England 0-0 USA: Three Lions lack depth in goalless draw with Individuals in Group B conflict in Qatar

England edged nearer to a spot within the knockout rounds of the World Cup with a 0-0 draw towards the USA, however their lackluster show was a actuality test on their ambitions on the event and means they have to wait till their ultimate group recreation with Wales on Tuesday to safe a final 16 place -place.

Solely a defeat by Wales by 4 objectives or extra would forestall Group B leaders England from taking the subsequent step, however Southgate should ask questions concerning the huge dip in his aspect’s efficiency and the way they will rediscover type for the enterprise part of this competitors.

After England thrashed Iran 6-2 of their opening recreation in Qatar, there was optimism amongst their supporters about their squad-building en path to the European Championship finals final summer time. However on the ultimate whistle there have been boos from the touring followers, with Gareth Southgate’s aspect ill-paced and disjointed towards an brisk American aspect.

Christian Pulisic hit a first-half shot towards the crossbar and Harry Maguire needed to head away a sequence of corners because the Individuals piled on the strain within the second half. Whereas there was no manner of replicating the well-known upset of that match in 1950, the USA did sufficient to recalibrate perceptions of England’s prospects and increase their very own hopes going ahead.

Harry Kane’s early blocked shot and his header large from Luke Shaw’s free-kick in second-half stoppage time had been as shut because the toothless Three Lions assault got here to troubling america throughout an alarming – if not instantly damaging – efficiency.

The USA, in the meantime, are third in Group B, one level behind Iran, who they face on Tuesday. A win would see them by to the final 16.

England, contemporary from slicing unfastened towards Iran, confirmed intent within the opening phases, with Kane’s goal-bound effort blocked after Bukayo Saka’s cut-back and Mason Mount’s shot over after a dribble into the field by Maguire.

However quickly their possession lacked objectives and, with out the ball, Southgate’s aspect appeared uncertain and uncoordinated as Haji Wright headed large, Weston McKennie fired a very good opener over and former England youth worldwide Yunus Musah noticed a shot deflected into the grasp of Jordan Pickford.

The rising concern over England’s efficiency from the touring assist within the stands at Al Bayt Stadium was exacerbated when Pulisic smashed a fierce left-footed shot into the body of Pickford’s aim from simply contained in the penalty space.

Maguire – glorious on his fiftieth cap – then did properly to dam a harmful effort from Sergino Dest and Pulisic headed large, with England holding on at half-time. A late shot over from Saka and the Three Lions’ first stoppage-time effort on aim from Mount did little to masks England’s struggles within the opening 45 minutes.

There was no enchancment after the break both, with John Stones having to dam from Wright, McKennie once more taking pictures over, Pulisic’s dig deflected large and the USA rising the strain across the hour mark with a sequence of corners.

Within the 68th minute, Southgate lastly made his transfer, sending on Jordan Henderson and Jack Grealish for the ineffective Raheem Sterling and, extra surprisingly, Jude Bellingham.

Grealish received a few free kicks across the USA field and Kane’s header from Shaw’s cross within the ultimate moments flew large. However with Phil Foden nonetheless on the bench, there’ll as soon as once more be questions concerning the adventurousness of England’s supervisor.

England drew with Scotland of their second European Championship group stage match and went by to the ultimate. Their supporters will hope that this can finally be seen as some extent and a clear sheet that takes England ahead on this World Cup slightly than an instance of their limitations.

What does the outcome imply?

England should keep away from dropping to Wales by 4 objectives on Tuesday within the 7pm kick-off to safe their place within the final 16.

The USA should beat Iran of their co-match to leapfrog Carlos Queiroz’s aspect and make the knockouts.

Southgate: “I knew it was going to be tough, we’re not going to brush by everybody”

Gareth Southgate talking to ITV:

“Precisely the sort of recreation I assumed it will be – it was actually powerful towards a very good opponent who was very athletic.

“I knew it will be tough for us after such a excessive peak to copy that sort of efficiency [against Iran]. I am actually proud of how the gamers have utilized.

“A few of our high quality within the ultimate third might have been a bit higher however we confirmed nice resilience towards an opponent who saved asking questions. We managed the sport properly from the again and simply could not open them up with that one actually clear likelihood.

“I believe we did not have the identical zip however it’ll occur as a result of it is event soccer.

“We’re not going to undergo a event and sweep everybody with out having nights like this the place it’s important to present totally different qualities to get the outcome.”

Reporter’s view: England unrecognizable from Iran victory

Sky Sports activities Information Rob Dorsett in Qatar:

“There have been boos across the Al Bayt Stadium at full-time. It could have been powerful if England had misplaced that recreation, however it will even have been undeserved if that they had received it.

“That late Kane header will stick in Southgate’s throat. It was there to win, and win badly, in stoppage time.

“However equally, had Pulisic’s ferocious energy within the first half been a foot decrease, England might very properly have been on the flawed aspect of the outcome.

“The USA disrupted and disrupted as we knew they’d, and it actually knocked England out of their step, who had been pedestrian and unrecognizable from the free and flowing crew we noticed towards Iran 4 days in the past.

“It was very a lot ‘after the Lord Mayor’s present’ from an England perspective. And it is a actuality test on the place the crew is at.”

“The draw is certainly not a catastrophe. England nonetheless prime the group with 4 factors and a really wholesome aim distinction.

“Nevertheless, it implies that the ultimate Group B recreation towards Wales nonetheless has quite a bit to do, and England might want to carry out a lot, significantly better if they’re to brush apart their British rivals and progress to the knockout stage with a feather of their step.”

Participant of the match: Harry Maguire

Sky Sports activities’ Peter Smith:

The scrutiny and criticism of Harry Maguire has been intense over the previous yr. His absence from Manchester United’s beginning line-up for a lot of this season has fueled requires Gareth Southgate to depart him out of his squad for this World Cup or no less than bench him. in favor of a extra shapely defender.

“It’ll by no means occur, given Southgate’s respect for centre-back and the credit score Maguire has within the financial institution in an England shirt. And on Friday night time he totally confirmed his inclusion.

“There have been eight clearances – greater than twice as many as some other England participant – as Maguire repeatedly headed away USA corners within the second half. There was a key block on a Yunus Musah shot, with Maguire jockeying the advancing winger earlier than he timed his intervention completely.

“It was the sort of match that suited Maguire’s strengths, with England’s struggles in different areas of the pitch requiring a backs-to-the-walls mentality from their most skilled defender. Maguire rose to the problem and proved some extent.”

Opta Stats: England misplaced by USA once more

• England have had 12 goalless attracts on the World Cup, probably the most of any nation in World Cup historical past. On the similar time, this was the USA’s first ever goalless draw on the World Cup.
• England have by no means crushed the USA within the World Cup (D2 L1), solely confronted Brazil (4 video games) extra instances within the World Cup with out profitable.
• The USA saved a clear sheet towards a European nation on the World Cup for the primary time since they received 1-0 towards England in 1950. They’d gone 18 such video games with out one earlier than right now.
• England have received simply certainly one of their final eight matches in all competitions (D4 L3), having received six of their eight matches previous to this.
• England had simply eight pictures on this recreation and solely tried fewer in two World Cup matches since 1966: six towards Eire in 1990 and 7 towards Poland in 1986.