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England vs USA result: Three Lions booed off after limp World Cup draw

Harry Kane reacts/England brought back down to earth against the USA - latest World Cup reaction - GETTY IMAGES
Harry Kane reacts/England brought back down to earth against the USA - latest World Cup reaction - GETTY IMAGES

England 0 USA 0


10:51 PM

Report

England replace fluency with fear when opportunity knocks

Harry Maguire - REUTERS/Peter Cziborra
Harry Maguire - REUTERS/Peter Cziborra

The riskiness and joy of Monday’s England gives way to Friday’s fearfulness and all the shades of the character of the national team across 150 years come to bear: boos greeted a team that has all but secured a place in the second round of the World Cup finals.

This was a facsimile of the 0-0 draw in the corresponding group stage fixture against Scotland at last year’s Euros when England were still searching for their rhythm. Gareth Southgate will hope that it is the same this time. This winter World Cup has proven a bumpy take-off for other countries with much better tournament track-records and so this was England’s turn.

The booing at full-time was a reminder that the tension of a support that is beleaguered and angry in equal measure. Even so at times it was hard to believe this was the same side that demolished Iran on the second day of the tournament. This time England viewed life through the other end of the telescope, a team unable to pick up the tempo or risk the kind of passes that might overwhelm an admirably stubborn team from the United States.

There was tension that grew quickly as Southgate’s players struggled to find a rhythm. There were times when they needed to defend and at least they did that well, with the outstanding performance from Harry Maguire as the US failed to find their way past the head of slab at the heart of England’s defence. Tournament football has nights like this and amid the despondency the reality is that England are all but in the second round.

Wales’ defeat by Iran earlier in the day means that only a big win for Rob Page’s team against England – a four-goal margin is required – will be enough for Wales knock them out. As for England, uncertainty was infectious. The form of Monday’s win was out of reach for the likes of Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling or Mason Mount. In the late instability of the game, Southgate leant on what he knew best, preferring the reliability offered by Jordan Henderson.

Southgate and Henderson - REUTERS/Paul Childs
Southgate and Henderson - REUTERS/Paul Childs

Afterwards, Southgate opposed the notion that this had been a bad night for England with his usual reasonableness and a detailed breakdown of his own decisions. He said that the US front six had shut down the passing lanes that his two centre-halves Maguire and John Stones would ordinarily seek out. He pointed out that the win against Iran had asked a lot physically of a starting XI he did not change.

He said in his post-match discussions in the dressing room he had disagreed with his players’ expression of disappointment at the performance. “Of course I want the fans to go home with smiles on their faces, but I can’t let that affect how I feel,” he said.

“I am sure there will be a lot of noise about the performance but not many teams will qualify [from the group stages] with nine points.” he said. “We are in a good position.” This was, he added, “the tournament of external noise” and in what might well be his last few weeks as England manager that seemed no burden at all. “We can still win the group and that’s the target.”

The tension often comes when an indifferent performance does not deliver the substitutions the England support wants. Southgate addressed the Phil Foden issue which hung heavy over the hour when the Manchester City man looked like the obvious candidate to come on and change the game. Southgate saw it differently. The centre of midfield needed to be stabilised first, he felt. Marcus Rashford gave him pace, he said, and Jack Grealish would draw fouls.

Jack Grealish (L) fights for the ball with USA's midfielder #06 Yunus Musah - GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images
Jack Grealish (L) fights for the ball with USA's midfielder #06 Yunus Musah - GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images

The US shape posed England many problems in a ponderous start. Christian Pulisic would go on to be the game’s best player. The Fulham left-back Antonee Robinson did a fine job on Saka. At 19, Bellingham will not always be able to play at the level he reached on Monday and so it proved this time.

Stones and Maguire found themselves on the ball more than they might ever have expected and with each hesitation they simply gave it back to one another. England were stuck in a loop. The full-backs Kieran Trippier and Luke Shaw offered nothing, until in the late stages of the first half Shaw barrelled in from the left and down the byline to create a chance for Saka. They had broken the US press in the sixth minute with a sharp move that created a chance for Harry Kane but nothing after that.

Kane did much that was impressive in the deeper positions and occasionally in his own area. But for the second World Cup game he scarcely looked like scoring after that early chance. Three goals in his last 10 England games is an unusually low return for Kane.

The confidence in this inexperienced US team started to grow. Weston McKennie had a good chance from Timothy Weah’s cross. From a half-sight of Jordan Pickford’s goal, Christian Pulisic hit a shot that clipped the England bar.

