United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino plays down suggestions that his team are clear favourites for their World Cup round-of-32 match against Bosnia. After recent results at the tournament, Pochettino says the United States is wary of the risk of upsets and does not treat rankings or expectations as decisive. He points to shocks already seen in the competition, including Germany’s elimination following a penalty shootout loss to Paraguay and Morocco’s exit after the Netherlands were also eliminated on penalties. In response to the favourites label, Pochettino frames the Bosnia game as a must-win test for his squad. The Independent reports he describes the knockout match as a “final” for the team, while Cyprus Mail and Channel NewsAsia similarly highlight his caution and focus on the immediate challenge rather than external assessments of strength. The sources agree that the match is approached with urgency typical of a World Cup knockout fixture, with Pochettino emphasizing preparation and respect for Bosnia’s threat rather than confidence based on paper credentials.