Leeds midfielder Tyler Adams described Welsh striker Kieffer Moore as a “problem” for the United States in their World Cup opener.
Adams came up against Moore’s 6ft 5in earlier this month when Leeds beat Bournemouth 4-3 in the Premier League at Elland Road. The pair will face off again on Monday when Wales and the United States kick off their World Cup campaigns in Qatar.
“It’s a big threat, we understood that playing against Bournemouth,” said Adams, who will captain the Americans at the World Cup. “He provides a completely different game plan to any team you put him on.
“He’s amazing in the air, but he’s probably very underrated for his technical ability and his finishing around the goal. For our central defenders, I have already had a word with them. We talked about it at our scouting meeting, you have to have a body on him at all times. It is a problem.
“Being physical and trying to take the ball from him, it will be difficult, but we have to stop him.”
Adams, at 23, is the youngest World Cup captain and only Ghana have a younger squad than the Americans.
Head coach Gregg Berhalter said: “Although we have a young team, it’s a fantastic group of guys and the maturity has grown. I see a huge focus within the team and I think that will help us aim for success.
“We want to be able to hurt them and be an aggressive team, but we also know they have strengths and threats and we want to take them away.”
England will be USA’s second opponents in Group B on Friday and Berhalter believes Gareth Southgate’s side could win the tournament.
He said: “I see England as one of the favorites for the World Cup with their squad and their depth. With international experience from the last two tournaments, finishing second and fourth, they have a really talented squad. .
“But anything can happen on a football pitch and for us it’s about being confident and brave and competing for 90 minutes. We know the first game is important and we’re focusing on that. On Tuesday, we will start to focus on England.
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