Whereas England may need opened Friday’s showdown on the Al Bayt Stadium smelling the possibility to assert back-to-back Group B victories, the Three Lions put in what was a downbeat show towards the USA.
Though Gareth Southgate’s males may need received their Qatar journey underway with a thumping 6-2 romp towards Iran earlier within the week, the European giants needed to accept a 0-0 stalemate.
Regardless of trying to basically e-book their spot within the knockout stage as Group B winners right here, England flattered to deceive and have been second finest everywhere in the pitch.
Failing to ask any actual questions of the USA and figuring out that they’ll doubtless come below extra scrutiny again dwelling, Southgate’s aspect additionally missed out on the possibility to put down one other World Cup marker.
Crashing again all the way down to earth with a nightmare efficiency, we have now taken a take a look at the primary speaking factors.
Southgate will get all of it unsuitable
Opening up their World Cup journey with that thumping 6-2 victory towards Iran earlier within the week, many England followers have been excited by what might have been a extra attacking strategy from Southgate.
Nevertheless, though Southgate may need elected to go along with the identical beginning XI right here, the Three Lions did not get out of second gear and it was clear that issues wanted to be altered after the opening exchanges.
Nonetheless, after dropping their elite Nations League standing earlier within the yr after failing to win any of their six League A appearances, it was the same story for England on Friday evening.
Ready till deep into the second-half earlier than making substitutions, Southgate’s choice to interchange Jude Bellingham with Jordan Henderson was one name that might have brought on loads of frustration.
Clearly nonetheless adamant that he needs to stay with an ultra-defensive strategy, Southgate as soon as once more confirmed why many really feel that this present crop of gamers wants a supervisor who’s keen to supply a extra dynamic philosophy.
Likewise, with Chelsea’s Mason Mount someway lasting the entire 90 minutes regardless of a nightmare efficiency, questions might be requested forward of England’s last Group B look.
USA might be believing
Though virtually all the focus forward of Friday’s showdown may need been about whether or not England might lay down one other Group B marker, the USA had at all times fancied that they might spring an upset in Qatar.
Regardless of ultimately having to accept a late 1-1 draw towards Wales earlier within the week after a second-half collapse, the Stars and Stripes put in what was an attention grabbing show right here.
Understanding that they nonetheless have an actual probability of punching their knockout stage ticket and discovering a route out of Group B, the USA brought on England a string of points on the Al Bayt Stadium.
Watching Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic rattle Jordan Pickford’s crossbar and Weston McKennie spurn a golden probability from contained in the field, Gregg Berhalter’s males ought to discover the temper of their camp at a excessive.
Whereas the USA may need been considerably dissatisfied after not amassing most factors on Friday evening, they actually picked up a direct response right here.
Lifting the Gold Cup final yr following a well-known 1-0 victory towards Mexico, Berhalter’s aspect might be trying to construct on their show in Al Khor. The Stars and Strips might be subsequent seen on Tuesday after they meet Iran in what is a large alternative for each international locations.
What do England do with Kane?
Though England may need opened their Group B marketing campaign as they hit Iran for six earlier within the week, there have been some issues that Harry Kane did not get himself on the scoresheet.
Whereas it may need been confirmed previous to Friday’s showdown that the Tottenham talisman had overcome a gentle knock to his ankle, the 29-year-old was an entire passenger right here.
Remarkably having extra touches in his personal 18-yard field than the USA’s, it has been constantly steered that Kane doesn’t flourish in his deeper mendacity position in Southgate’s set-up.
Though the Three Lions’ skipper may need already racked up 12 Premier League strikes since opening the 2022/23 marketing campaign, Kane has failed to search out any form of medical edge in Qatar.
Arguably nonetheless exhibiting a hangover from his knock towards Iran on Monday, England are determined for the reigning Golden Boot winner to search out high gear sooner relatively than later.
Match Report:
England: Pickford, Trippier, Stones, Maguire, Shaw, Bellingham, Rice, Saka, Mount, Sterling, Kane
Subs: Grealish, Henderson, Rashford
USA: Turner, Dest, Zimmerman, Ream, Robinson, Pulisic, Musah, Adams, McKennie, Wright, Weah
Subs: Moore, Aaronson, Reyna
Objectives: N/A
Yellow Playing cards: N/A
Purple Playing cards: N/A
Referee: Jesus Valenzuela