FIFA World Cup: USA-Slovenia Preview, Matchups, and Predictions

The US and Slovenia face off Friday on ESPN at 9:30 am EST in a game that could determine who will advance the the knockout stages from Group C and who will go home.

After their 1-0 triumph over Algeria, Slovenia, the smallest country in this year's World Cup, sit above both the Americans and the English, whose draw leaves the group favorites at one point each.

The winner of this game, should there be one, should easily advance to the knockout stages, while a draw leaves both teams with work to be done for advancement.

From a tactical approach, and in terms of squad selection, I expect both teams to go for the win. However, that means different approaches from each side.

United States

Look for Bob Bradley to put out an offensive lineup, or at least one relatively more offensive than the side that started against England.

The US defense should remain unchanged. Tim Howard should be fit enough to get the nod in goal, while the back line will probably be the same as it was against England with: Cherundolo, Onyewu, DeMerit, and Bocanegra from right to left.

The midfield is a different story, however, and could see a couple of changes. Michael Bradley will remain in the center, but he could be dancing with a different partner. Ricardo Clark's offense leaves much to be desired, and Bob Bradley should be expecting a defensive Slovenian team that will need to be broken down with patient passing and intelligent forward runs.

Clark could be replaced by Jose Torres or Benny Feilhaber should Bradley seek a creative spark, but Maurice Edu will see time if Bradley feels his son can get the job done in attack.

On the wings, I can't see Bradley moving either Dempsey or Donovan. They make the US 4-4-2 (or really, 4-2-2-2) click with their crossing runs and movement off the ball, something that is lost when either moves up top. It's not out of the realm of possibility, however, that one of the two could move up top (probably Dempsey), leaving a vacancy on the wings for Stuart Holden or DaMarcus Beasley to fill.

Jozy will start up top, but his strike partner is still up in the air. Robbie Findley was good against England, but this game may call for a forward stronger in possession, so don't be shocked if Edson Buddle starts. Remember, also, that Dempsey and Donovan are both capable of playing up top if needed.

All in all, I expect Bradley will give Torres the nod in central midfield, leave the wings as they were, and start Findley beside Jozy again. I'd prefer to see Dempsey or Donovan in the hole and Stuart Holden get the start, but I don't think Bob wants to mix up the lineup too much.

However he lines the US up, look for the US to play a much more possession-oriented game than was displayed against England. Yes, we will take plenty of route one chances, but the build up will be more deliberate overall, and the changes from the England game should reflect that.

Probable Starters (4-4-2): Howard; Cherundolo, Onyewu, DeMerit, Bocanegra; Donovan, Bradley, Torres, Dempsey; Altidore, Findley.  

Slovenia

As they did against Algeria, and Russia before them, Slovenia will set out against the US in a 4-4-2 set on tiring out their opponents and squeaking a goal in.

While I expect a more offensive approach from Bradley, Matjaz Kek's men are not technially gifted enough to go for an out and out win. The strategy for the Slovenes has to be a draw, putting the pressure on England to defeat them in the final game and the US to get three points against Algeria.

That doesn't mean the Slovenians will not look to break, however; it just means that they will absorb a great deal of pressure and look to exploit the US on the counter or a quick ball.

In short, they will try to do to the US what the US does to just about everyone else.

The beauty of this strategy is that it is low-risk, and this World Cup has been kind to defensive sides (look no further than Switzerland's play against Spain).

They key to the Slovenians is their strong spine. Bostjan Cesar is a strong central defender, Robert Koren is a midfield workhorse who makes dangerous runs and closes down on opponents with great quickness, and the striking duo of Mile Novakovic and Zlatko Dedic is nothing to glance over, with the former being an imposing target and the latter a tireless second striker.

I expect no changes from the lineup that started against Algeria, but if Kek decides to go for a score late in the game or wants an offensive approach from the start, he may turn from Aleksander Radosavljevic, the holding mid, to Inter's Rene Krhin, a 6'3" attacking midfielder who has little experience but much, much talent.

Probable Starters (4-4-2/4-4-1-1): Handanovic; Jokic, Suler, Cesar, Brecko; Kirm, Koren, Radosavljevic, Birsa; Dedic, Novakovic

Key Matchups

Suler/Cesar vs. Jozy Alitdore: Jozy showed what he is capable of against England in the second half of Saturday's game, and he could make a stamp on this Cup with a better showing against Slovenia. The Slovenian central defense is solid though, with enough size and speed to challenge the young American striker

Jay DeMerit vs. Zlatko Dedic: If DeMerit can contain Dedic as he did Wayne Rooney, the US should have no problems defending, and DeMerit's presence should allow the US midfield to push forward even more to get the needed goal. Dedic is one of the better players you've never heard of in this Cup, and DeMerit has shown a propensity to play up against bigger teams and down against lower sides. Which DeMerit shows up will be crucial for the US to win.

Clint Dempsey/Landon Donovan vs. Miso Brekco: The biggest Slovenian weakness is at right back, so if Dempsey gets the nod out wide, he could find himself in favorable one-on-one situations with Brekco, who struggled severely against Algeria. With Donovan and Dempsey often switching sides in the run of play, Donovan should be able to handle Brecko alone or draw an additional defender, opening space for the central midfielders at the 18.

Prediction

USA - 2  Slovenia - 0

Jozy gets the US on the board early from a Donovan run down the right, while Clint Dempsey lays one off to Michael Bradley early in the second half for the final blow.

For an in-depth tactical preview, see here .