FIFA World Cup: England laboured to draw against the USA
England did not show its best side in the second match of Group B at the World Cup, playing 0-0 against the USA
England 0-0 USA: Three Lions uninspired, disappointing in drab drawMonday's 6-2 win over Iran was the best start to a major tournament, but Friday's loose and listless performance brought Gareth Southgate's side back down to earth.
The U.S. remains unbeaten against England on the world stage and nearly won Friday's Group B match in Al Khor when Christian Pulisic hit the crossbar in an ultimately goalless encounter.
Advancement to the round of 16 remains in England's hands, but this game is a wake-up call that will increase the pressure ahead of Tuesday's highly anticipated clash with neighbours Wales.
Southgate had publicly admonished his team to up their game immediately after the defeat to Iran, but his unchanged side has failed to produce the desired response.
The U.S. should have punished a passive first-half performance at the imposing Al Bayt Stadium when Pulisic hit the crossbar with a powerful shot while Gregg Berhalter's Americans played at full throttle.
Flat, uninspired England produced little during the 90 minutes.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Three takeaways from <a href="https://twitter.com/ByDougMcIntyre?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ByDougMcIntyre</a> after the USMNT's draw against England today ✍️‼️ Do you agree? ⬇️<br><br>Read more: <a href="https://t.co/1PEqKKVs5a">https://t.co/1PEqKKVs5a</a> <a href="https://t.co/d5La1Cis00">pic.twitter.com/d5La1Cis00</a></p>— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1596375698477809664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Harry Kane, available again after an injury layoff, was blocked early and headed wide in stoppage time as Southgate's men floundered under the Friday night lights.
There was none of the verve England had displayed against Iran, but it could have been different had Walker Zimmerman not been on his guard in the 10th minute.
Jude Bellingham played the ball to Bukayo Saka, named man of the match on Monday, and the U.S. defender blocked Kane's shot.
Harry Maguire, serenaded by the travelling fans on his 50th appearance, danced into the penalty area after the resulting corner was cleared, but the USA soon found their feet.
England outmuscled when Haji Wright headed Weston McKennie's cross out of bounds, and more chances followed.
A clever build-up ended with a Timothy Weah cross that the well-worked McKennie lofted across the goal in the 26th minute.
It was a warning shot that England failed to heed, and Southgate's side could breathe a sigh of relief seven minutes later.
Former England youth international Younis Musah played alongside Pulisic. The Chelsea player swerved onto his left foot and hit the crossbar with a stunning shot.
"It's called football," chanted the confident American fans as England continued to struggle.
A shot from Sergino Dest was blocked, and Pulisic headed past the goal before the opposition surged towards the end of the first half.
An excellent move from Luke Shaw led to a cross deflected by Saka, and Raheem Sterling fed Mason Mount, who fired a shot in stoppage time that Matt Turner blocked.
The second half followed a similar pattern.
Maguire played impressively, heading away a corner well for the unmarked Zimmerman to head home from close range as the U.S. struggled.
Surprisingly, Southgate made no changes, as Plan A did not work against increasingly confident opponents, and the retreating Jordan Pickford fended off a Pulisic corner.
Jack Grealish and Jordan Henderson replaced Sterling and Bellingham as the England coach finally tried to change the dynamic with a quarter of the game remaining.
There was a slight improvement, but things needed to go right. Marcus Rashford replaced Saka as the U.S. changed and bemoaned England's patient defensive play.
Still, the game remained ponderous. Rashford was stopped for a hopeful effort, and Maguire could not finish a Kieran Trippier corner cleanly.
Grealish won a free kick in stoppage time which Shaw headed inside, and Kane headed off target. After the halftime break, loud boos rang out in the stadium, and attention turned to Wales.