If half-time offered the chance for a reset, then England struggled to find it. A grinding of gears and a splutter of life but nothing that felt like a strong momentum. Around the hour, the US side had the better of it. A series of corners and, with the US fancying themselves from set-pieces, England were under pressure to contain this squall. Maguire was excellent then, heading the ball away over and again.

For Southgate that was vindication. “There was never,” he said, “any single doubt how important he was for us.”

At the very least his last substitutions broke the US period of pressure but nothing came in the way of chances until late on when Kane headed Grealish’s cross just wide. Saka, who had not dominated his side of the pitch in the expected fashion, had been replaced with Rashford as the game went into its late stages. Did England want to win this, or had they come round to the idea of a draw? If so, it felt like a heavy burden and an opportunity missed.


England 0 USA 0: as it happened


10:33 PM

Wazza's England man of the match


10:31 PM

Meanwhile in Qatar


10:28 PM

England fans' frustration


10:15 PM

Matt and Mike tune in from Al Bayt


10:12 PM

Further reading: Daniel Zeqiri has been finding out how the world reacted

England and Gareth Southgate questioned after 'terrible' USA draw – how football world reacted.


10:07 PM

A ray of hope

Harry Maguire proved his worth against USA – England needed his resilience

This was a game about resilience and given that is the single most important quality demonstrated by Harry Maguire in recent months then it is right to focus on him. He was England’s best player which, given the opposition, forms an indictment. It was not what was expected.

There was a passage of play in the second-half that summed him up, though. There was a vital headed clearance from a corner just as Walker Zimmermann came hurtling in behind him, and the American surely have sent it into the net, then another header from almost underneath his own crossbar as the United States turned the screw and then remarkably a third from the next delivery and from almost the same position.

You can read the rest of Jason Burt's assessment by clicking here.


10:03 PM

Further reading: Mike McGrath analyses England's tactical inadequacy tonight

USA target England's left flank as Harry Kane is kept desperately quiet.


09:55 PM

Gregg Berhalter speaks

I think both teams worked hard, both teams gave each other difficulties at times, and all in all, pleased with the effort. Any time you can get a shutout in the World Cup, it’s a good thing. We’re proud, but our work’s not done. We have to win on Tuesday. The final product still could be better, getting balls in front of goal. we targeted the cutback space at times and that got cut out. But overall, pleased with the performance of the group. Most importantly, the belief of the group, because that never wavered. It's difficult to score goals. I mean, that's the starting point. And then you add some of the top defenders in the world, and it's going to be even more difficult. For us, we're happy with the positions we got into. We had some close opportunities.


09:48 PM

Paper round

The headlines are coming in.

The i goes with 'Football 0 Soccer 0'

The Mirror went for 'Yawn in the USA'

The Guardian eschews verbosity for 'Stalemate'

The Mail has 'Now for the Battle of Britain'.

And as for us?

Reality check


09:36 PM

Blunt attack

Here's a visual of how poor England were as an attacking force. (Maguire's was a header that he angled into the ground and Turner caught easily above his head):


09:33 PM

Southgate on why he didn't start or bring on Phil Foden

We thought it was the right thing to keep the team from the start then the wide players we went with Jack [Grealish] and Marcus [Rashford] ahead of Phil [Foden] for the changes.

Jack can keep the ball well for us and get us up the pitch, Marcus’ speed we thought would also be a threat going into the last part of the game.


09:22 PM

Matt Law's player ratings

Matt has run his rule over the England players' performances tonight and this is his verdict.

You can have your own go with the gizmo below.


09:19 PM

Rate the players

Here's your chance to mark the players out of 10. Maxiums will be scarce but it's how you distribute those fives, sixes and sevens that count. Fill your boots:


09:15 PM

Gareth Southgate speaks

It was exactly the sort of game I thought it would be. A good opponent who were very athletic. I knew it would be difficult after such a high to replicate that type of performance, so I’m really pleased how the players applied themselves. Some of the quality in the final third could have been a little bit better, but we’ve shown great resilience to defend against opponents who kept asking questions. We controlled the game well from the back, but were just not able to open up with that clear-cut chance.

We didn’t quite have the same zip, but that’s going to happen. This is tournament football, we’re not going to roll through a tournament, and sweep through everybody without having nights like that, when you’ve got to show different qualities to get the result. It will be a totally different game against Wales. Silver medal today was a point. It puts us in a really strong position in terms of qualification. If we can win our last game, we win the group.


