England 0-0 USA
One of the main bedfellows associated with following the English national football team is expectation.
Win well in certain encounters and belief and expectation grows, however over the top and unrealistic at times.
Perform disappointingly and, worse still, embark on a series of poor results and the knives are quickly out.
The reaction to their opening win certainly set some pulses racing, while this Friday night World Cup 2022 stalemate will undoubtedly prompt criticism in certain quarters.
The truth is that a degree of realism is now required and England remain in a good position, both in terms of Group B and the SBOTOP World Cup betting odds.
Highlights of the game
Perhaps unsurprisingly, following the 6-2 rout against Iran, Gareth Southgate named an unchanged side. Meanwhile, there was just one change for the USA from their 1-1 draw against Wales, a contest in which they started strongly before being pegged back late on.
Billed as a ‘Black Friday’ showdown, that saw forward Haji Wright handed a starting place ahead of Josh Sargent in an attacking line-up which included Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic and Timothy Weah, son of Liberian great George Weah.
In a first half in which both sides tested each other sporadically, England had the edge early on and captain Harry Kane saw an effort deflect wide before the US grew into the contest as it progressed.
Midway through the half Weah whipped in an inviting cross which Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie wasn’t quite expecting and he fired over the bar when a shot on target would have probably led to the opener.
The US went event closer when Pulisic lashed a rising shot against the crossbar from a difficult angle as Gregg Berhalter’s team finished the half in the ascendancy.
There was a reminder of England’s threat when they attack on the stroke of half-time as Luke Shaw showed neat footwork down the left and drove into the box before pulling the ball back to Bukayo Saka who couldn’t quite make a clean connection.
The second half continued in the same vein but with even fewer chances as the US tested England on the break and England looked to force an error in the American rearguard.
The disciplined US held firm as did Harry Maguire who repelled much of what was thrown at England.
A special mention to Tyler Adams who had a fine game in midfield, breaking up many England moves and embodying the US organisation and defiance.
Into the closing stages and there remained a feeling that one nation would grab a goal but it wasn’t to be.
Both countries hold their fate in their own hands and they would surely have settled for that heading into the final group games, especially the underdogs of the US.
However, with so few World Cup highlights and even fewer glimpses of quality from either nation, based on this showing, the cream of world football will not have too much cause for concern.
Key statistics
This was the first time the USA had kept a clean sheet against a European nation at a World Cup since 1950 when they beat England 1-0.
England now have three more 0-0 draws at World Cups than any other nation in the competition’s history.
This was the third meeting between England and USA at the World Cup, with the United States winning 1-0 72 years ago before a 1-1 draw in 2010.
England have won eight of their 12 meetings with USA (drew two, lost two – their last defeat came in a June 1993 friendly.
As Saka was in the starting line-up, it marked a 100th England appearance at a major tournament by an Arsenal player – the Gunners are the fourth team to provide a century of player appearances at major tournaments for the Three Lions (also Man Utd, Liverpool and Spurs).
What’s next?
It’s the final matches in Group A on Tuesday night (November 29) for both nations as England meet Wales in the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, while the US and Iran clash at the same time in the Al Thumama Stadium – a fixture which will naturally provoke interest, 24 years after what was described as the ‘most politically charged’ fixture in World Cup history.
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