[ad_1]
England head into their second match of the season Globalism Cup against the United States on Friday knowing that a win would guarantee a place in the last 16, while the Netherlands could also qualify for the knockout stage.
Gareth Southgate’s men started their campaign with a 6-2 win over Iran, who will face Wales in Friday’s first Group B match.
Regardless of the outcome of that match, England will advance by defeating the Americans, but they will have to overcome a talented young side with a weight of history.
Read also: Lionel Messi is on edge as Argentina look to salvage the World Cup
The USA knocked England out of the 1950 tournament with one of the biggest shocks in the World Cup finals, and in 2010 a star-studded side drew 1-1, best remembered by English goalkeeper Rob Green.
“Have we ever beaten the USA in the World Cup?” Southgate told a pre-match news conference. Tomorrow we have to try to make history.”
“We’re good at speaking at length about ourselves as a nation on a little bit of evidence. We know we’re going to be up against a very motivated team. I don’t think we’re going to underestimate the United States at all.”
World Cup 2022 points table | 2022 FIFA World Cup schedule | 2022 World Cup results | Golden Boot for the 2022 World Cup
England are still fighting for their first major title in 56 years after losing last year’s European Championship final to Italy on penalties.
They did get a boost ahead of the USA game though, though captain Harry Kane was passed fit despite taking a knock to his ankle against Iran.
Iran’s Carlos Queiroz will miss out if they lose to Wales, who drew the United States in their opening match.
Striker Mehdi Taremi, who scored twice against England, denied the team was under pressure from the Iranian government after choosing not to sing the national anthem before the first match.
Read also: Cristiano Ronaldo became the first man to score in five different FIFA World Cups
“I don’t like to talk about political issues, but we are not under any pressure,” he said.
The Welsh national team may put itself on the brink of qualification before meeting its neighbors England with three points, in the first World Cup finals since losing to Brazil led by Pele in the quarter-finals in 1958.
“They are a tough team and they are in the World Cup for a reason,” captain Gareth Bale, who scored a late penalty against the United States, said of Iran.
– Dutch targeting address –
Louis van Gaal’s Dutch team can qualify from Group A by defeating Ecuador, but it needs hosts Qatar to draw with Senegal.
The Orange team achieved a 2-0 victory over the African champions in their first match, with late goals from the in-form youngsters Cody Gakbo and Davey Claassen.
The Netherlands, runners-up three times, are playing the World Cup for the first time since finishing third under Van Gaal in 2014.
“We are here to become world champions,” Van Gaal said on the eve of the match.
Qatar desperately needed to respond after losing 2-0 to Ecuador in a match that saw the majority of the crowd leave before the final whistle.
Another defeat could see the Asian Cup holders become the second home team to be knocked out in the group stage, after South Africa in 2010.
Qatar coach Felix Sanchez said, “We hope that we will now be free of all the pressure that we had in the opening match. I hope that we can compete and present the ‘match’.”
On Thursday, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score in five World Cup finals with a controversial penalty kick in Portugal’s 3-2 victory over Ghana, while favorites Brazil had a strong start by defeating Serbia.
Read all files The latest sports news over here
[ad_2]
Source link
