group b / day 2
England and the United States tie in a give and take at a dizzying pace and everything is open for the last day
Night duel to close a new day of the World Cup in the imposing Al Bayt Stadium between the England of citizen Kane, who had mercilessly thrashed Iran on the first day, and a United States that taught very little in its debut against Wales but that has proven to have much more than meets the eye. Seen what happened a few days ago in their respective premieres in Qatar, the clash was born theoretically unequal, and that feeling has given in the first quarter of an hour. However, the North Americans have little by little removed their complexes until they treat a team that has the will to advance steadily in the tournament but that moves on impulse, without a constant rhythm and with numerous temporary gaps. Their adversaries have noticed their disconnections and have come after them.
0
England
Pickford, Trippier, Stones, Maguire, Shaw, Bellingham (m. 67, Henderson), Rice, Mount, Saka (m. 78, Rashford), Kane y Sterling (m. 67, Grealish).
0
USA
Turner, Dest (m. 76 Moore), Zimmerman, Ream, Robinson, McKennie (m. 76, Aaronson), Adams, Musah, Weah (m. 82, Sargent), Wright (m. 82, Reyna) y Pulisic.
Referee
: Jesus Valenzuela (Venezuela). He did not show any card.incidences
: Match corresponding to the second day of group B played at the Al Bayt Stadium.
Spectacular atmosphere in the stands of this football tent from which you can see an immense desert dotted with mansions and palaces. Constant roars from one of the funds of the English fans, noisy as few. And an immediate response from the other side of the American fans, who despite being in a minority have found the support of theoretically neutral spectators. The beginning of England has been of a maximum intensity, with a gale of arrivals that heralded an early goal that could break the game. An eventual victory placed him with six points and the classification almost assured. Their rivals needed to score points to exponentially increase their chances of reaching the round of 16, but they have not made the mistake of speculating. As soon as they have shaken off the tsunami of the first minutes, they have sought victory without hesitation.
The first arrival with the intention of those with the stars and stripes occurred in the 16th minute. It was only a warning because then the opportunities followed one another. McKennie has sent the ball high when he was alone in the area. After half an hour Pulisic, all quality and precision, took a shot that shook Pickford’s goal after hitting the crossbar. He himself has had it before the break. Kane, England’s standard bearer and merciless goalscorer, has realized that his team was leaking on all lines and has dropped regularly through the midfield to oxygenate the ball out of his teammates, stuck in attack and out of position in defence. There was little left for the break, but the intervention of the charismatic Tottenham striker had an effect and the English have chained two opportunities, Saka’s very clear.
The second part has been a constant give and take in which the heart has prevailed over the head. The ball has moved at breakneck speed, though most of the time with little judgment. It was the moment of the physical, to bring out the power to replace the quality. The centers to the areas have been permanent. Fight without quarter in the aerial game, with the central defenders of both teams doing overtime. The party has slipped through the terrain of the emotional until diluting the different styles. Also in the fight there is beauty when the passport for the elimination rounds is at stake. Proof of the rhythm of the clash is that there have only been four minutes of discount, a trifle in this World Cup of eternal extensions. Kane had it in 93. Tables in the jaima duel. Everything will be decided on the last day.
