Some forwards thrive on charisma, drawing attention even during challenging times. In contrast, Folarin Balogun opts for a quieter approach, focusing on maintaining an impressive goal tally. The 24-year-old, who was born in New York but grew up in London, has made his commitment to the United States clear after choosing to represent the nation over England and Nigeria. Last season, he netted 13 goals in Ligue 1, placing him fourth in the league and preparing him for an important World Cup at home.
Balogun’s acquisition has been closely observed by US supporters eager for a reliable striker.
Tim Ream, captain of the USMNT, remarked, “What we would say in England is how sharp he is,”
Balogun has participated for at least 45 minutes in six of the ten friendlies played by the United States since last summer’s Gold Cup, each match against World Cup teams. Overall, he has spent 423 minutes on the field, with five of those appearances ranging from 71 to 81 minutes. During these games, he achieved an average of 26.4 touches per 90 minutes, following a tactical shift implemented by Mauricio Pochettino. Notably, 24.1% of his touches occurred in the opponent’s penalty area, with a maximum of nine touches against Japan, eight against Ecuador, and six in a 45-minute stint versus Senegal.
In particular, the US’s final friendly matches against Senegal and Germany served as significant tests for the team’s preparedness for the World Cup, highlighting areas for improvement. The game against Germany, specifically, revealed a tendency to build up play down the left side, facilitated by Ream’s distribution to former Fulham colleague Antonee Robinson. This leftward movement allows Christian Pulisic more opportunities to receive the ball, but it can also leave Balogun isolated as his teammates attempt to return the ball to the congested central zone.
Nevertheless, this isolation may not pose a considerable issue. Balogun’s agility remains a crucial advantage, keeping him at the forefront of defenders’ minds even when service options dwindle. His ability to pull center-backs from side to side creates space for teammates to exploit on wide breaks. Balogun embodies the archetype of an advanced striker, playing a minimal role in buildup and rarely retreating into midfield or defensive positions.
However, in high-stakes matches approaching, it is essential to ensure that the most in-form forward receives adequate opportunities to shoot.
Reflecting on the left-oriented buildup against Germany, Balogun noted, “Just with his movement: left, right, being able to hold the ball up and bring other players in, and then his movement in behind and getting himself in the goalscoring positions is something that we’ve been crying out for for a long time with the team and this group. He’s probably the most annoying striker for me to have to deal with in training because he is so quick with his movements, physically strong and able to seemingly glide past people.”
Paraguay, the US’s first opponent in the group stage, will present a unique challenge. The two teams met in a friendly last November, where Balogun scored the second goal in a 2-1 victory for the US, starting the match as the central striker.
The squad that day was missing several key players expected to start in the World Cup, including Pulisic, Robinson, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, and Sergiño Dest, which limited Balogun’s opportunities in that match. Having his preferred attacking midfielders and wide defenders could facilitate faster service to Balogun compared to a more rotated lineup.
Nonetheless, his performance against Paraguay’s low block demonstrated that he doesn’t require numerous chances to make an impact. In that match, Balogun registered only 15 touches over 75 minutes, marking his least involved appearance among the six extended outings since the Gold Cup. Notably, only one of those touches occurred in the Paraguayan box.
The Paraguay defense aimed to minimize his threat, yet he found a way to capitalize.
Following a turnover at the edge of the attacking third in the 71st minute, Balogun surged forward. He received the ball and collaborated with Gio Reyna, reaching the edge of the penalty area where Reyna attempted to cross back to him. Despite a deflection, the ball rolled right to Balogun. The preceding 70 minutes emphasized his need to seize this opportunity: he chose not to control the ricochet and instead shot towards the near post with his only touch in the box during the match.
Paraguay is likely analyzing this footage, along with Germany’s efforts to limit Balogun’s service. While the US continues to fine-tune their central approach, Balogun remains confident in his ability to maximize the opportunities he receives.
“I think in the game against Senegal, I had a good amount of opportunities. I felt involved in a short amount of time. As a striker, that’s what you want to do. That’s how you want to feel. The game against Germany was a bit more difficult. Of course, they’re a better opposition, so that’s to be expected.” Balogun stated. “I’m just trying to go into these games, you know: every game’s going to be a completely new game,”
