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The Three Lions failed to win their game against the United States (0-0) on Friday at Al-Bayt Stadium, Al-Khor. England had the opportunity to qualify in the round of 16 if they win, they will have to wait until the last day of the group stage – but approach it in a favorable situation. The United States will play their future in the World Cup-2022 against Iran.
The Anglophone shock had to keep all its promises, it finally gave birth to a mouse. England and the United States failed to decide (0-0) on Friday, November 25, during a World Cup-2022 match played at Al-Bayt stadium, in Al-Khor.
The Three Lions are in a 4-2-3-1 formation, while USA are in a 4-3-3 formation. At the start of the match, the two teams observe each other. England rotate the ball, without this having any immediate effect on the pace of the game. And on the first acceleration of the Three Lions, Kane is about to score after a throw-in from Saka! But Zimmerman intervenes well and deflects for a corner (10e).
We feel England capable of quickly creating danger, especially on the side of Saka, who still sends a precise cross into the American surface on this action (14e). But the United States defense clears in time as Kane wanted to attempt an acrobatic scissor. For a few minutes, the United States tries to project itself towards the cage of Pickford but they miss accuracy.
Until this first alert in the area of the Three Lions: on a cross, McKennie takes the ball from the penalty spot but he flies just above Pickford’s goal (26e). In the process, Musah tries a shot from 20 meters but it is captured without concern by the English goalkeeper (29e). The Three Lions find it difficult to develop their game against the effective defensive system of their opponents. Worse, they even fail to concede a goal: on a lag, Pulisic – at the entrance to the English area – arms a dry shot which comes crashing into the crossbar of Pickford (33e).
England, sometimes imprecise and struggling to speed up the game, will have to show more desire if they want to stagger the United States in this match. Conversely, the Americans play uninhibited and hold the candle to the Three Lions in terms of intensity. Dest even sends a shiver through the English area but the ball is deflected for a corner (41e). Pulisic then tries a header on a good cross from the right, but the ball is off target (43e).
Shaw finally manages to find a flaw in the American defense but Saka, who takes a step back, unscrews his shot (45e). In the aftermath, Mount fires a sudden shot from 20 meters but Turner must work to push the ball away for a corner (45e+1). The two teams logically join the locker room with a draw. Despite two clear chances, the Three Lions were put in danger several times by the United States without complexes during this first act. Only one goal missing in this game.
A fairly lackluster second half overall
The Americans return from the locker room always with good intentions but with a lack of precision: McKennie, in a striking position, sends the ball into the clouds after an unbalanced shot (49e). For several minutes, then, the defensive block of the United States is still in place as in the first half. And same cause, same consequence: the Three Lions are still struggling to find loopholes to exploit.
The United States are now trying to destabilize their opponents with several corners (58e60e61e64e), but neither brings danger to Pickford’s cage. 30 minutes from the end of regulation time, the English suffered the game of their evening opponent but did not give in. With 4 virtual points on the clock, they are not qualified for the eighth but are in a good position to achieve this objective on the last day. If the score remains unchanged, the deal for the United States is quite different: they will play their qualification against Iran.
From 70e at the 80e, not much to report. The match is riddled with inaccuracies and lack of technical accuracy, we do not feel for the moment a desire of the 22 players to end the match on anything other than a 0-0. The end of the match continues at a similar pace, we no longer really feel the desire to score a goal on either side. The show finally becomes quite boring at the end of the meeting. Maybe Rashford? No: his strike towards the American cage is far too soft to present any danger.
Perhaps the four minutes of additional time will change the match… But no. Even if Kane has a final chance with a header that just misses (90e+3), the match ended well with a 0-0, with a meeting that decreased in intensity and envy as the game progressed.
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