U.S. men's national team defender Antonee Robinson has described the upcoming World Cup knockout stage match against Bosnia and Herzegovina as the "most important game" in the history of the program. Robinson, speaking on "The Herd" with Colin Cowherd, stressed the significance of the round of 32 fixture, stating that a win is crucial for the team's aspirations.
"We've got the opportunity to do something incredibly special this summer on our home soil," Robinson said. "We're looking to win the tournament, and you can't get there without winning this next game." He added that he hopes the team approaches the match with a "do or die" mentality.
A victory would propel the U.S. into the round of 16, offering a chance to advance to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 2002. That historic run ended with a 1-0 loss to Germany.
The U.S. team has shown a strong performance in the current World Cup, securing two victories in its three group-stage matches. This includes a notable 4-1 win against Paraguay in the tournament opener. The significance of that win is further underscored by Paraguay's recent elimination of Germany in the round of 32.
Robinson acknowledged that the challenges intensify in the knockout stage, emphasizing the need for the team to secure a result, even if the performance isn't at its peak. "We’ve got to find a way to win, even if we don’t necessarily perform as well as we have," he stated. "We just have to find a way to get a result."