Tim nasional sepak bola putra Amerika Serikat bersiap melakoni pertandingan kedua Grup D Piala Dunia 2026 melawan Australia.
Laga akan digelar di Seattle Stadium pada Jumat, 19 Juni 2026 waktu setempat.
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Pertandingan ini menjadi momentum krusial bagi kedua tim. Sebab, keduanya sama-sama meraih kemenangan meyakinkan pada pertandingan pembuka masing-masing.
Gio Reyna Ingin Manfaatkan Talenta
Gelandang Amerika Serikat, Gio Reyna, menjadi sorotan setelah mencetak gol indah menggunakan bagian luar sepatunya saat melawan Paraguay.
Pemain muda ini bertekad mempertahankan momentum positif tersebut.
"I really want to make that next step," ujar Reyna. "and I really believe I can.
I want to stay fit.
I'm doing a lot of things off the field to try to keep that up to the best I can."
Reyna juga menambahkan komitmennya untuk memaksimalkan potensi bakat yang dimilikinya pada turnamen akbar ini. "I just really want to make the most of this talent that I have.
Hopefully, this World Cup is a good kickstart for that," katanya.
Meskipun kerap dinilai kurang egois di depan gawang, dorongan dari orang-orang terdekatnya mulai mengubah cara pandang Reyna.
"I know I have a good shot, but maybe I'm in my position, and I look to pass first," tuturnya.
"They want me to be a little bit more selfish at times.
My natural thinking of the game is to get players involved, and I always like to pass. I love getting an assist just as much as scoring goals.
So, yeah, I just try to do whatever helps."
Antusiasme Pemain dan Dukungan Suporter
Kembalinya tim nasional ke Seattle mengakhiri penantian panjang selama satu dekade sejak pertandingan kualifikasi terakhir mereka di kota tersebut pada tahun 2013 silam.
"We'd do that again, sure," ucap Sunil Gulati, Mantan Presiden Federasi Sepak Bola AS.
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Gelandang Weston McKennie mengungkapkan antusiasmenya mengingat ia belum pernah bertanding di Seattle bersama tim nasional senior. "I'm excited to see what it's like," kata McKennie.
"I've never been here with the national team before."
McKennie juga menceritakan bagaimana gemuruh dukungan suporter di stadion memberikan suntikan energi luar biasa.
"Even before the last game, hearing the fans and the national anthem, and people singing along, it gives you goosebumps," ujarnya.
"You're like, oh s***, it's time to go.
You're so fired up, because you know that you have people behind you, people that are supporting you.
