"We have nothing to lose in a game like this. We're the underdogs and having that underdog feeling is something that teams should be afraid of."
- USA players on upcoming England game
It all comes down to this. The moment they have trained for since the World Cup announced its match ups in April. The United States of America will meet on the pitch against England on November 25th, 2022.
The two men’s soccer squads are continuing their campaigns in hopes to get to the knockout stage. The USA are desperate for a win after their match against Wales ended in a 1-1 draw, with Tim Weah scoring early in the match, but quickly being countered by welsh fútboler Gareth Bale.
England, however, began their campaign against Iran with a 6-2 victory, catapulting them into the leading spot of Group B.
It has been quite sometime since either powerhouse has been a winner of the World Cup. The USA ultimately missed out on the Cup in 2018, but managed to get to the knockout rounds in 2014 and 2010. In 2002, the team made it as far as the quarterfinals, and The 1930 squad finished in third place, the farthest any U.S. Men's team has gone in World Cup history.
England has not had such a good past with the Cup. Finishing fourth in the 2018 World Cup, marking its best tournament since finishing in fourth in 1990. England failed to get out of the Group stage in 2014, and The squad won one World Cup title — in 1966.
The match up tonight is likely going to contain some tension. While some might argue political, the cause for tension is far more likely to be in relation to the history on the pitch between the two teams. Beginning with the 1950 World Cup match. The USA ultimately won the match, 1 nil, one of the biggest upsets in any World Cup, even after Saudi Arabia’s victory this week against Argentina (2-1) and Japan's win over Germany (2-1).
At the time the USA team was compiled of part-time players (due to the aftermath of the war), and the sole scorer of the match was Haitian-born U.S. center forward Joe Gaetjens. This match became a book and a movie due to its significance.
The 1950 World Cup was England's debut after boycotting the previous Cups.
Exactly 60 years later, the U.S. and England were drawn together again at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The U.S. did not manage to win, but did pull off a draw when USA's Clint Dempsey’s long-distance shot took a hop that caught England's goalkeeper, Rob Green, by surprise and rolled past him into the net.
That positioned the U.S. to win the group on the dramatic late goal by Landon Donovan against Algeria that became the most memorable moment in USMNT history.
Now, both teams are ready to face off in their entirety. Many will also remember that England and the USA tied in the 2010 World Cup. The USA and England did not meet again in 2014, and 2018. Thus, the 2022 match is the second time they have collided in four World Cups.
The USA's all time FIFA World Cup Record is 8 W - 7 D - 19 L
England wants to win Group B because it means facing the runner-up in Group A in the round of 16. Beating the Americans would all but assure that finish, given the significant goal differential the Three Lions racked up in their opening-game 6-2 win over Iran.
The U.S. wants to beat England because its first goal is to advance to the knockout rounds for the fourth time in its past five World Cup appearances. A victory would put the Americans in excellent position to advance, and even a draw would be an acceptable result. The U.S. MUST win one of their next two games, whether against England or Iran.
In 11 attempts against England, the U.S. has gotten only positive results only three times: those two and a 2-0 victory in 1993 in a four-team tournament called the “U.S. Cup”. They’ve lost eight consecutive friendlies
But the Americans have gotten it done when it mattered most.
Can they do it again?
Many news outlets have put Englands leading Striker, Harry Kane (won the 2018 golden World Cup boot), against the U.S's leading Striker Christian Pulisic (known as Captain America, first American to play in a UEFA Champions League Final). This pair up has almost just as exciting as the actual match.... almost.
Minute 11 begins the battle with England's forward Mason Mount's goal going slightly wide. This continued into minute 17 USA's Haji Wright's header is off-target, followed by USA's Weston McKennie's off target strike in the 26th minute. USA continues moving down the pitch with Al Khor's drive forward through Yunus Musah, having his shot on target but saved. USA's leading striker, Christian Pulisic hits the crossbar in minute 33. Pulisic gets another chance in minute 43 but the header goes wide. Minute 45 comes around and England's Bukayo Saka gets in a strike but fails to hit the target, and is followed by England's Mason Mount who drives towards the goal at Al Bayt Stadium. But the finish is unsuccessful in the one on one battle against Matt Turner. The first half ends scoreless.
The second half begins with both teams hungry for a strong finish. USA take a shot in minute 49'. In minute 56' Pulisic takes a shot and goes far left. Between 56' and 60' the USA received 3 corner kicks, all of which were unsuccessful in getting a shot on goal. Pulisic's corner in minute 63' lead to another in 64'. Neither getting any traction. By minute 79, the USA had 37% of the possession, but during the first half the USA had the majority of possession.
It was minute 83' that shocked USA fans when they made their third substitution with Giovanni Reyna replacing Tim Weah. Up until this point, Gio had been benched the entirety of the 2022 World Cup.
Minute 86 brought a shot on by England. Shot taken again by ENG in the 90th minute, saved by USA's Moore. England with the corner during the 4 minute stopage time, saved by Matt Turner. USA fouls in minute 91 just outside of the box, leading both teams into USA's box. 90 seconds left. Harry Kane with the header, just outside the box. USA with the ball. In the final moments of the match, USA gets a free kick, leading everyone to England's side. Unsuccessful. nil-nil.
And the job is left unfinished on the field in Al KHOR, Qatar.
USA Soccer Legend Alexi Lalas - 1994 World Cup player, and 2006 National Soccer Hall of fame Inductee went viral prior to the game tonight with a very notable, and somewhat depatable speech:
"You go for it my friend. This is a moment of opportunity... in America we are used to being the biggest, the baddest and the best at everything, even sports... when it comes to our men's national team they aren't (the best). Tonight is an opportunity to make us believe that we CAN be. The opponent does matter. It does matter that it's England. We get to shed that insecurity that we have - that inferiority complex that we have. We have to stop apologizing for what we are or what we aren't. We plant that flag against that country where they have so much history... We be bold, we be brave. We don't wait for Iran - there is no honor in that! And if you're gonna go down, you go down swinging tonight! You grab a hold of that opportunity and you make us proud! That is the American Way! That is the American Team that I want to see tonight!"
Regardless on if the team Lalas saw on the field was the one he had painted in his head, there is still one question remaining, What does this drawl mean for the remainder of the World Cup?
While the US must secure a win against Iran on Tuesday to advance, the English need only a tie to secure an opportunity in the round of 16.
Comments