Match #20 - England v. USA

With this draw, all 4 teams could advance. I haven't looked at the possibilities, but I think the US could advance with a draw v. Iran and a Wales loss. But I also don't know the advancement criteria (matches won v. goal difference v. head to head or what ever the tiebreakers are).

 

So, I really think Berhalter out matched Southgate today. England were definitely not playing on the front foot, but the US were all over them in the middle which cut off their attack. That said, there was a lot of stagnation in England where as the US were very lively, and a few players were really up for the match: Pulisic, Adams, McKennie, and even Zimmerman and Ream played much better than v. Wales.

I can't speak in comparisons for England as I didn't see the match v. Iran, but knowing the players from the EPL, they were not where they should have been. Kane was actually quite good, holding, passing, defending, but had no service, so wasn't all that dangerous.

The best move of the night, though, was England bringing on Henderson. IOM, he settled the team which quashed the excitement the US were playing with, and thus the tiredness set in.

But it was an exciting 0-0 match, that is for sure.

 

I think this is the second worst/best result for Iran.
Right now it is
4 - England
3 - Iran
2 - US
1 - Wales.

Best set up - England had won today and the US is forced to beat Iran in the final match day to advance (with points)
Second best set up - This draw allows the US to draw v Iran to advance (on goal difference)
Worst set up - US had won, which would mean that Iran would need to win v. the US to advance (because no matter the result of the England v. Wales match, goal difference is the second criteria, and Iran and Wales have the same at this point. So if Wales win and Iran draws, both have 4 points, but Wales have a smaller goal difference).

BTW, the criteria are:
1. Greatest number of points from three group matches (each team gets three points for a win and one for a draw).

2. Goal difference in all group matches.

3. Goals scored in all group matches.

And if two or more teams still are tied after that? We go to:

1. Greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned.

2. Goal difference from the group matches between the teams concerned.

3. Goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned.

4. Greater number of points obtained regarding fair play conduct (yellow cards = minus-1; indirect red card, as a result of a second yellow card = minus-3, direct red card = minus-4, yellow card and direct red = minus-5, with only one of the deductions applied to a player in a single game).

https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/2744a0a5e3ded185/original/FIFA-World-Cup-Qatar-2022-Regulations_EN.pdf

We are up and down. We can play shit at times, and can play well enough to make others look poor. Today, I think the latter occurred. England were not great, but the energy we had, the quick ball movement, were harassing in midfield, and made England look bad as opposed as to their lack of emphasis on winning...not that I'm posting with any bias.

 

Did you watch the match?

 

Geez, math is hard.

 

This has been a hallmark for us going back to 2002. We have often had good pressing and lively midfielders. When not...well, see 2018.

 

Who is "they?"