09:09 PM

Harry Maguire speaks

It wasn't our best but it's a point and it puts us in a good position. There were some positive parts. We could have been more clinical. We didn't exploit the final pass well enough. We’ll take the positive parts but work on the parts we need to improve on. They’re all top teams at this World Cup. We weren't ruthless enough in the final third, but we have good forwards and I’m sure the next game we’ll be all right. They put us under a lot of pressure. We dug in. Big credit to the lads. We knew we could maintain control of the group [with a clean sheet and a draw].


09:03 PM

England were booed off

At the end. Gary Neville is saying it is quite worrying that Foden and Alexander-Arnold were not brought on.


09:01 PM

Harry Keane speaks

It wasn’t our best performance for sure. We had some good spells, created some good positions, but we didn’t quite have the final product today. A great clean sheet puts us into a great position in the group. We're playing a tough team. We knew before the game they would make it difficult for  us. Against Iran we put away our chances really well, a complete contrast with today. They’re a good side, and you have to respect them. A draw ain't the end of the world for us. We know we can play better than that but it's a draw in the World Cup. We can't landslide every team we play. Clean sheet's really pleasing. A point's not what we came here for but it leaves us in a great position.


08:57 PM

Jamie Carragher: Full-time verdict

It’s a disappointing result, but let’s not get carried away. Credit to USA. The big worry tonight was the lack of energy, but we drew with Scotland in the second game of the last Euros. It is not a bad result in terms of qualification, but it means Southgate can’t make changes in the last game.


08:55 PM

Full time: England 0 USA 0

Lacklustre and worrying performance from England but unless they lose by four goals to Wales, they're through. USA were magnificent, none better than the midfield trio of McKennie, Adams and Musah. England barely created a chance in the second half until Grealish came on. Why on earth he didn't also send on Foden for Mount at the same time, I'll never know. Stick around, we'll have all the post-match interviews plus dispatches from Sam Wallace, Jamie Carragher, Matt Law and others many.


08:52 PM

90+4 min: England 0 USA 0

USA free-kick just inside the England half. Grealish follows Reyna and knocks the ball out for a throw-in. The referee's Acme Thunderer goes to his lips.


08:51 PM

90+3 min: England 0 USA 0

Shaw crosses the ball in, Kane stoops to head and misses the target by miles and miles and miles and miles and miles, as Roger Daltrey would say. Fine cross from Shaw. Deserved better.

Daltrey came into my head because ITV's incidental music at this World Cup is The Who's Eminence Front


08:49 PM

90+2 min: England 0 USA 0

Musah shoves Grealish over. England free-kick, wide left, 30 yards from goal.


08:49 PM

90+1 min: England 0 USA 0

Maguire wins the header but was unable to get a good run at it by close-marking and he heads it down fairly tamely. Turner catches the bouncing ball above his head.


08:48 PM

90 min: England 0 USA 0

Henderson is clattered by Pulisic on the right. England take the free-kick quickly, knock it down the line and Moore heads Trippier's cross out for corner.

Four minutes of stoppage time to come.


08:46 PM

89 min: England 0 USA 0

USA get down the right but delay the cross too long and Maguire cuts it out when Moore finally delivers.


08:46 PM

87 min: England 0 USA 0

Rashford is sent down the inside-right by Kane's diagonal pass. He drives towards the box, cuts inside and finds Grealish. Rashford keeps his run going to the left and is given the pas back by Grealish while Shaw takes Moore down the line. He opens his body and bends a shot straight into Turner's bread basket.


08:42 PM

85 min: England 0 USA 0

Shaw whips in a dipping cross, Ream beats Maguire, Stones and Kane to the header.


08:42 PM

83 min: England 0 USA 0

Shaw intercepts a long pass up his wing, barrels forward, taps it to Grealish who is tripped. England free-kick wide left, 35 yards upfield.


08:40 PM

82 min: England 0 USA 0

Double USA substitution: Reyna and Sargent replace Weah and Wright.


08:38 PM

80 min: England 0 USA 0

England fans start jeering as they pass the ball across the back four. Then Maguire knocks it up to Grealish who is clipped on halfway. Free-kick ... Mount gives the ball away, USA send it long down the right for Weah and Maguire has to slide in to win the ball.


08:36 PM

78 min: England 0 USA 0

Pulisic is thwarted by Declan Rice as he tries to wriggle his way down the inside-left channel.


08:35 PM

76 min: England 0 USA 0

England have been on the front foot since the substitutions.

USA make their first changes: Aaronson replaces McKennie, Moore comes on for Dest.

