Former All Whites captain Ryan Nelsen believes the All Whites can really trouble the US if they can replicate the kind of pressure they showed in their unlucky loss to Mexico on the weekend.
The 38-year-old - who now lives in Washington DC - dropped in to catch up with the side following their arrival for their clash on Wednesday afternoon (NZT) and said their performance against Mexico was the best that he's seen of them for a long time.
"I was very impressed. I thought they pressured the Mexican players very well, high up the field," he said.
"From afar where I’m watching, that last game against Mexico was a different level to what I've seen New Zealand teams play like and it's really positive."
The All Whites pushed Mexico all the way in Nashville on Sunday (NZT) with Marco Rojas evening the score after an early Giovani dos Santos penalty, before Marco Fabian put the game out of the New Zealanders' reach.
Nelsen said that while Mexico had most of the attacking play, the All Whites showed that they have what it takes to trouble the best teams in the world.
"They turned the ball over many times in Mexico’s half. I’ve watched that team many times and they don’t normally do that because they’re technically very good players," he said.
"It will be a tough game [on Wednesday], but I think if they can replicate what they did against Mexico then they will have more of a chance of winning the game.
"[USA have] brought in quite a few fresh faces, some guys that have been on the cusp of the team, so they'll be motivated to impress their coach".
All Whites skipper Winston Reid says he's relieved to face the more orthodox footballing style of USA after his side's loss to the "kamikaze" Mexicans and that they may replicate the more defensive style his side was accustomed to facing.
"They'll be a little more compact, whereas against Mexico, they had players all over the pitch," the West Ham defender said.
"It was a little more kamikaze, whereas this might look more like a normal football match."
The All Whites will take on New Caledonia in November and Fiji in March as they look to secure a place in Russia.
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