USA vs Turkey: World Cup preview, predictions and bet builder tips

Our prediction: USA 2-1 Turkey

USA

Our predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Freese / Scally, Freeman, Trusty, Arfsten / Roldan, Berhalter / Weah, Reyna, Pepi / Wright

Turkey

Our predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Cakir / Muldur, Demiral, Kabak, Kadioglu / Kokcu, Calhanoglu / Akgun, Guler, Yildiz / Akturkoglu

The USA take on Turkey in their final group game at Los Angeles Stadium in what is essentially a dead rubber, with the US confirmed as Group D winners and Turkey eliminated after losing their opening two games to Paraguay and Australia. Mauricio Pochettino will have to balance maintaining momentum with resting his key stars ahead of the knockouts, with no USMNT side ever having won all three of their group games at a World Cup.

Star man Christian Pulisic remains a doubt with a calf injury and he is unlikely to be risked, while key players Chris Richards, Tyler Adams, Antonee Robinson and Folarin Balogun are all one yellow card away from suspension. Turkey are playing for pride so will put out their strongest team, as they try to salvage some credibility from what has been a desperately disappointing tournament.

The Stars and Stripes appear fully united and there have been jubilant scenes in LA and Seattle after impressive wins against Paraguay and Australia. They return to where they tore through the South Americans in the first-half of their Group D opener, and Turkey face a big job to pick themselves up in front of a raucous atmosphere. We think a rotated USA side will feed off that and overpower a Turkish team lacking in confidence and belief, with the USA eventually winning 2-1.

Turkey scored in each of their last eight games leading up to the World Cup, averaging 2.75 goals per game, but have remarkably failed to score from 62 shots in two games, which goes a long way to explaining their early exit. The USA were rarely troubled by a mediocre Australian side, but it was a welcome clean sheet after a run of eleven games without one. We think Turkey might finally break the barn door down in a 2-1 defeat, so we're picking both teams to score in our USA vs Turkey bet builder.

With Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun likely to be rested, Ricardo Pepi will probably start either on the wing or up front for the USA. Pepi was a threat throughout against Australia, which was no surprise after a breakthrough season at PSV which saw him score 16 Eredivisie goals. He's got a good record for the national team, with 13 goals in 39 caps, so we're tipping Pepi to have an impact against Turkey with at least one shot on target.

Turkey's talisman Arda Guler has failed to make his mark on this World Cup, but the 21-year-old Real Madrid attacking midfielder still has time on his side and there is no doubting his quality. Arda is at the centre of much of what Turkey do, and their general performances haven't been terrible, but they have desperately lacked a clinical edge. Guler has had three shots on target from his two World Cup games, and we're tipping him to land another against the USA.

You can bet on each of these markets individually, or combine them to create a USA vs Turkey Bet Builder. With Bet Builder+, you can combine your bet with other World Cup matches, and also with different sports.

Check back for our World Cup match previews and daily accumulators throughout the tournament.

View the latest football odds here.

All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.