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America holds its breath as Team USA DOMINATE England in first half in Qatar… as Red, White and Blue aim to remain UNSEXED against the Three Lions in World Cup play
Maybe it’s called “football” after all.
The United States national football team surprised the England national football team by drawing 0-0 in Group B in the first half of the World Cup in Qatar on Friday.
The USA had several chances to take the lead in the first 45 minutes of the game, including a Christian Pulisic shot from the box that ricocheted off the crossbar and a Weston McKennie that completely missed the mark. Likewise, England have had their own chances, including an early chance that England captain Harry Kane failed to convert in the 10th minute.
Christian Pulisic (C) runs with the ball during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group B football match between England and USA.
Fans in New York watch England take on the United States in Group B
With many Americans enjoying a day off after Thanksgiving, there was plenty of time to watch the US knock out England in Group B
Of course, the US has never lost to England in the World Cup, drawing with the Three Lions in group play at South Africa’s 2010 tournament and famously beating the English 1-0 in the group stage of Brazil’s 1950 Cup .
However, England does have an 8-2-1 all-time record against USMNT, but that includes nine exhibitions, including their last meeting – a 3-0 thump of the Americans in London in 2018.
Unfortunately for the US, as encouraging as the first half was, a draw against England will not be good enough to progress to the knockout stages, due to a disappointing
Iran’s stunning 2-0 win over Wales earlier Friday was not good news for the United States in Group B, but the Red, White and Blue still have a chance to progress to the World Cup knockout stages in Qatar , regardless of Friday’s outcome. against England.
After a disappointing 1-1 draw with Wales in the Group B opener on Monday, the USA are now set for the second World Cup match against England at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, and a victory over Gareth Southgate’s team the route to the last 16 will be much, much easier.
That said, if coach Gregg Berhalter’s team loses to England – one of the tournament favorites after a 6-2 victory over Iran – the US can still advance by beating the Iranians in the Group B final on Tuesday.
Interestingly, a draw against England won’t change that equation, as the US still only has two points, necessitating a win over Iran on Tuesday to continue.
Of course, a win over the Three Lions makes things a lot easier for the US, who could then go on to win or draw against Iran on Tuesday. And even if the US somehow loses to Iran after beating England – an unlikely sequence of events to say the least – the Americans could still move up on goal difference if Wales drew or beat England on Tuesday.
Long story short, the US almost certainly needs to beat Iran on Tuesday to advance regardless of Friday’s outcome against England.