AL KHOR, Qatar — The U.S. men’s national team takes on England in its second match of Group B action today (2 p.m., ET, FOX), with the winner of today’s showdown moving into first place in the group.
The Americans come in off a 1-1 draw with Wales, while the Three Lions look to build on their 6-2 triumph over Iran. The Iranians rebounded on Friday with a 2-0 victory over the Welsh, meaning the USMNT can control its own fate with a good result against the English.
Gregg Berhalter has made just one change to his starting lineup, going with Haji Wright at striker over Josh Sargent. Weston McKennie and Sergiño Dest are back in the lineup despite yellow cards and concerns over fitness, while Walker Zimmerman and Tim Ream are also carrying yellow cards into tonight’s match.
England will start the same exact lineup tonight that beat Iran, with Harry Kane shaking off an ankle knock to return to the lineup.
The SBI editorial team will be providing live commentary throughout the match, including editor-in-chief Ives Galarcep, who is at the match, so be sure to follow along here. As always, you are welcome to share your own thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action.
Good point earned. After the initial 15 minutes from England they grew confused and angry they weren’t dominating the game. Americans could have won it. Better overall energy in this game from the USMNT.
Might be time for that Weah to CF against Iran and bring in Reyna. Thought McKennie was back to himself today. When he is like that he is a very dynamic CM.
Landon said that Weston is the key midfielder and he was right.
When he’s his dynamic self, the midfield looks so different.
awesome player, excellent today, and totally agree
Final: England 0 – USMNT 0. The USMNT posts its first World Cup shutout over a European team since 1950, but now has to win against Iran to stay in the tournament. Anything less than a victory on Tuesday means the U.S. are headed home. They did well to hang with England, but probably could’ve done more in the final third today.
If you told me before the tournament that advancing out of the group was a matter of facing Iran with the winner taking all, I would have taken it, instantly, no questions asked.
If only we could finish. I’ll take it though.
gutless to not kick that ball in the mixer and have a go for the W
in these 2 games, one thing for sure is GB no matter what is set up to not allow the counter on anything, including set pieces, but I was thinking go for it! but GB by doing that definitely signaled he wanted this point and feels good about this point
Nearing stoppage time, both teams are pressing for a winner. The USMNT has done well to withstand the pressure so far, as has England. Will we see a winning goal?
cheers, fun to hang out, thanks for doing it, and to all!
big game coming up
Go go USA!!
my god it’s a reyna sighting
Aaronson on to help spring the counter imo, like there
GB’s play is to go for it here a little more imo…come on boys!!
the mids look exhausted confused wby he’s subbing backs and Fs
I think we won the midfield today, we stayed composed, looked to build, and broke through the middle 3rd pretty well. but still do not get why BA doesn’t see the field more and sooner in some role or way
maybe next match unleashed? idk we’ll see, and someone else for Haji maybe?
question is what system/tactics will GB use imo
nope on the counter, just that one time so far
reyna for pulisic he can’t complete a pass
Brenden Aaronson readying to come on for Weston McKennie, who would have been suspended for the Iran match with a yellow card today. Shaq Moore also coming on for Sergino Dest.
almost exclusive 4 4 2 now
but not looking to counter, instead control, possess, build
all due respect to CP but the deadballs aren’t much more dangerous, they just look vaguely scarier on TV because they are overhit instead of underhit. still not finding the right team unless someone does a garbageman weak side run to field the trash.
for sure, opportunties left on the table
BA pretty good at them if he’s in the 11 vs. Iran
subs please they look sloppy and a little tired
yessir come on GB
The USMNT is piling on the pressure now and England are definitely reeling. A lot of key blocks and a key Pickford save has kept this from being 1-0 to the Americans.
pulisic needs to send some people on these runs and quit ball hogging to the point of risking turnovers
brutal leg breaker on purpose there, look at his eyes
hope Tim is ok
The second half has kicked off with the USMNT on the front foot to start. Eager to see if the Americans can keep up the same energy for another 45 minutes.
Hopefully GB is ready to counter any changes from GS at half. Has been a weakness.
came out 4 4 2 now already 4 3 3
more like 4 3 3 pressure and stay in attack, or 4 4 2 our half and stay in attack after recovering the balll…that’s what I think we’re doing
What a difference 4 in the midfield makes. A half too late, though.
we played with 3 in there for almost all
CP leaks forward man, a lot, he’s starting to get frustrated at teammates for not pressuring
Solid half!! USA let’s turn it up in the 2nd half!!
they need to mix in some balls to feet in the middle and not just settle for lofted crosses.
right there, into CP top of the attacking 3rd, turns it over, and boom the counter on like lighting and almost for them
Matt Turner with a key save on Mason Mount as the USMNT hangs on at 0-0 heading into halftime. Both teams with good offensive looks, but so far nobody can find the back of the net. Favorable for the Americans through 45 minutes.
