England 0 – 0 USA

England edged nearer to a spot within the World Cup knockout rounds with a 0-0 draw with USA however their lacklustre show was a actuality verify on their ambitions on the match and means they must wait till their closing group recreation with Wales on Tuesday to seal a final-16 spot.

Only a defeat to Wales by 4 targets or extra would forestall Group B leaders England from making the following stage however Southgate must subject questions in regards to the huge drop-off in his crew’s efficiency and the way they will rediscover kind for the enterprise part of this competitors.

After England thumped Iran 6-2 of their opening fixture in Qatar there was optimism amongst their supporters about their crew constructing on their run to the ultimate of the Euros final summer season. But by the ultimate whistle there have been boos from these travelling followers, with Gareth Southgate’s facet badly off the tempo and disjointed towards an brisk US crew.

Christian Pulisic crashed a primary-half shot towards the bar and Harry Maguire needed to head away a sequence of corners because the Americans put the stress on within the second half. While there was no means by to emulate the well-known upset on this fixture of 1950, USA did sufficient to recalibrate perceptions about England’s prospects and enhance their very own hopes of progressing.

Harry Kane’s blocked shot firstly of the match and his header broad from Luke Shaw’s free-kick in second-half stoppage time was as shut because the toothless Three Lions assault got here to troubling USA throughout an alarming – if not instantly damaging – efficiency.

USA, in the meantime, sit third in Group B, some extent behind Iran, who they face on Tuesday. A win would see them into the final 16.

England, contemporary from chopping unfastened towards Iran, confirmed function within the opening phases, with Kane’s purpose-sure effort blocked after Bukayo Saka’s cutback and Mason Mount’s shot over after a dribble within the field by Maguire.

But quickly their possession lacked function and, with out the ball, Southgate’s facet appeared unsure and uncoordinated as Haji Wright headed broad, Weston McKennie fired an excellent opening over and former England youth worldwide Yunus Musah noticed a shot deflected into Jordan Pickford’s grasp.

The rising concern about England’s efficiency from the travelling assist within the stands at Al Bayt Stadium was compounded when Pulisic smashed a fierce left-foot shot towards the body of Pickford’s purpose from simply contained in the field.

Maguire – glorious on his fiftieth cap – then did nicely to dam a harmful effort from Sergino Dest and Pulisic headed broad, with England hanging on for half-time. A late shot over from Saka and the Three Lions’ first effort on the right track of the match in stoppage time 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 broad and USA ramping up the stress across the hour mark with a run of corners.

In 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’s field and Kane’s header from Shaw’s cross within the closing moments flew broad. But with Phil Foden left on the bench, there’ll once more be questions in regards to the adventurousness of England’s supervisor.

England had a turgid draw with Scotland of their second group recreation on the Euros and went on to make the ultimate. Their supporters will probably be hoping this can finally be seen as some extent and clear sheet which takes England ahead on this World Cup moderately than an instance of their limitations.

What does the consequence imply?

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

USA should beat Iran of their fixture which takes place on the identical time to leapfrog Carlos Queiroz’s facet and make the knockouts.

Southgate: “I knew it would be difficult; we’re not going to sweep through everybody”

Gareth Southgate chatting with ITV:

“Exactly the sort of game I thought it would be – it was really tough against a good opponent who were very athletic.

“I knew it might be tough for us after such a excessive to copy that form of efficiency [against Iran]. I’m actually happy with how the gamers have utilized themselves.

“Some of our quality in the final third could’ve been a bit better, but we’ve shown great resilience to defend against an opponent that kept asking questions. We’ve controlled the game well from the back and just not been able to open them up with that really clear-cut chance.

“I feel we did not have that very same zip however that is going to occur because it’s match soccer.

“We’re not going to roll through a tournament and sweep through everybody without having nights like this where you have to show different qualities in order to get the result.”

Reporter’s view: England unrecognisable from Iran win

Sky Sports News’ Rob Dorsett in Qatar:

“There were boos all around the Al Bayt stadium at full-time. It would have been harsh if England had lost that game, but it would’ve been undeserved too had they won it.

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

“But equally, had Pulisic’s rasping drive in the first half been a foot lower, England could well have been on the wrong side of the result.

“USA harried and disrupted as we knew they’d, and it actually knocked England out of their stride, who have been pedestrian and unrecognisable from the free-scoring and fluid crew we noticed towards Iran 4 days in the past.

“That was very much ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’ from an England perspective. And it’s a reality check about where the team is at.

“A draw is on no account a catastrophe. England nonetheless prime the group with 4 factors and a really wholesome purpose distinction.

“But it means the final Group B game against Wales still has much riding on it, and England will have to perform much, much better if they’re to sweep their British rivals aside and go through to the knockout stages with a spring in their step.”

Player of the match: Harry Maguire

Sky Sports’ Peter Smith:

“The scrutiny and criticism of Harry Maguire has been intense over the past year. His absence from Manchester United’s starting XI for much of this season ramped up calls for Gareth Southgate to leave him out of his squad for this World Cup or at least bench him in favour of a more in-form defender.

“That was by no means going to occur, given Southgate’s respect for the centre again and the credit score Maguire has within the financial institution in an England shirt. And on Friday night time he absolutely vindicated his inclusion.

“There were eight clearances – more than twice as many as any other England player – as Maguire time and time again headed away USA corners in the second half. There was a vital block on a shot from Yunus Musah, with Maguire jockeying the advancing winger before timing his intervention perfectly.

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

Opta stats: England scuppered by USA once more

• England have had 12 goalless attracts on the World Cup, probably the most of any nation within the historical past of the World Cup. Meanwhile, this was the USA’s first-ever goalless draw on the World Cup.
• England have by no means overwhelmed the USA on the World Cup (D2 L1), solely going through Brazil (4 video games) extra typically within the World Cup with out profitable.
• USA stored a clear sheet towards a European nation within the World Cup for the primary time since they received 1-0 towards England in 1950. They had gone 18 such video games with out one earlier than at this time.
• England have received simply one among their final eight video games in all competitions (D4 L3), having received six of their eight video games earlier than this.
• England had simply eight pictures on this recreation, solely trying fewer in two World Cup matches on file since 1966: six vs the Republic of Ireland in 1990 and 7 vs Poland in 1986.