Here at TheRX, we take a look at whether the United States of America can scupper England’s World Cup bid in Friday’s Group B soccer match.
Notoriously, the United States soccer team has proved to be a thorn in the side of the English, beating them 1-0 in the 1950 World Cup and managing a draw in the 2010 showpiece.
England vs. USA
Friday, November 25, 2022 – 02:00 PM at Al Bayt Stadium
- Betting Odds: England -188 – USA +500 – Draw +320
England Team Stats and Analysis
England came into the 2022 World Cup as fourth favorites at +800 after being runners-up in the European Championship 2020 and World Cup semi-finalists in 2018. The opening game against Iran saw that reputation enhanced when they were leading 3-0 just before half-time against, a side notoriously hard to beat and break down. That continued a-pace after half-time with England running out comfortable 6-2 winners.
In qualifying, England was unbeaten, but it’s fair to say it was a very easy group, and they won eight of the ten matches.
In recent months, manager Gareth Southgate has started to come under scrutiny by the English media for his safety-first tactics, but he is the most successful manager since Alf Ramsey in 1966.
England started the 2022 World Cup in Qatar ranked #5 in the FIFA World Rankings.
The Stars of the Team
Borussia Dortmund regular, Jude Bellingham scored his maiden goal for England, and he is the sort of player to light up a World Cup. There’s no doubt that the nineteen-year-old is an outstanding prospect in midfield for the Three Lions, and his goal was the first for a teenager in an England shirt since the great Michael Owen’s famous goal against Argentina in 1998.
England’s other young Lion, Bukayo Saka shone bright with his ability to run at defenders, creating goal opportunities, and he managed to get a brace of goals on the scoresheet.
Harry Maguire was a surprise starter for England given his poor club form and a huge loss of confidence, but he has been Gareth Southgate’s go-to man at center-back in recent major championships. The Manchester United player showed what a threat he is in the air from set-pieces which have been fundamental to England’s recent success, but he was substituted due to concussion protocols.
United States Stats and Analysis
This will be the United States’ twelfth World Cup finals after head coach, Gregg Berhalter steered them through qualifying. It wasn’t an eye-catching and seamless progress, but rather an up-and-down grind that saw them sneak through in 3rd place after losing on three occasions.
The United States Soccer Team entered the World Cup with a respectably high world ranking of #16.
USA’s Performance so Far
Group B looks like a tough one and their first opponent on Monday, Wales, found themselves surprised by the United States’ energetic showing in the first half that saw them take a lead through Timothy Weah on the 36th minute, only to be denied a win by a late penalty for Wales.
There had been little encouragement from the United States team prior to the World Cup, losing to Japan and drawing against Saudi Arabia in friendly internationals.
They left that uncertainty behind them versus Wales, when their high-octane energy only started to wain in the second half.
Juventus midfielder, Weston McKennie got an important start because he is the United States’ most creative player and has been recovering from injury. Throughout his young career, he has become well known for his ability to step up for the big occasion and the twenty-year-old’s talents are badly needed in the coming matches.
Final Thoughts
The United States Soccer Team has its pot on, trying to stop the free-scoring England team from hitting the back of the net and they look like real contenders for World Cup honors.
The only downside to England’s young group of players is they looked vulnerable in defense when conceding two goals to Iran, and amazingly, it could have been more. That said a lot about England’s weakness, and with Weston McKennie getting an important game behind him to help his fitness after injury, perhaps the talented midfielder will be the one to unlock the English defense.
The Pick
If McKennie does step up to the plate, this leaves us a nice angle to attack for our bet on England vs. United States on matchday 6 by taking the Both Teams to Score bet at the price of +105 with Bet365.
We expect England to score goals, that’s a given, so hopefully, all we need is some poor defending by the young lions or a moment’s magic from the United States for a plus-money winner at TheRX.
Soccer Pick: Both Teams to Score (+105) at Bet365
