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AL KHOR (VG) (England 0–0 USA) Again England failed to beat the USA in a World Cup play-off. After a very tame fight, the experts frown.
England were booed off the pitch after a particularly toothless performance.
– Were we booed? Not sure if it was directed at us. I don’t know, says Southgate of the booing after the game at a press conference.
– I’m sure there will be a lot of noise about the performance, but not many teams get nine points in the group stage, continued the England coach.
Several football experts are highly critical of the England manager’s match management.
– The big question is whether the manager, with such a talented group, can change the game with tactical changes and substitutions when it doesn’t work, writes former England player Gary Lineker on Twitter.
– Quite a spectacular result
The United States sent shockwaves from Belo Horizonte and throughout the world of football with its sensational and completely unexpected triumph over the English in 1950, and in 2010 the “Three Lions” were unable to beat the Americans also in the context of the World Cup.
While the US team 72 years ago consisted of part-time players, the US is building an ever more exciting team – four years before they themselves will host the “soccer” World Cup.
Even in the first half at Al Bayt, the huge “tent” in the middle of the desert a few kilometers north of Doha, England, running out of energy, struggled to dominate properly.
– It’s quite a spectacular achievement for England to have so many talented players and look so pale, writes football writer Daniel Taylor in The Athletic.
Even the tabloids weren’t kind:
Culture hit
In the stands, the show dominated by speakers and DJs before the match has probably touched the hearts of Americans more than the British, who tried to drown out the organizer’s show of lights and flames with a more classic English stand songs.
The English crowd was unlikely to be enthralled by what transpired in the first few minutes, but as the first yawns came forward and their eyes drifted more and more to their mobiles, England for the first time launched a well-functioning attack .
After a great play down right, the ball landed on Harry Kane, but his trailing hit an American and was out.
At the other end, Weston McKennie failed to put an equally good opportunity under the crossbar, while Christian Pulisic hammered the ball a little lower and straight into the metal.
Mason Mount also tried on the eve, but the fourth official’s extra minutes saving sums up how little happened before the break.
– It seems that England went into this match expecting a win. Midfield has been non-existent, said former international Micah Richards at half-time, second BBC.
– Incredible
Nor did the first half of the second half yield any hints of results on the Richter scale. However, England manager Gareth Southgate was waiting, which remained unchanged The 6-2 victory against Iran, until the 69th minute of the match to make changes.
Southgate eliminated Jude Bellingham and Raheem Sterling, replacing Jordan Henderson and Jack Grealish.
– Interesting exchanges, soccer legend Gary Lineker tweeted, perhaps with a hint of sarcasm.
– Unbelievable that Southgate watched 65 minutes of this and made no substitutions, says football analyst Michael Cox.
Former Manchester United player Gary Neville also had something in mind.
– It’s a real shame that Foden doesn’t play. I think he is by far the most talented player in the country. He should play for this team, Neville says in the ITV studio.
Probably further
The changes didn’t even set England on fire. As the clock approached 78 minutes, Marcus Rashford also came on for Bukayo Saka.
– Unbelievable that we have used 14 players so far, yet our most talented player is still on the bench, writes Michael Owen (40 goals in 89 international matches) on Twitter – without explicitly revealing who he was talking about.
In added time, England had their first chance after the substitution, but Harry Kane headed wide.
However, the goalless performance ended with a concert of pipes from the English public, who can still prepare for the round of 16.
As goal difference applies before the head-to-head, however, it will be a long time before England exit the group. Wales need to win by four goals in their last match to overtake England.
