FIFA World Cup 2022

[Baddar]

P-oooh-lisic

[Chris2K]

England seem to be taking "American football" too literally by playing a zone defence.

[TheGrandAvatar]

How you lot do this without having a heart attack I don't know. Football has never made me as nervous as this before.

England need wake up and switch on. They've had enough warning shots and misses from USA.  

[Bobfoc]

1 minute ago, TheGrandAvatar said:

How you lot do this without having a heart attack I don't know. Football has never made me as nervous as this before.

I try to be pessimistic and it makes me less bothered when everything goes wrong.

[TheGrandAvatar]

Would anyone like a nice pot of sugary tea at half time to recover?! It's what I need. 

[Baddar]

This feels a bit like Belgium-Canada. First good chance England get, they're going ahead after so many missed chances down the other end.

[METALMAN]

I’m quite enjoying this one. USA have been better than I expected and England have really not been living up to expectations.

[Bobfoc]

Only one added minute? What is the world coming to?

[Adam]

England finally woke up at the end of the half there.

Saka has been poor, Bellingham nullified. If Maddison was fit, I'd be saying bring him on because the game is crying out for some creativity in the middle. Sadly he's not available!

[stokeriño]

This is the England experience I'm used to.

[gunnar hendershow]

A really good half for the US. Wish we could've finished one of those really great chances. England feel like they'll wear us down, especially after Berhalter makes horrendous subs.

[TheGrandAvatar]

Iran exposed the defence and it cost England twice. I'm glad it has shown in this match again. So that Southgate might be able to figure out the mistakes before we progress to stronger teams who will not miss. USA have played really well and exploited those weaknesses and it's only down to bad luck they aren't a goal or so up. 

Although I expect an England win once USA run out of steam. 

[METALMAN]

Is this the best USA team of my lifetime? I mean previous US teams were built around fairly agricultural cloggers like Donovan, McBride etc but some of these players can actually play.

[gunnar hendershow]

Just now, METALMAN said:

Is this the best USA team of my lifetime? I mean previous US teams were built around fairly agricultural cloggers like Donovan, McBride etc but some of these players can actually play.

Talent at the US has never been higher. Multiple players not just in top leagues but featuring at clubs in top leagues.

However, as you've probably seen a ton in this thread, there are some serious questions about our manager's decision making and tactics.

[Szumi]

2 minutes ago, METALMAN said:

Is this the best USA team of my lifetime? I mean previous US teams were built around fairly agricultural cloggers like Donovan, McBride etc but some of these players can actually play.

It's not. This USA team has potential to be it, but right now it's mainly a bunch of younger guys yet to enter their prime, and yet to really achieve anything.

Christian Pulisic is the best American attacker, but he's not been anywhere near as good as Landon Donovan or Clint Dempsey when putting the national team jersey on. The same can be said about any of our strikers and Jozy Altidore and Brian McBride. 

We also don't have any CBs even close to the CBs from previous eras, and the same is true with our GKs.

The only real difference now is American players actually get credible chances in Europe. The reality though, is almost all of our "major European club players" are all, at best, squad player level for those clubs. But a lot of people see where they play at, and think it means they're great now.

[METALMAN]

That being said, it’s also weird seeing a US team whose goalkeeper isn’t particularly good.

[Baddar]

Maguire heading everything away.

[Szumi]

Tyler Adams is so, so good.

[TheGrandAvatar]

Such a good atmosphere from the fans for USA.

[Adam]

Sam Matterface is clearly winding Lee Dixon up now by banging on about some irrelevant game Dixon played in against USA some 30 years ago.

Why on earth did they make him lead England commentator.