Marcus Rashford is coming on for Saka.

Grealish - REUTERS/Paul Childs
Grealish - REUTERS/Paul Childs

08:32 PM

73 min: England 0 USA 0

Dest fouls Grealish inside the USA half. From the free-kick Grealish combines with Mount to overload down the left and the City forward gets to the byline and pulls a pass back to Kane who can't trap it cleanly.

Mount is tucked in on the left, Grealish ahead of him and they're linking up nicely this past couple of minutes.


08:29 PM

71 min: England 0 USA 0

Henderson had detailed instructions for Mount when he came on. Grealish has the first impact, dribbling and weaving his way between three blue shirts but is caught before he can offload and USA hurry the ball away.

NB: Jamie Carragher's message on the substitutions was sent to me before Southgate made his changes. My fault they didn't go up earlier. Apologies.


08:26 PM

Jamie Carragher: Bring on Foden

Phil Foden has to come on. I would bring him on for Sterling and replace Mount with Henderson.


08:25 PM

68 min: England 0 USA 0

Double substitution: Bellingham and Sterling are being replaced by Grealish and Henderson.


08:24 PM

67 min: England 0 USA 0

I mean Henderson has his virtues but they need someone to take the ball upfield, beat defenders and win free-kicks. A rare second-half raid up the right from England but Saka's cross is too close to the keeper.

Ah, mercy! Grealish is getting his match shirt on too.


08:22 PM

66 min: England 0 USA 0

This corner bypasses Maguire and Pickford, scrambling backwards, tips it out for another. Looks like Jordan Henderson is coming on. Why him?


08:21 PM

64 min: England 0 USA 0

USA free-kick on the right after a foul on Adams. England have been pinned in their own half for 80 per cent of this half.

England concede another corner from the free-kick, Stones this time doing his duty.


08:19 PM

63 min: England 0 USA 0

Southgate was too slow to react in 2018 and 2021, leaving his substitutions far too late against Croatia and Italy. He's in danger of doing so again here. It's time he did something to turn the tide. USA are swarming all over England.


08:18 PM

61 min: England 0 USA 0

Another USA corner on the left and Maguire again wins it, saving England's bacon. It's back to Superslab tonight. Kane knocks it behind for another corner that again Maguire gets his head on.


08:17 PM

58 min: England 0 USA 0

USA corner after a shot from Pulisic is diverted behind by Rice. Pickford is doing his nut at his defenders and midfield. Pulisic swings in the corner from the left and Maguire reads the flight perfectly to backpedal and head it away, just as Zimmerman was about to steal in possibly to bury a free header.


08:13 PM

56 min: England 0 USA 0

How USA pushed England back in the first half:

England need to bring a dribbler on. Foden or Grealish. England haven't got the beating of a man in this XI the way they are playing tonight.


08:11 PM

54 min: England 0 USA 0

Shaw wipes out Weah, treading on the top of his foot and following through with the full weight of his body. Clumsy but not malicious. The ref doesn't even give a free-kick.


08:10 PM

53 min: England 0 USA 0

Fantastic tackle from Tyler Adams, covering for Robinson who was upfield waiting for Pulisic's pass which he gave straight to England. Saka took it on down the right, entered the box, cocked his right knee and Adams slid in to spear the ball into touch. Impeccably timed.


08:08 PM

52 min: England 0 USA 0

Englnd free-kick just inside the USA half. They work it from side to side then up to Mount down the inside-right channel but when he tries to dribble past Zimmerman, he loses the ball and USA drive forward down the left.


08:07 PM

50 min: England 0 USA 0

But Turner is rock solid and launches another counter with Pulisic and Robinson up the left. The Chelsea man works the ball across to McKennie who is well closed down by Stones, forcing him to shoot over from 20 yards.


08:05 PM

48 min: England 0 USA 0

Mount is pushed a little higher, in a 4-2-3-1 rather than the 4-3-3 of Monday, and twice he hounds Turner as England start to try to hassle him into an error.


08:04 PM

46 min: England 0 USA 0

No changes. USA leave Bellingham in a ball on the floor and Musah probes up the left. That's alarming. They've carried on where they left off. England hustle the ball out for a throw-in.


07:59 PM

Half-time prescriptions

A rocket up the khyber or some tactical and personnel tweaks? I think Southgate is more likely to stick with what he has for a while longer, though Gary Neville is lobbying for the introduction of Phil Foden.


07:57 PM

Appropriately we have just the half-time treat for you

We launched our new flagship crossword this week, the Cross Atlantic, which is a UK take of the classic US crossword. It's a great half-time challenge to see if anyone can solve it. You can play for free here.


