The 2022 FIFA World Cup resumes with the second batch of group matches beginning Friday.
In Group B, England can seal progression to the knockouts with victory over USA. The Three Lions swept past Iran, 6-2, in their World Cup opener and another 3 points at the Al Bayt Stadium would make them the first nation to advance to the Round of 16.
Team USA settled for a 1-1 draw with Wales and, though qualification is still very much on the cards, the USMNT will need to produce a resilient performance if they are to snatch a point (or three) from England.
This means USA sit joint-bottom on 1 point and, although they have played one fewer than Wales, defeat to England will place additional pressure on the Stars and Stripes to pick up a win in their third and final group game versus Iran on Tuesday.
Earlier on Friday, Wales conceded two goals in stoppage time as Iran registered its first points at Qatar 2022.
Harry Kane underwent an ankle scan and has been given the all-clear, though it remains to be seen whether Gareth Southate rests the England skipper as a precaution. Kane, 29, scored six goals at the last World Cup, earning him the Golden Boot in Russia 2018.
Other than possibly resting Kane, Southgate is not expected to alter his starting XI which dismantled Iran.
In the other camp, USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter will also retain mostly the same team which started against Wales. Yunus Musah and Weston McKennie were substituted after picking up knocks, but both midfielders are expected to remain in the team.
🇺🇸 🇬🇭
— Saddick Adams (@SaddickAdams) November 21, 2022
Today, Yunus Musah, 19-year-old has become the youngest American ever to start at the World Cup.
Yunus was born while his Ghanaian parents were on vacation in New York. pic.twitter.com/2NUpZhCd9Q
Musah became the youngest USA player to start at the World Cup, one week shy of his 20th birthday. Currently signed to Spanish club Valencia, Musah was formerly part of the Arsenal academy and he also represented England at junior level.
Having previously played alongside the likes of Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka, Musah now takes to the field on the opposite side to his ex-teammates.
Musah is one of several young talents spearheading the USA ‘golden generation’, together with Giovanni Reyna, Timothy Weah, Christian Pulisic, and more.
Of the 26-man roster selected by Berhalter and U.S. Soccer, 15 players are aged 25 years or below while just three of them are 30 or above. With an average age of 24, the USMNT has the second-youngest squad at Qatar 2022.
This will be a third time England and USA meet at the World Cup, the most recent being 12 years ago in South Africa. Like this year, the teams met in the group stage. Needless to say both sides are considerably stronger than they were in 2010.
That particular contest ended 1-1 after England goalkeeper Rob Green fumbled Clint Dempsey’s shot from range and the ball crept over the goal line. Steven Gerrard had put the Three Lions in front within the opening five minutes.
USA went on to their group on that occasion, level on 5 points with England but ahead by virtue of goals scored. The English were subsequently dumped out by Germany in the first knockout round.
Their other meeting at the World Cup came back in 1950, when the USA edged England, 1-0.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Kick-off is at 22H00 local time (13H00 CT; 19H00 GMT).
England are -200 (1.50) favourites in this upcoming encounter, although it won’t necessarily be straightforward for the Three Lions. USA are +600 (7.00) to claim victory; odds of +333 (4.33) for a draw. (Bet365)
