Wright Backs USA for Semi-Finals as Zlatan Urges Belief in World Cup Hosts

The USA are making waves at their home World Cup, and the football world is starting to take notice. Following a commanding 4-1 demolition of Paraguay, Mauricio Pochettino's side brushed aside Australia 2-0 on Friday to secure their passage into the knockout rounds.

Cameron Burgess's unfortunate own goal gave the hosts an early advantage, before Alex Freeman doubled the lead by half-time. From there, it was a procession—the Americans in control and comfortable throughout.

Ian Wright has been sufficiently impressed to make a striking prediction. The former England international reckons the hosts can surpass their best World Cup showing—the quarter-final appearance of 2002—and reach the semi-finals this summer.

"I think America will get to the semi-finals," Wright told FourFourTwo. "The reason I say that is because I think they have got a back four that is solid, they have midfielders who play at a good level and we saw with Flo Balogun that he can score goals."

Wright believes the momentum is building both on and off the pitch. "They have a fan base that is now starting to get it. Once the Knicks game finished, everyone started to say 'right, let's focus on the World Cup,'" he explained. "I think that if they can continue with that momentum and play like that with that energy with a striker up front taking chances like that then they can get to the semi-final to meet England."

Not content with semi-final predictions, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is going further. The former Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain striker believes the hosts are capable of winning the whole thing.

"If you didn't believe before, I will repeat: Start believing," Ibrahimovic told FOX Sports. "They have the country behind them, and when you have this support, it's difficult to beat you."

The USA's players aren't shying away from such ambition. Defender Auston Trusty acknowledged the lift that comes from such backing: "That's our mindset. I don't think you enter this tournament not to have that mindset. To have [Ibrahimovic] say that about us, that's amazing. But I'm sure he knows as well, it's game-by-game."

Crystal Palace's Chris Richards was equally bullish about the hosts' prospects: "I don't think it's ridiculous. We want to lift a trophy by the end of this."