World Cup Day 6: USA put England under siege after Qatar eliminated
England coach Gareth Southgate has been slammed by former players and fans over his decision to snub one of his stars.
How awkward. Qatar is out of the World Cup in less than a week in a historic humiliation for a host nation.
Group A became a three-horse race on Saturday morning after Qatar’s second defeat of the tournament — a 3-1 loss to Senegal — was followed by a 1-1 draw between the Netherlands and Ecuador.
In Group B, Wales’ hopes of progression took a hammering after Iran pulled off a stunning 2-0 victory, scoring twice deep in injury time of the second half.
The surprises kept coming as a weirdly tame England side was held to a 0-0 draw by the USA.
9.30am (AEDT) - Fans fuming over Foden snub
England fans were left baffled by Jordan Henderson’s introduction into the game against USA in the 68th minute, while Manchester City superstar Phil Foden remained on the bench for the full game.
Despite the chances they had for themselves, neither Harry Kane, Mason Mount or Raheem Sterling, who was replaced by Grealish, created any opportunities for their teammates.
And that is exactly the same as the unused Foden - who many fans and pundits were desperate to see get on.
Foden, 22, has been in red-hot form for Man City this term with eight goals and three assists in 20 appearances.
And former England and Manchester United defender Gary Neville was one of those leading the call for him to start.
The ITV pundit said: “I know Phil Foden isn’t playing but for Phil Foden not to be playing for England is a real shame because he’s a massive talent.
“I think he’s our best player, our best talent by a mile. He should be playing in that team.”
He added later: “I’m torn because I’ve go ta lot of respect for Gareth and what he’s achieved - he’s achieved the most since Alf Ramsey. But we’ve got a couple of talents sat on the bench in the form of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Foden who are capable of opening up the game.
“Alexander-Arnold has some of the best deliveries you’ll ever see from full-back and on that right side when Rashford came on, he had Henderson and Trippier so he was blocked from getting that delivery in. I think those two coming off the bench is a little bit disappointing, if you’re trying to win the game they’re world class talents.”
The result left England still top of the group on four points, a point ahead of second-placed Iran.
Every single person that watched the game could see that Foden had to come on for Mount except Southgate.
— UtdFaithfuls (@UtdFaithfuls) November 25, 2022
He is the reason this talented England squad will never win anything.
Get foden on, and watch how much the game changes!
— Ross Barkley (@RBarkley8) November 25, 2022
Foden should be Brazilian. We’d appreciate his talent a lot more.
— AllThingsSeleção â„¢ (@SelecaoTalk) November 25, 2022
A reminder that Phil Foden plays every key game for the best football team on the planet.
— Richard Innes (@bigrichinnes) November 25, 2022
But apparently cannot even get off the bench for an #ENG team which can’t string three passes together #ENGUSA
Nobody will ever be able to tell me Mount should be playing over Foden!!!
— Curtis Woodhouse (@curtiswoodhous8) November 25, 2022
Nepotism from Southgate. Mount and Kane should have been off for Foden and Kane ages ago.
— Mark Goldbridge (@markgoldbridge) November 25, 2022
7.50am — England put under siege: ‘This is crap’
England missed a chance to book their place in the World Cup last 16 as Gareth Southgate’s side produced a limp display in their 0-0 draw against the United States on Friday.
Southgate’s men would have been guaranteed to advance from Group B with a victory in their second game of the tournament, but they rarely troubled a determined US team.
Having thrashed Iran 6-2 on Monday, England lacked the urgency they showed in their opening game and were booed off at full-time.
They managed just one shot on target and could easily have conceded in the first half when the US were in control for long periods at the Al Bayt Stadium.
For the third time in three World Cup meetings with the US, England failed to live up to their status as favourites.
After a shocking defeat in the 1950 tournament and a 1-1 draw in 2010, this was another defiant American effort against England, cooling some of the hype around the Three Lions following the Iran rout.
Poor performance from @England, but that happens at a World Cup at some stage. The big question, even with such a talented bunch, is whether the manager can change things positively with his tactics and substitutions when it’s not working.
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) November 25, 2022
Why does this feel like 1776 all over again?
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) November 25, 2022
This is crap. Do something, Southgate - fast.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) November 25, 2022
Man, USA deserves to be winning by like 17 by now smh
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) November 25, 2022
Although it was an extremely underwhelming performance from England, they are still in control of their own destiny.
A draw in their final group game against Wales would ensure England progress to the knockout stages, while a victory would seal first place.
The US, who have drawn their first two games, play Iran on the same day knowing a win would send them into last 16.
Gregg Berhalter’s group are the second youngest team at the World Cup, but a day after America celebrated Thanksgiving they left sluggish England looking like they were the ones who had indulged in too much turkey.
