England 0-0 USA: Three Lions lack depth in goalless draw with People 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 in opposition to the USA, however their lackluster show was a actuality test on their ambitions on the match and means they need to wait till their closing group recreation with Wales on Tuesday to safe a final 16 place -place.

Solely a defeat by Wales by 4 objectives or extra would stop Group B leaders England from taking the following step, however Southgate must ask questions in regards to the large dip in his facet’s efficiency and the way they will rediscover type for the enterprise section 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 season. However on the closing whistle there have been boos from the touring followers, with Gareth Southgate’s facet ill-paced and disjointed in opposition to an brisk American facet.

Christian Pulisic hit a first-half shot in opposition to the crossbar and Harry Maguire needed to head away a sequence of corners because the People piled on the stress within the second half. Whereas there was no method of replicating the well-known upset of that match in 1950, the USA did sufficient to recalibrate perceptions of England’s prospects and enhance 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.

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

England, recent from slicing unfastened in opposition to Iran, confirmed intent within the opening levels, 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 facet seemed not sure and uncoordinated as Haji Wright headed large, Weston McKennie fired a superb 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 help within the stands at Al Bayt Stadium was exacerbated when Pulisic smashed a fierce left-footed shot into the body of Pickford’s purpose from simply contained in the penalty space.

Maguire – glorious on his fiftieth cap – then did nicely 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 purpose 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 capturing over, Pulisic’s dig deflected large and the USA growing the stress 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 closing moments flew large. However with Phil Foden nonetheless on the bench, there’ll as soon as once more be questions in regards to the adventurousness of England’s supervisor.

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

What does the outcome imply?

England should keep away from shedding 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 facet and make the knockouts.

Southgate: “I knew it was going to be troublesome, we’re not going to comb by way of everybody”

Gareth Southgate talking to ITV:

“Precisely the type of recreation I assumed it will be – it was actually robust in opposition to a superb opponent who was very athletic.

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

“A few of our high quality within the closing third might have been a bit higher however we confirmed nice resilience in opposition to an opponent who stored asking questions. We managed the sport nicely 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 is going to occur as a result of it is match soccer.

“We’re not going to undergo a match 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 might have been robust if England had misplaced that recreation, however it will even have been undeserved if they’d 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 nicely have been on the incorrect facet of the outcome.

“The USA disrupted and disrupted as we knew they might, and it actually knocked England out of their step, who had been pedestrian and unrecognizable from the free and flowing crew we noticed in opposition to 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 on no account a catastrophe. England nonetheless prime the group with 4 factors and a really wholesome purpose distinction.

“Nevertheless, it implies that the ultimate Group B recreation in opposition to Wales nonetheless has so much to do, and England might want to carry out a lot, significantly better if they’re to comb 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 go away him out of his squad for this World Cup or no less than bench him. in favor of a extra shapely defender.

“It can 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 absolutely 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 type 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, essentially the most of any nation in World Cup historical past. On the identical time, this was the USA’s first ever goalless draw on the World Cup.
• England have by no means overwhelmed the USA within the World Cup (D2 L1), solely confronted Brazil (4 video games) extra occasions within the World Cup with out profitable.
• America stored a clear sheet in opposition to a European nation on the World Cup for the primary time since they received 1-0 in opposition to England in 1950. They’d gone 18 such video games with out one earlier than right this moment.
• England have received simply one in every of their final eight matches in all competitions (D4 L3), having received six of their eight matches previous to this.
• England had simply eight photographs on this recreation and solely tried fewer in two World Cup matches since 1966: six in opposition to Eire in 1990 and 7 in opposition to Poland in 1986.