England vs United States preview
England started their quest for a second World Cup title with a 6-2 win against Iran in their opening match. Gareth Southgate’s men blew the Asian team out of the water and were at their attacking best. It is the perfect start to their campaign, and now they face the United States in their second match. A victory in the game will guarantee the Three Lions qualification to the round of 16.
The team had five different goal scorers, so it will be hard for rivals to contain them. With such an impressive win under the belt, England are likely to field an unchanged squad. A win against the United States will also allow the team to test its bench strength in the final match, allowing them to see which players can make an impact off the bench or if any injury or suspension struck the team.
Meanwhile, the United States’ start to the World Cup could have been better. The Star and Stripes had a far better squad than Wales but still got one over them, drawing the match 1-1. It was a physical affair as referee Abdulrahman Al-Jassim handed out six yellow cards. The United States had an impressive first half as Timothy Weah scored.
However, Wales’ manager Rob Page made a perfect substitution replacing Daniel James with 1.96-metre-tall Kieffer Moore. His height made him good in the air, which put the United States on the back foot in the second half. The pressure ultimately helped Wales earn a penalty which Gareth Bale duly converted.
Now, the United States face their toughest competitor, who will be far more dangerous than Wales in the attack. Any mistakes against the English will be punished, and manager Gregg Berhalter will be hoping his young team can produce a surprise of their own against the 1966 World Cup champion.
🗣Jude Bellingham on Bukayo Saka: “He is such a smiley guy. Seeing him happy makes everyone happen. He is just a sick guy, man. To share a record with him is really special, to be honest. He is such a top player, such a top guy.” 🏴❤️ pic.twitter.com/4gh5fdFY46
— Arsenal News Channel (@Arsenalnewschan) November 22, 2022
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England vs United States team news
The only concern facing Gareth Southgate is the fitness status of Harry Maguire, Harry Kane and James Maddison. Maguire was forced off early against Iran, while Kane went off after he was seen clutching his ankle. However, the duo participated in the team’s sessions, allaying any fears of English fans. However, Maddison trained indoors and still has to have an entire training session with the squad, which likely means he will not be part of the match.
England Predicted Line-up: Pickford, Trippier, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Bellingham, Rice, Foden; Saka, Sterling; Kane.
The United States were almost handed an injury scare in the match against Wales when Gareth Bale tackled Christian Pulisic. The Chelsea man hobbled for a few minutes after the tackle, even leaving the pitch for treatment. However, he returned to the match playing the entire game. This will be a massive relief for the team, as Pulisic is their best attacker despite not being in the best form. And it is likely they will field an unchanged starting 11.
United States Predicted Line-up: Turner; Dest, Zimmerman, Long, A Robinson; Adams, McKennie, Aaronson; Reyna, Ferreira, Pulisic
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Gamechangers
It looked like every player was a game-changer in the match against Iran. Bukayo Saka got two goals while Kane bagged himself a couple of assists, and while they were brilliant, it was Jude Bellingham who was the orchestrator-in-chief in the middle of the park. The 19-year-old directed the play and will be critical to England’s chances at the tournament. We already know what a lack of an excellent central midfielder can do to a team, as Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia without Giovanni Lo Celso, and Southgate will hope Bellingham keeps up his form if they are finally to bring it home.
The United States are a team that are brilliant in attack, and it showed it during the first half against Wales. And Timothy Weah was the star, scoring a well-taken goal. He was electric in the match before being replaced in the second half. He has been brilliant for Lille in Ligue 1 and has brought his room to the World Cup which they need if they want to qualify for the next round.
George Weah, the only African player to have won the Ballon d’Or, and arguably the greatest player the continent has produced never played in a #FIFAWorldCup.
Timothy Weah, his son, has just gone and scored in one. Legacy 🤝 pic.twitter.com/bNALl3tKws
— 101 Great Goals (@101greatgoals) November 21, 2022
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England vs United States predictions
England know they are just a victory away from qualifying for the next round, and if Wales draws with Iran, it will also guarantee them the top spot. They are a team that has peaked at the right time, and Southgate knows they can go on a deep run in the tournament.
On the other hand, the United States have an impressive record, and despite Saudi Arabia’s shock win over Argentina, England look to be taking all three points.
FootTheBall predicts a 3-1 win for England.