USA players dismiss 'layup' label as Australia clash looms in World Cup Group D

Tyler Adams rolled his eyes when asked about it. The United States men’s national team heads into Friday’s FIFA World Cup group-stage match against Australia in Seattle carrying an unwanted narrative — that the fixture is, in the words of former MLS player and CBS analyst Mike Grella, a “layup.”

Grella’s comment, made when the two nations were drawn into Group D last December, went viral and has since dominated the buildup to the match, with Australian reporters repeatedly putting the word to American players who, by most accounts, had barely heard it.

“No, it’s not a layup,” Adams said flatly. “If anything, it’s going to be one of the most difficult games that we play.”

The United States currently leads Group D on goal differential following a commanding 4-1 win over Paraguay, sitting narrowly ahead of Australia, which defeated Türkiye 2-1 on Saturday. A win on Friday would strengthen the U.S. grip on top spot heading into the final group game.

History backs Adams’s caution. The two sides met last October in a feisty friendly that featured 26 fouls, two yellow cards, and saw Christian Pulisic forced off in the first half after a heavy challenge. The U.S. came from behind to win 2-1, with Haji Wright scoring twice, but the match left a clear impression on the squad.

“The game was fun,” Tim Weah said with a smile. “That experience was fun. It was aggressive. I think from that game, we’ve changed a lot. I think we’ve gotten a bit more aggressive as well. It’s going to be a wonderful clash, a wonderful game.”

Weah stopped short of calling October’s friendly a turning point, but players regard it as a significant moment in the team’s development under manager Mauricio Pochettino, who took charge in September 2024. The Argentine has worked to instil a harder, more combative identity in the group — an ethos that midfielder Sebastian Berhalter summarised bluntly.

“We’re American, we don’t take s***,” Berhalter said. “Even though he’s Argentinian, he has that mindset of like, ‘Look, this is what we do and this is who we are and this is what America is about.’ Even from an outside perspective, he showed us Americans what we’re about, and he really drills that into us.”

Australia arrive in Seattle as a disciplined, defensively organised side that will look to sit deep and absorb pressure before hitting on the counter — precisely the kind of opponent that can punish a team that takes them lightly. For the U.S., the message from the camp is clear: the word “layup” stays on the bench.