If we don't reach eighth place, it means we haven't succeeded.

Folarin Balogun has said the United States must beat Bosnia and Herzegovina in their last-16 tie or risk judging their World Cup run as a failure.

The 25-year-old, who has scored twice in the tournament and forced an own goal against Australia, said the atmosphere has changed with knockout football now under way. “You can feel the difference,” he said before Sunday’s training session. “If you lose, you go home.”

Balogun added that the stakes were higher because there was no room to recover from a defeat. He said he did not want the US campaign to end at this stage and described Wednesday’s match as a moment for senior players to take responsibility.

The US face a poor record in the knockout rounds. They have won just one World Cup knockout match in history, against Mexico in 2002, and have not beaten a European side in their past 12 games against continental opposition. Sergiño Dest said this squad was more experienced and more confident than previous US teams, adding that topping Group D had lifted belief. Balogun said the team were focused on the task in front of them rather than past results.