07:53 PM

Jamie: Carragher: England need to bypass midfield

USA have looked sharper all over the park. What is disappointing is it should be no shock they have shown so much energy – it is exactly how they played in the first half against Wales. But we look as though we have been surprised by their approach. Wales had joy against the USA in the second half when they tired and couldn't cope with long balls to Kieffer Moore. It could be that in the second half England have to go a similar way and go more direct to Harry Kane and feed off second balls, because they are not getting the midfielders on the ball enough.

 


07:48 PM

Half-time: England 0 USA 0

Scary stuff from England against a very well-drilled and enterprising USA side. Big problems down the flanks and beating the press. USA have dominated them in midfield.


07:47 PM

45+1 min: England 0 USA 0

Venomous shot from Mount 20 yards out in the inside-left channel. A brute of a daisy-cutter that Turner turns behind for a corner. Out comes the keeper to gobble up the cross.

England's Mason Mount reacts to having his shot saved - REUTERS/Paul Childs
England's Mason Mount reacts to having his shot saved - REUTERS/Paul Childs

07:45 PM

44 min: England 0 USA 0

Saka splits to the near post when Shaw gets in behind Dest and Weah who has tracked back to help out. Shaw cuts it back to the six-yard line but Saka has to reach back to fetch it on the half-turn and spoons his shot over the bar.


07:44 PM

42 min: England 0 USA 0

England need to wake up. They're all over the place out wide, in midfield and at the back. As if they're flying by the seat of their pants, unable to come up with a coherent tactical strategy to counter the gegenpress.


07:42 PM

40 min: England 0 USA 0

USA keep getting in down the right with quick throws and Dest raiding forward. The right back worms his way into the box. Shaw is nowhere. He shoots and Maguire makes the vital block, sending the ball out for a corner that he heads clear. A minute before Maguire was their saviour again when he tackled Wright who was trying to diddle him out by the byline.


07:38 PM

36 min: England 0 USA 0

England have the ball on the left of USA's box, tiki-taka-ing it, looking for an opening. At the end of six pases they roll it back to Mount who arrows a cross straight into Turner's chest.

Arsenal's reserve goalkeeper bowls it out 60 yards and threatens to put Pulisic through. But Stones is alert, races over, reads the bounce and heads it into touch.


07:35 PM

34 min: England 0 USA 0

England free-kick 35 yards out after Kane is kneed in the back going up for a header. It's dead centre so England try to work an angle by rolling it right hen chipping a diagonal towards Maguire in the box but he can't steer it back into the centre for the other runners.


07:34 PM

32 min: England 0 USA 0

Pulisic crashes a left-foot shot from 18 yards on to the crossbar. It's all USA. McKennie raced away down the right and left Rice chasing shadows before finding the Chelsea forward to the left of the D. England are level only by the skin of their teeth.


07:32 PM

30 min: England 0 USA 0

England's press, by contrast with USA's, isn't functioning. Trippier is too late to snap into Robinson and leaves Stones with no option but to commit a foul or leave Pickford vulnerable.


07:30 PM

Jamie Carragher: Stones and Maguire must do more

I want to see more from our centre-backs on the ball. They are supposed to be two ball playing centre-backs and need to be braver with their passing from the back to entice the Americans towards them, or be prepared to carry it further forward. Especially John Stones. England look dangerous when they can get forward, especially Saka.


07:29 PM

28 min: England 0 USA 0

England know they have to be patient and the match might follow the pattern of the Wales game. But they keep losing the ball out wide and are inviting USA on to their depleted midfield. This time they let Musah progress from left-half to inside-left to shoot, but he cuts across the ball and it bends straight down Pickford's throat.


07:27 PM

26 min: England 0 USA 0

Sustained spell of US pressure on the right, probing away, denying themselves two or three openings to cross until the centre-forward adds some urgency when Musah passes to him to the right of the penalty spot. He whips over a low cross and McKennie meets it on the half volley, golden chance, but he hoofs it over the bar. He had done well to lose Trippier but couldn't hit the target.

McKennie shoots - AP Photo/Hassan Ammar
McKennie shoots - AP Photo/Hassan Ammar

07:24 PM

24 min: England 0 USA 0

England quite happy to take the sting out of the press by getting the cigars on at the back and stroking the ball around. But when Sterling and Saka make the outlet runs in the outside channels, the balls into them have lacked precision.


