The United States and Russia will play a friendly match in Portugal next month. After a sluggish win against Canada in their first match, the U.S. and Russia are primed for an exciting game. The game has the potential to be an upset. The United States, however, may not be as impressive as many would have you believe. Whether it is because of a sloppy start or a strong defensive performance, this match should be a good test for both teams.

Despite the fact that the U.S. is an emerging superpower, its military capabilities are still limited. The two nations are competing for power and energy. In the long term, the transatlantic community needs to make sure Putin does not achieve his goals in Ukraine. Despite the fact that Russia has a military and is a significant player in the global economy, the U.S. must checkmate its military and its use of energy to coerce and blackmail nations.

Another important aspect of this match-up is the diversity of religions in both countries. Russia is an Orthodox country, and it is a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), which is the former Soviet Union, minus the Baltic States. Both countries are engaged in a three-way battle with Islamists and Turkey. The southeastern tier includes Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.