The biggest sporting event in the world continues with the Group B England v USA clash that should be one of the best for the second round of group stage games. Can England blow another team away at the World Cup, we’ll have to wait and see.
With so many games and so little time, our Group B England v USA Match Centre tries to sum it all up as quickly as possible before and after the game and with just a hint of cynicism. If you wanted professional and/or good you’d be on the BBC website, not here. Essentially, we watch and follow the game so you don’t have to.
With answers to the key questions prior to the match and our Minutes that Mattered summary and stats post game, it is a real Who Cares guide to the 2022 World Cup for the person on the go.
Enjoy the Group B England v USA Match Centre.
KICKOFF – FRIDAY 25TH NOV – 22:00 (QATAR) 19:00 (UK) 06:00 (AEDT)
Group B England v USA Match Review
Match Summary
Minutes that Mattered
Welcome to the briefest of match summaries, like a minute by minute you find on professional websites except one that has only the minutes that matter. All wheat, no chaff.
And if the below isn’t enough, for those in Australia you can catch up via the SBS World Cup on Demand.
5’ Min – It’s a pretty quiet opening to this big fixture. Not much energy at all. It doesn’t look like either side would be taking this game lightly given the sides they named, full of youth. But it does feel like we have been watching a lot of throw ins and the backs of jerseys for those waiting to throw in.
9’ Min Now that’s better from England. A slick move down the right between Bellingham to Saka to Harry Kane sees the English forward’s shot blocked by a US defender. The subsequent corners led to Mason Mount having a shot outside the box that sailed well over the crossbar.
13’ Min England piling on the pressure right now. Seemingly set up for the night inside the USA half, they are offering themselves half chance after half chance with their slick passing and crosses. Just need a little more luck with the end product.
16’ Min First half chance for the USA and it was a header that went wide of the posts. We guess the moral to the story was how easy the US attacker found so much space despite having English defenders nearby.
25’ Min Decent half chance for the US as Weston McKennie meets a cross in the box unmarked with a half volley shot. He couldn’t keep it down and the ball went well over the crossbar.
31’ Min – A Klinsmann Trophy nomination for Mason Mount who face grabbing fall to the ground was as pathetic as is was dramatic. Perhaps it was the wind burn and not the actual no-contact that hurt him. Fair enough too.
32’ Min Christian Pulisic hit the woodwork with a shot from just inside the penalty area. That wasn’t far away at all. Well obviously, because it hit the main post.
33’ Min Free kick to England about ten metres outside the penalty box for Harry Kane getting bumped mid air and landing with a thud. Bit of a worry when Harry Kane is always an injury concern.
41’ Min A corner or two for the USA challenges England’s defence for a few minutes. Christian Pulisic’s attempt at goal that goes wide is the best they can do this time around.
44’ Min Saka is provided a golden chance to open England’s scoring, courtesy of a fine cross from Luke Shaw, but Saka’s shot goes well over the crossbar.
45’ Min Mason Mount’s shot from the edge of the penalty box is a much better effort, drawing a fine save out of US keeper Matt Turner. Nothing came from the corner and it is scoreless at half time.
HALF TIME – ENGLAND 0 USA 0
48’ Min First decent chance of the second half goes to USA, where the initial shot is blocked well by England and the follow up from Weston McKennie sails high over the crossbar again.
60′ Min Yes, we’re still here watching the game so you don’t have to. But if we’re honest, it’s a little dull. But it does feel like the USA are on top of England right now. We guess England can play for the draw after their big win first up v Iran. But they do need to do that big triple substitution to liven up things.
64′ Min Yet another corner for the USA and this one was the most interesting for a while as the ball clears everyone and if there was a USA player on the far post they would have scored.
68′ Min England do bring on some new blood, and we mean that in the context of this game, as Jordan Henderson is one of the players to join the fray. Jack Grealish is the other player on for the record. This game kind of needed a Phil Foden but what would we know.
82′ Min The game seems to be getting more cagey, which we guess works for England after Wales’ defeat by Iran in the earlier game.
84′ Min Free kick to England inside the USA half but a long way from the dance floor aka penalty box. The cross is well handled by the USA defence and the game moves on.
86′ Min Surely as the pressure builds there is a calamity waiting for one of these sides.
87′ Min Marcus Rashford unleashes a reasonably mild curving shot at goal from distance which is well held by the US keeper.
89′ Min USA go on the attack as far as the England penalty box, but it is well covered by the English defence. Lord please let there be stuff all added time so we can do something else. Four minutes is OK.
90′ Min A corner for England sees a mild header from Harry McGuire into the ground that is easily nabbed by Turner in the US goal.
90′ +2 Min Free kick to England on the left about 10 metres from the penalty box. Fair enough foul as the US defender simply pushed Jack Grealish over. Last chance really for England here. And it is a header with great power and minimal direction. It is well wide and a little bit poor to be honest.
90′ +4 Min Thank god that’s over. we’ve seen some 0-0 games this World Cup, but this game is particularly disappointing given how exciting both teams played in the first game. Anyways, we guess it’s all about the progress to the knockout stage, and this sort of helps both teams. Although USA need to beat Iran, and that’s not going to be easy.
Final Score
ENGLAND 0
USA 0
HT 0-0
Player of the Match
Can we say no one?
Points of Interest
- Nice light hearted moment from Weston McKennie who was looking to dry his hands then used the FIFA bib of a nearby cameraman who seemed quite happy to help out.
Group B England v USA Match Stats
Group B England v USA Starting Teams
ENGLAND (4-2-3-1)
1 Pickford
12 Trippier
5 Stones
6 Maguire
3S Shaw
22 Bellingham
4 Rice
17 Saka
19 Mount
10 Sterling
9 Kane
TEAM (4-4-2)
1 Turner
2 Dest
3Z immerman
13 Ream
5 Robinson
8 McKennie
4 Adams
6 Musah
10 Pulisic
21 Weah
19 Wright
Group B England v USA Match Preview
Why should you care?
After England’s 6-2 win over Iran, many people probably can’t wait to see the next episode of their World Cup story. Including us. England will be through to knockout stage already if they win, a loss
USA were excellent in the first half against Wales, although were slightly outplayed in the second half.
So a good game of football awaits, featuring teams who play good football. A key game in the make up of Group B for the knockout stage. What more could you want?
Who should you care about?
How can you choose from the England side?
Presuming they’re taking a similar team into the game v USA, then we’ll say Bakayo Saka will continue his fine form, and who could begrudge him success after the fallout of the Euros.
Perhaps Phil Foden will get to start against the USA. and given his performances this season (when actually allowed to start eh Pep) he’ll take the opportunity. He’ll need to for him to break into this starting side full time.
We were impressed with Walker Zimmerman from USA’s first game but the defender will have his hands full with the English attack. Christian Pulisic was also good for the USA v England, and will need to be on fire to halt England’s progress.
Full 2022 World Cup Squads & Stats
Is there a barely interesting fact?
England have only lost twice to USA, but both games have been at World Cups.
The last time England played a CONCACAF nation at the World Cup they won 6-1 (v Panama).
Who will win?
England 1 USA 1
Full 2022 World Cup Predictions