07:23 PM

22 min: England 0 USA 0

Mount comes over to the right to try and get away from McKennie and find some space to work in. But all he can get is a throw-in which England hurl backwards.


07:22 PM

19 min: England 0 USA 0

Now Dest gets in down the right and again blue shirts pile into the box. Pickford claims the cross but gives his midfielders a piece of his mind. They are neglecting their wide defensive duties against USA's high line.

England's Harry Kane in action with Weston McKennie of the U.S. - REUTERS/Molly Darlington
England's Harry Kane in action with Weston McKennie of the U.S. - REUTERS/Molly Darlington

07:19 PM

17 min: England 0 USA 0

USA break from the keeper's catch, sending Robinson and Pulisic down the left. They flood forward, outnumbering England, blues shirts swarming towards the box. But when the cross comes in Wright flashes his header wide. They cut England open easily down that side because Saka had gone infield. They have to take more care.


07:16 PM

15 min: England 0 USA 0

Saka comes infield to work a triangle with Shaw and Sterling but there's very little space and Shaw decides to take on a shot with his right, his swinger, and wobbles a scuffer straight at Turner.


07:15 PM

13 min: England 0 USA 0

McKennie is on mount, Musah on Bellingham, sticking to them like glue. Saka goes down the right, running on to another good pass from Trippier and he stands up a cross to the far side of thepenalty spot. Up goes Kane Fosbury Flop style as if he is going to bicycle volley it but a USA head beats him to it.


07:13 PM

11 min: England 0 USA 0

England take the corner long, too long, but Maguire chases it down, essays a couple of lollipops, turns Dest and pops the ball back towards Mount who blazes over.

USA seem to be man-marking Bellingham.

Ream and Kane - AP Photo/Luca Bruno
Ream and Kane - AP Photo/Luca Bruno

07:10 PM

9 min: England 0 USA 0

Bellingham crumples after going into a tackle with Wright but gets up and is ready to receive the pass in the inside-right channel and put Saka away on the overlap. Saka cuts it back for Kane who shoots from 12 yards and Zimmerman dives in to block it and send it behind for a corner.


07:09 PM

7 min: England 0 USA 0

England defend the throw comfortably and earn one of their own on the right. Cagey so far. England are happy to pass it around, hoping that all the pain they put into the USA players legs reaps dividends in the last half hour.


07:06 PM

5 min: England 0 USA 0

Maguire tris to break the midfield congestion with a pass up the left touchline for Shaw but gets his angles wrong and it bobbles out for a throw on halfway.


07:05 PM

3 min: England 0 USA 0

England are very much 4-3-3 when they have the ball but have started with Saka and Sterling pushed wider than at the start of the match against Iran. USA are letting England's defenders have the ball then spring the press on the midfield.


07:03 PM

Rate the players

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07:01 PM

1 min: England 0 USA 0

England take the knee for eight seconds or so and then kick off, attacking from left to right. They play it back to Maguire and pass it cross the back four before sending a long pass up the left for Mount to chase. Turner coms out but slices his clearance into touch.


06:58 PM

National anthems conclude

Pennants are about to be exchanged and we will be underway in a little over two minutes.

Matt Law writes:

Here comes the giant inflatable World Cup again. Had thought this might just be something for every nation's first game. Sadly not. The sooner the football starts, the better as the pre-match 'entertainment' has been terrible.


06:56 PM

Join Luke Edwards in the comments section

Our Northern Football Writer is below in the comments section to debate the match and answer any questions. Join him down below.


06:54 PM

Out come the teams

England all in white and USA in all royal blue.


06:53 PM

The players are in the tunnel

ITV asks Gareth Southgate for his last thoughts:

You’re always wondering whether you should refresh things, but this team deserved to go again. If I was a player I’d feel I’d earned the right. We’ve got great competition for places, but we were right to go with the same team. USA put you under a lot of pressure and press well. It’ll be a different game and we have to find solutions. We have to be positive. We overcame the first challenge really well but that is done. This is a different sort of challenge.


06:51 PM

Good evening

Thanks to Danie Zeqiri for holding the fort. For those of you not watching along in the UK, ITV has just done a backgrounder on Jude Bellingham, talking to his boyhood coach. The best bit was when he called Birmingham City's Wast Hills, 'La Masia of England'.. Once a Blue ...


06:45 PM

Wembley's arch is lit up in rainbow colours tonight

Wembley Stadium on the night England play USA - @stancollymore
Wembley Stadium on the night England play USA - @stancollymore

06:38 PM

Matt Law points out it's a landmark night for Maguire

Harry Maguire wins his 50th England cap tonight against the USA. Central defensive partner John Stones won his 60th in the victory over Iran.


