⚽ U.S. Squad Readies For Gamesmanship From Iran

It's win or go home for the USMNT, while Iran can advance with just a draw. [View in browser]( [FOX SPORTS INSIDER WITH MARTIN ROGERS] In today’s FOX Sports Insider with Martin Rogers: With Iran only needing a draw and the USMNT needing a win to advance, the Americans know they have their work cut out for them … The Buccaneers may have lost in overtime, but losing Tristan Wirfs to injury could cause more long-term damage to their playoff hopes … and more! AL RAYYAN, Qatar — In case you hadn't heard, there is a big game for the United States men's national team coming up Tuesday. A big game indeed, the biggest American men's soccer has had for at least eight years, the biggest it will have for another four. It's a game of simplicity — where a win is golden and nothing else against Iran will do (2 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports App). And yet, at Al Thumama Stadium, there will be a game within the game, one that will play a role of its own. It is a game specifically designed to throw an opponent off their game, which it why they call it what they do: gamesmanship. Iran, the team Gregg Berhalter's USA must beat to power their way out of Group B and into the round of 16, is a master of gamesmanship. Carlos Queiroz's squad is a high-quality team, good enough to be ranked 20th in the world, compared to the USMNT's 16th, and it did an outstanding job of outplaying Wales 2-0 on Friday. It is also an experienced group filled with veteran players who are highly skilled in the mysterious arts of cajoling referees and gaining any available advantage. "They worked the referee," former USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann told the BBC, after Iran's impressive victory, that rescued its campaign after a 6-2 loss to England in their opener. "They work the linesman and fourth-official, they are constantly in their ear. There were a lot of incidents we didn't see. This is their (soccer) culture, they take you off your game." Let's be real here, it is not "their" soccer culture. Yes, the Iranians play to the very limit of the rules, and sometimes step over, and they are far from being the only ones to do so. Numerous teams in the World Cup embrace such methods, especially when their backs are to the wall. For the rest of the story, [click here.]( [STORY IMAGE 1] [IN OTHER WORDS] - The Bucs lost to the Browns in OT but as Greg Auman notes, perhaps more worrisome, is the [loss of star offensive lineman Tristan Wirfs]( to injury. - With Ja'Marr Chase and Joe Mixon out, Tee Higgins and Samaje Perine [showed Cincinnati's depth]( against Tennessee, Ben Arthur writes. - Team USA needs all three points to advance, but facing [Iran's counterattack is its own challenge](. Doug McIntyre breaks down the matchup for USMNT. - Even after a tough loss, Canada's first goal shows a young group who can [emerge in the CONCACAF]( region in the years ahead, Martin Rogers writes. - Will he ever win the big one? Bryan Fischer details how the [tables have now turned]( with Ryan Day not Jim Harbaugh now facing intense scrutiny. For the latest news and updates, [click here.]( [VIEWER'S GUIDE] Portugal vs Uruguay (FOX, 2 p.m. ET) Portugal looks to win its second straight World Cup match, while Uruguay hopes to get its first win of the tournament. Atlanta Hawks at Philadelphia 76ers (NBATV, 7 p.m. ET) Trae Young and the Hawks head to Philadelphia to take the Eastern Conference rival 76ers. Pittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis Colts (ESPN, 8:15 p.m. ET) Najee Harris and the Steelers head to Indianapolis hoping to bounce back against Jonathan Taylor and the Colts. United States vs Iran (Tuesday, FOX, 2 p.m. ET) The United States is looking to advance out of Group B with a win while Iran needs just a draw to advance. For all of today's games and scores, [click here](. [BET OF THE DAY] Odds provided by [FOX Bet]( Pittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis Colts: Steelers (+2.5) to lose by less than three points, or win outright From FOX Sports Gambling Expert: Warren Sharp On the season, the Colts are 3-2-1 vs. teams that rank below average defending the run. They upset the Chiefs, Broncos and Raiders, tied the Texans and lost to the Eagles (by only one point) and Patriots. Against mid-tier run defenses, ranking 10-19, the Colts are 1-1, splitting games with the No. 15-ranked Jags defense. But against top-10 run defenses, the Colts are 0-3, losing to Washington and being swept by the Titans, and scoring 10, 16 and 17 points in those three games. Now the Colts must face the No. 7 run defense of the Steelers. And it’s a better run defense than No. 7 because they were without T.J. Watt for most of the season. Running backs tend to see a lot of volume against the Steelers because Pittsburgh doesn’t score a lot nor pull away in games. But from an efficiency perspective, Pittsburgh should be able to limit what is most important to the Colts. We also have massive pressure splits for Matt Ryan. When he’s pressured, he ranks No. 29 in EPA/att. But he delivers average efficiency when kept clean. Pittsburgh’s defense can do enough to keep this game close. Buy this line up to three or use Steelers in teasers. For the latest betting odds, [click here](. [FOLLOW FOX SPORTS] [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [YouTube]( [Instagram]( Download FOX Sports App: [Fire TV]( [Roku]( [Google Play]( [App Store]( [Fire TV]( [Roku]( [App Store]( [Google Play]( Also available on these devices: [fireTV | AppleTV | ROKU | Google Chromecast | XBOX ONE | SAMSUNG Smart TV] [fireTV | AppleTV | ROKU | Google Chromecast | XBOX ONE | SAMSUNG Smart TV] Trademark & Copyright Notice: ™ and © 2022 Fox Media LLC and FOX Sports Interactive Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Please do not reply to this message. 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