio Capello’s side in the fixtures with Algeria and, at Ellis Park, Slovenia.

It is not hard to see why: a largely unchanged side - only striker Robbie Findley’s place is likely to come into question - will have been boosted by the sight of Slovenia’s lacklustre performance in their opening game.
Though they top the group after that narrow 1-0 win over Algeria, Slovenia do not possess the pace to threaten Bob Bradley’s team defensively.
Instead, they will attempt to control possession and look to Robert Koren, whose goal earned the nation its first ever win at a World Cup finals, to pick out Zlatko Dedic and Milivoje Novakovic.
Key clash
Michael Bradley v Aleksandar Radosavljevic: The Slovenian midfielder may play in the comparative backwater of Larissa, but he is an integral part of Matjaz Kek’s plans, funnelling possession to Robert Koren, captain and creator-in-chief, when his side have the ball and acting as destroyed when they do not.
If Bradley maintains the form he showed against England, though, Radosavljevic will find himself stretched. The US manager’s son more than proved he is in the side on merit, his passing pinpoint and his control of the team’s shape total.
Talking tactics
Both sides will line up in traditional 4-4-2s, though the USA’s system is more flexible, allowing Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey, the nominal wingers, to roam inside, interchanging positions with their forwards, to elude markers.
Slovenia’s is a more orthodox approach, with the impressive Valter Birsa and the more pedestrian Andraz Kirm employed simply to provide the towering Milivoje Novakovic with an endless supply of crosses. Only Koren provides any guile in a central role.
Touchline duel
Bob Bradley v Matjaz Kek: Two men promoted from assistant roles, and two men who have never coached outside their own country. Kek took charge of the national team in 2007, after a successful spell at Maribor, while Bradley was only appointed to the full-time job in charge of the US national side after negotiations with Jurgen Klinsmann faltered.
His serious, calm approach has been praised by his players in light of the result against England.
What they say
Landon Donovan: “The natural tendency after coming off the high of the England game is a lot of times a let-down. We have to make sure that doesn’t happen.
We talked all along about the importance of playing three games and while there was a lot made of our game with England, we understand that this game is equally important. In some ways, it’s more important because if we lose this game, we are likely out of the tournament.”
Andrej Komac: “Nobody sees us as a small nation any more. Now we can only go forward with that mentality, because we are leading the group. We are playing our style of footnall and we can beat the USA with that style.”
Teams
Slovenia (4-4-2): 1 S Handanovic; 2 Brecko, 4 Suler, 5 Cesar, 13 Jokic; 17 Kirm, 8 Koren, 18 Radosavljevic, 10 Birsa; 14 Dedic, 11 Novakovic
Substitutes: 12 J Handanovic (G), 16 Seliga (G), 3 Dzinic, 6 Ilic, 19 Filekovic, 22 Mavric, 7 Pecnik, 15 Krhin, 20 Komac, 21 Stevanovic, 9 Ljubijankic, 23 Matavz
USA (4-4-2): 1 Howard, 6 Cherundolo, 5 Onyewu, 15 DeMerit, 3 Bocanegra; 10 Donovan, 4 Bradley, 13 Clark, 8 Dempsey; 14 Buddle, 17 Altidore
Substitutes: 18 Guzan (G), 23 Hahnemann (G), 2 Spector, 12 Bornstein, 21 Goodson, 7 Beasley, 11 Holden, 16 Torres, 19 Edu, 22 Feilhaber, 9 Gomez, 20 Findley
Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Italy)