The U.S. can clinch a spot in the World Cup knockout round. But it knows not to underestimate Australia.

How does a team follow up its best performance in the World Cup in nearly a century?

How does a team follow up its best performance in the World Cup in nearly a century?

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For the U.S., preparing for its second group-stage game Friday against Australia has meant remembering when times were not so good. It was only seven months ago — the last time the U.S. played Australia.

That match last fall was technically a non-counting friendly, but that didn’t lower the intensity of what became a physical contest as Australia challenged the U.S. from the start. Mauricio Pochettino, who was a year into his tenure as the U.S. national team coach, entered the locker room at halftime of a 1-1 tie and began a “rant,” U.S. midfielder Sebastian Berhalter recalled.