Next one is USA vs Paraguay. And this one is interesting because I think a lot of people will look at the USA at home, with Pochettino, Pulisic, McKennie, Adams, Balogun and the whole this is finally our football moment narrative, and just assume they should win this opener. And honestly, I get it. USA is still not in the World Cup Fever but if they win they could get there. Home soil, big stadium in Los Angeles, a team built for this World Cup, and probably the most pressure they ever had going into a tournament. On paper, the gap is clear too. The USA squad is worth around €386m, while Paraguay are around €154m, so the US are more than 2.5x bigger in football market cap. That does not win you a World Cup game by itself, but it does show the difference in individual quality. Paraguay are not loaded with superstars, but they have enough serious players to make this uncomfortable. Almirón can hurt you in transition, Enciso brings creativity if he is fit enough, Diego Gómez gives them quality in midfield, and Gustavo Gómez is the kind of experienced defender who will enjoy turning this into a fight instead of a show. They are also back at the World Cup after 16 years, and their coach already said they are not here just to make up the numbers. The USA should control more of the ball, and if they score early, the crowd can push them and the game can open up. But if it stays 0-0 for too long, the pressure slowly moves to the hosts, and suddenly every misplaced pass feels heavier. Pulisic is obviously the main guy here, but I think Adams and McKennie are just as important because this might not only be decided by pretty football. It might be decided by who wins the ugly midfield parts, the second balls, and the little duels where tournament games usually turn. I think the USA have enough quality to get it done, especially at home, but I do not like treating this like a free win. Paraguay have the exact profile of a team that can make the favourite suffer before they lose. For @TradeOnsight, this still feels like a discipline game. Watch the first 20 minutes, see if the US are actually creating danger or just carrying possession with pressure on their shoulders. Probably I will sleep while this happening. My call: USA 2-1 Paraguay.