In their 0-0 tie with the United States on Friday, Gareth Southgate’s team squandered an opportunity to secure their spot in the World Cup’s round of 16.
With a win in their second match of the tournament, Southgate’s team would have been assured of moving on from Group B, but they hardly gave a tenacious US team much to think about.
England lacked the energy they showed in their opening game and was jeered off at the end after crushing Iran 6-2 on Monday.
They only mustered one attempt on goal, and the US had long stretches of control at the Al Bayt Stadium in the first half when they easily could have given up.
England fell short of expectations for the third time in three World Cup encounters with the United States.
This was another stubborn American effort against England, dampening some of the excitement about the Three Lions following the Iran slaughter. The Americans had previously lost shockingly in the 1950 tournament and drawn 1-1 in 2010.
“I knew it would be difficult to duplicate that performance after such a high (in the Iran game),” Southgate remarked.
Although we didn’t exactly have the same zip, it will eventually happen. We won’t simply cruise through competition and beat everyone. Sometimes you need to exhibit different traits in order to succeed.
“Today puts us in an extremely strong qualifying position. The goal is to win our final game in order to advance in the group.
Even if England’s performance was incredibly disappointing, they still have control over their own fate.
England would go to the knockout stages with a draw against Wales on November 29, while a win would guarantee first place.
The US plays Iran on the same day knowing that a win would advance them to the round of 16. The US had drawn their previous two games.
Even though Gregg Berhalter’s team is the second-youngest at the World Cup, they made sluggish England look like the ones who overindulged in turkey the day after America celebrated Thanksgiving.
The US was far more eager to press higher up the pitch than England, who from the start had the upper hand against cautious Iran.
