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The New York Knicks winning their first NBA championship since 1973 on Saturday night can be an advantage to the United States at this World Cup.
The whole of the USA - and especially New York - have been gripped by the NBA finals in which the Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 to win their first championship in 53 years.
So much so that sports fans in the Big Apple have not been fully invested in the early days of the World Cup yet.
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But now the football has no distractions, Ian Wright believes Mauricio Pochettino’s side can go all the way to the semi finals.
The USMNT kicked off their home World Cup in style with a comprehensive 4-1 victory over Paraguay in Los Angeles and Wright likes what he sees from the hosts.
Folarin Balogun bagged a brace and Gio Reyna and an own goal wrapped up an impressive opening win.
“I think America will get to the semi-finals,” Wright exclusively told FourFourTwo.
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“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.
Speaking at the adidas fan zone in Brooklyn Bridge Park, Wright added: “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.’
“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.”
The USMNT face Australia next - who themselves got off to a winning start with a 2-0 win over Turkey - and both sides know a win will ensure their place in the last 32.
If the USMNT were to reach the semi-finals then it would represent their best performance at a World Cup, bettering their quarter final appearance in 2002.
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