The United States will qualify for the knockout round only if it beats Iran. Once more, with feeling: The United States will qualify for the knockout round only if it beats Iran.
In a match freighted with political ramifications, that reality, cold but clear, will dictate a lineup and a strategy that Coach Gregg Berhalter believes will optimize the Americans’ chances of scoring.
But however aggressively he opts to play — and his decision to adopt a 4-4-2 formation against England proved a shrewd tactical change — a group that has managed only one goal across its first two games must both create more chances and convert them.