06:34 PM

Will we see another Grealish celebration tonight?

Jack Grealish of England warms up prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - GETTY IMAGES/Ryan Pierse
Jack Grealish of England warms up prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - GETTY IMAGES/Ryan Pierse

06:26 PM

Matt Law in position at the Al Bayt Stadium

Matt says: "Both sets of England and USA players are now warming up. The Al Bayt Stadium has a carpeted ceiling on the inside, but the PA system is unbearably loud."


06:24 PM

Jason Burt's pre-match thoughts

When I interviewed US coach Gregg Berhalter before the World Cup started he said he expected the game against England to be a "slugfest" - very fast and very physical.  He has picked a team that will try to out-run England and this could be a far more demanding game, in terms of the energy used, than the win against Iran. Still get the job done and win the group and Gareth Southgate can rest players against Wales next Tuesday. As expected, England are unchanged but if all goes well tonight changes will be made for the final group game.


06:22 PM

Now we know both teams...

Have a crack at our predictor. Will this be another 0-0 or will the goals flow?


06:16 PM

USA fans managed to get the 'More Beer' scarf past the stewards

Fans of the USA before the FIFA World Cup 2022 group B soccer match - Shutterstock/Neil Hall
Fans of the USA before the FIFA World Cup 2022 group B soccer match - Shutterstock/Neil Hall

06:11 PM

Jamie Carragher: This could be like a Premier League match

Gareth Southgate had to stick with the same starting line-up. It makes sense because a win tonight virtually guarantees England go through as group winner, so he could rest players for the final game against Wales. That is the luxury Southgate will be hoping for. Because of this morning’s result, England would need to lose to Wales and see an unlikely turnaround in goal difference to be caught by Iran.

What we are all looking for tonight is the same energy that Iran could not live with. This has the possibility of resembling a Premier League game. The USA were full of energy in the first half against Wales, so we should anticipate the same. Let’s not underestimate how massive this game is for the USA - this is the fixture they will have been preparing for since the World Cup draw. They also know they have been given a great opportunity to get through after Wales’ defeat. That is why I am expecting a high tempo match.


06:10 PM

Christian Pulisic is USA's superstar

He inspired the likes of McKennie and Adams who form such a promising core.

Our US Correspondent Jamie Johnson went to Hershey, Pennsylvania - where the famous confectionary comes from - to find out Pulisic's rich story and how it started for the boy they called 'Figo'.

You can read the piece in full here.

Pulisic has been hamstrung by injury in recent years, but England will be wary of his dribbling and change of pace.


06:06 PM

USA going with a strong team

There was a school of thought that they might rest key players to face Iran, effectively playing for second place in the group. Not a bit of it, which is good for the spectacle.

If they can stomach it, Wales fans need to be cheering England on. An England victory would leave USA and Wales on one point and Iran on three going into the final group game. There is surely more chance of Wales beating an England team that is already qualified.


05:58 PM

The Fifa ticket app has proved frustrating for many fans


05:56 PM

Liverpool fans will be getting excited...

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jude Bellingham have appeared joined at the hip in Qatar. Has Jurgen Klopp sent his Liverpool players with clear instructions to woo him?

England's Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold - REUTERS/Molly Darlington
England's Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold - REUTERS/Molly Darlington

05:53 PM

Just one change for the Americans: Haji Wright in for Josh Sargent

United States XI: Matt Turner, Sergino Dest, Tim Ream, Walker Zimmerman, Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams, Yunus Musah, Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic, Haji Wright, Tim Weah


05:49 PM

And there is the England team news! No changes from Iran

Will look like a 4-3-3 with the ball and a 4-4-2 without it: Pickford; Trippier, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Bellingham, Mount; Saka, Kane, Sterling


05:47 PM

England's players inspecting the pitch at the Al Bayt Stadium

Team news should be confirmed on the hour at 6pm, but possibly sooner.

Aaron Ramsdale looking quizzical. Ben White looking characteristically bronzed. Mason Mount keeping his calves warm in the air conditioning.

England players check the pitch ahead of the World Cup group B soccer match - AP
England players check the pitch ahead of the World Cup group B soccer match - AP

05:40 PM

USA coach Gregg Berhalter says there will be no backward step

"We've been working for the last three and a half years on our style of play and how we want to execute on the field," said Berhalter. "So it's not going to be any different against England."