The USMNT is starting to gain some confidence and you can see it in its play. A lot of good passing and opportunities in the box. Hopefully something that continues in the early stages of the second half.
to me they have always looked bored and robotic in the GB 433. right now they are engaged with the game and combining. this is more like the potential i see in this team except i’d like to see them getting the ball back to the middle more on the ground in the final third. cut in from wing, feed CAMs top of the D.
Weren’t you the one who was advocating for a 4-4-2?
Good call. You’re definitely winning that argument.
WE. LOOK. SO. MUCH. BETTER. OUT. OF. THE. 4-3-3.
The 4-4-2 seems to suit our personality and personnel WAY better, and we’re generating vastly more legit dangerous chances to score out of it. And it doesn’t reduce our forwards to bystanders.
Someone needs to tell Haji this isn’t a friendly.
this is what happens when you pick strikers based on club numbers and not anything they ever did with the US. the one striker picked for US work is the one not seeing the field so far. the perimeter work is solid. there is no central focal point or player to feed.
True, but that’s also a consistent flaw in GGGs system in general. Hoping there’s a competent adjustment for the 2nd half. Too many chances went begging.
“this is what happens when you pick strikers based on club numbers”
You must think everyone else is illiterate.
None of the striker candidates have numbers worth a fuck.
Unless you wanted to bring Jozy in.
CROSSBAR! Christian Pulisic rips a shot off the bar that Jordan Pickford does not get a hand too. Wow.
how is that not a yellow
Agreed
i’ve been arguing for a 442 or 451 for a while. i prefer disciplined counters to naive pressing, 2 Fs makes them work to figure out even one pass, 4 mids clogs the build up. 433 to me is childish the way we play it. and personally i think we’d do better getting back and countering into space with speed than pressing up and pretending we can string that many passes to act like city or barca.
Best look of the match for the USMNT as Weston McKennie’s volley skies over from near the penalty spot. Tim Weah’s cross is met by McKennie, who as left wide open by Kieran Trippier. However, the shot ends up in the stands. 27′
Can we do this for 90? Please.
They are sitting on the wing players if we looked up the middle there has to be room
combo ball up the middle then out to dest for a cross that goes to pickford. GO. TO. GOAL. iran got 2 on them they can’t be gods.
what i mean is if they are sitting their wide player on the chalk to cut off dest and robinson then surely in the final third there have to be some cracks to the middle to the 9 and CAMs. you can be stretched 50-60 yds wide and blanket the middle too. you kind of have to pick one.
can’t
The USMNT’s first look at goal ends up being a Haji Wright flicked header. It misses wide of the right post, but a good first chance after being pinned back a bit now. 17′
in the box he’s been ok I think
England looking very comfortable in possession and the USMNT doing its best to keep them at bay. A lot of great movement off the ball by Gareth Southgate’s side. 14′
Haji needs to pick up the tempo on the pressure, not surprising it’s a little slow but pick it up man
hope he score for us or something cuz he looks slow as dust out there
Not the game I would have expected him to start, one where there doesn’t figure to be much service and the USMNT will need someone who can press from the front.
Berhalter sees something in this matchup. Early on, it’s not paying off.
100% totally agree Ives
also, we have not looked to counter, only once to CP I believe, that’s it.
whenever it’s his pressure, it doesn’t happen so…….
Huge block from Walker Zimmerman to deny Harry Kane an opening goal. Bellingham and Saka connect before the cut back is blocked by Zimmerman. 10′
Bukayo Saka vs. Antonee Robinson is going to be fun. Saka in good form and great at taking players on, but Robinson is equally as good defensively in 1 v. 1’s.
Looks like Haji Wright and Tim Weah are leading the offensive attack in a 4-4-2. Christian Pulisic on the left side of midfield. Interesting.
defensively when we pressure looks like the Guardiola 4 3 3 which looks 4 4 2 but the diagonal defensive lines on the front 3 give it away, but we’l see how it progresses. 4 4 2 in our half
20 minutes in and it’s the Klopp 4 3 3 pressure now
not really pressure tho…it’s a feignt, haven’t really looked to pressure or couter 1st half, instead controlled play and like Larry said, looks like gaining confidence. through the midfield and middle 3rd once we control the ball has been pretty good
Woohoo!!! Let’s go. Anything from a 1 goal loss to a win is a win. Manage that goal differential.
Not true under all circumstances, but most likely a loss and a draw are the same; both require a victory over Iran.
Meh. Aaronson should be starting.
Other than that I figured Wright would start. Berhalter is hoping Haji will bang around with Maguire. I just don’t know if that’s really his game.
If McKennie struggles again Berhalter better make that change sooner than he did against Wales.
You guys ready??!