Tactical Preview: USMNT go for history – and some revenge – against Belgium

There are two historical pillars we should all have in mind here, in the hours before the US men's national team faces down Belgium in the Round of 16 in Seattle on Monday night.

The first came 24 years ago, when the 2002 team snuck into the Round of 16 and were drawn against Mexico. El Tri were substantial, though hardly overwhelming favorites. More importantly, though, they were familiar. There was no mystery for the US to unravel in their prep, which meant there was no fear or uncertainty or, at any point, a lack of confidence.

You know how that one unfolded. That 2002 is the only US side in the modern era to have made it to the quarterfinals of the World Cup. It's the high-water mark for the program, one that every side since that's worn the kit has been trying to reach.

The second came 12 years ago, in Brazil. That was another Round of 16 game, and the opponents were Belgium. That Belgium team in Salvador wasn't just a good side – it was the beginning of a golden generation announcing itself to the world, with Eden Hazard and Vincent Kompany all still on the right side of their primes, and a young Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku emerging.

You know how that one unfolded, too: Tim Howard's saves, Chris Wondolowski's miss, Lukaku repeatedly bowling over and through the entire US defense in extra time. Heartbreak.

Twelve years on, both Lukaku and De Bruyne are still here. And more to the point, these two teams played each other a few short months ago (an embarrassing 5-2 win for Belgium that very clearly convinced US head coach Mauricio Pochettino who wasn't up to the job) so this isn't a new, almost unknowable opponent the way Belgium were to the US back then. It's not Mexico in 2002, of course – that 5-2 humbling in the spring stung too much, and as well as the US have played at this tournament, and as diminished as Belgium are from the best version of themselves, it is a bit too much to call this a battle of relative equals.