USA's coach Gregg Berhalter (R) speaks with USA's midfielder #11 Brenden Aaronson - AFP/PATRICK T. FALLON
USA's coach Gregg Berhalter (R) speaks with USA's midfielder #11 Brenden Aaronson - AFP/PATRICK T. FALLON

05:34 PM

Have a go at our match predictor

We don't know the XIs yet, but you should know enough about these teams to have an educated guess at the outcome. Right?

Use our predictor tool and see how your verdict compares with other readers.


05:31 PM

England will be wearing their home kit tonight

It is not to everyone's tastes, with some remarking that it looks like they kind of snide you might pick up cheap on holiday.

But how far down the rankings does it come in Thom Gibbs' definitive kit ratings? Find out here.

Kits have a habit of growing on fans as the wins rack up in them...

The shirt of Harry Kane of England is seen in the dressing room prior - GETTY IMAGES/Michael Regan
The shirt of Harry Kane of England is seen in the dressing room prior - GETTY IMAGES/Michael Regan

05:27 PM

England's set-pieces catching the eye...

Just like at Russia 2018 and last year's European Championship, England's clever corner routines are impressing and could be key to a deep run in the tournament.

I analysed some of their set-ups against Iran, including what changes from inswingers to outswingers.

Is the Love Train making a comeback?


05:23 PM

'Read the room'

We interviewed some England fans in Qatar about some of the travelling contingent dressing up in Crusader/St George outfits, which has seen them reprimanded by the authorities.


05:21 PM

This has some significance for England...

Ecuador have just equalised against Holland, and you can follow the rest of that game on our live blog here.

As I type that, the South American side have just hit the bar and are looking dangerous.

Should England win their group, they will face the runner-up from Group A which could be Ecuador, Holland or Senegal.

Work to do before then, though.


05:18 PM

Del Piero and Drogba inspect the pitch

Those two would not have been bad No 9 and 10 partnership.

Alessandro Del Piero and Didier Drogba are seen before England vs USa - GETTY IMAGES/Michael Regan
Alessandro Del Piero and Didier Drogba are seen before England vs USa - GETTY IMAGES/Michael Regan

05:16 PM

Matt and Mike are at the stadium: England expected to be unchanged


05:15 PM

Southgate taking nothing for granted against USA

Have we ever beaten the States in a major tournament?" Southgate asked during his pre-match news conference. "No, I didn't think so. So tomorrow we have to try to make history."

"We are good at that," Southgate added. "We are good at talking highly of ourselves as a nation on the basis of very little evidence. So what we've got to do is perform on the field. We know we will play a highly motivated team.

"But we've got huge respect for our opponent. We know a lot of the players from our league. We've got to be at our best. The risk is we think because we've played well the other day we can just go through to the next game."


05:14 PM

Tonight's venue: Al Bayt Stadium

The stadium is in Al Khor which is around 27 miles north of Doha, along the coast. The stadium's capacity is just under 69,000.

You can read our guide to all eight World Cup stadiums here.

General view inside the Al Bayt stadium - GETTY IMAGES/Tim Nwachukwu
General view inside the Al Bayt stadium - GETTY IMAGES/Tim Nwachukwu

05:12 PM

England need to match USA's intensity

England know they will be through to the knockout rounds if they beat USA tonight, while Wales find themselves in the peculiar position of cheering them on.

Everything has gone swimmingly so far for Gareth Southgate and his players, with the 6-2 victory over Iran one of the most complete performances in the tournament and one cast in a better light by Iran's performance against Wales today.

Things can turn quickly though, and USA are one of the few nations with the personnel and attributes to play at Premier League intensity. They pride themselves on an aggressive approach out of possession, with Tyler Adams and Winston McKennie providing youthful energy in midfield. Whether they possess requisite quality once they're on the ball is another matter, and a lack of pace between centre-back pairing Tim Ream and Walker Zimmerman is another potential weakness. A Rob Green error helped USA earn a draw the last time these two nations played in a competitive match at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

England have been boosted by the news that Harry Kane is available after turning his ankle against Iran, and the captain is looking to get off the mark in his quest for another World Cup golden boot. There is no obvious reason for Southgate to make changes after such a polished and fluent performance, even if a system change is mooted when England play more potent opposition. One of the incentives for England and Southgate tonight is to earn the chance to rotate for the final group match against Wales, and ensure those on the fringes of the squad get a taste of World Cup action. Marcus Rashford, Jack Grealish and Callum Wilson all made positive contributions from the bench against Iran.

Full team news on the way around 6pm.