With Harry Kane and Harry Maguire recovered from an ankle injury and illness respectively, England named an unchanged team for the first time since the 2018 World Cup semi-final defeat against Croatia.
But, whereas England dominated possession against timid Iran from the opening moments, they found the US far more willing to press higher up the pitch.
The US desire to engage England briefly left space in behind them and Jude Bellingham’s buccaneering run and pass freed Bukayo Saka down the right side of the US area.
Saka’s cross reached Kane, whose goalbound shot was blocked by Walker Zimmerman. That near-miss proved a mirage in the desert for England as Haji Wright, a surprise selection in place of Josh Sargent, had the Americans’ first sight of goal with a well-timed run into the area for a header that whistled wide.
It was a warning that the US could trouble England and moments later Weston McKennie should have put them ahead.
Timothy Weah’s cross from wide on the right eluded the flat-footed England defence and the unmarked McKennie pulled the trigger from 10 yards, only to fire just wide of the relieved Pickford’s goal.
Showing no signs of being intimidated by England, Berhalter’s side were inches away from turning the enterprising display into a stunning lead when Christian Pulisic jinked into space and lashed a rising drive against the crossbar from just inside the area.
Giving the ball away far too easily and laboured in their build-up play, England looked rattled and Pulisic tested their fraying nerves with a header that glanced wide.
In a rare moment of menace from England, Saka’s pass found Mason Mount and the Chelsea’s midfielder low drive from 20 yards brought a first save from US keeper Matt Turner.
Epitomising the US spirit that was such a contrast to England’s lethargy, Tyler Adams crunched into a tackle on Saka, winning the ball and roaring in delight afterwards.
England remained stuck in first gear yet Kane nearly snatched an undeserved winner in stoppage time when he headed wide from Luke Shaw’s free-kick.
“That, by Harry Kane’s standards, looked a pretty straight forward header,” SBS commentator Martin Tyler said.
5am — Netherlands and Ecuador can’t be split
Cody Gakpo scored again at the World Cup but the Netherlands missed the chance to secure a place in the last 16 on Friday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by a battling Ecuador, a result which eliminated host nation Qatar.
Gakpo, the gangly PSV Eindhoven forward who has been strongly linked with a move to Manchester United, put the Netherlands in front with a superb strike in the sixth minute at the Khalifa International Stadium.
Yet, with a large and vociferous support behind them, Ecuador fought back with such ferocity that the Dutch were rattled, and they deserved the equaliser when it came through Enner Valencia four minutes after halftime.
It was Ecuador captain Valencia’s third goal of the World Cup already after his brace in his country’s opening win over Qatar.
And one consequence of this result is that the host nation, already beaten twice, are the first team to be eliminated from their own World Cup.
In contrast three-time beaten finalists the Netherlands are not quite through to the next round, with one point separating them, Ecuador and Senegal, who defeated Qatar 3-1 earlier.
Ecuador and Senegal meet in the last round of Group A matches next Tuesday, while Louis van Gaal’s Dutch side meet the hosts knowing a draw will make certain their place in the knockout phase.
Much of the talk before this game had been about Memphis Depay, with the Barcelona forward having impressed as a second-half substitute in the 2-0 win over Senegal in his first game in two months after a thigh injury.
While he once again started on the bench here, it was the 23-year-old Gakpo who again starred in front of goal.
Scorer of the late headed opener against Senegal, he got an early breakthrough on this occasion, lashing a left-foot shot between the despairing dive of Hernan Galindez and the left-hand post after being set up by Davy Klaassen.
Yet that, remarkably, was to be the Netherlands’ only shot on target as they were pushed back by Ecuador for much of the rest of the game.
Giant Dutch goalkeeper Andries Noppert had to get down to his right to keep out a shot from Valencia, who had been a pre-match fitness doubt.
Then Ecuador thought they had equalised in first-half stoppage time when Pervis Estupinan diverted an Angelo Preciado shot into the net, but the goal was disallowed for an off-side against Jackson Porozo.
Depay then came on for Steven Bergwijn at the start of the second half but Ecuador soon got their equaliser.
Estupinan was again involved as the Brighton and Hove Albion wing-back’s shot was saved by Noppert but Valencia followed in to convert the loose ball.
They might even have won it, with Gonzalo Plata crashing a shot off the crossbar just before the hour mark.
An encouraging evening for Ecuador was marred by the sight of Valencia coming off on a stretcher late on and then sitting with ice around his right knee, and they will hope their all-time top scorer can recover quickly.
They will surely need him for a nerve-jangling showdown with Senegal with a place in the last 16 on the line — it is a stage they have reached only once before, when they were beaten 1-0 by England in 2006.
2am (AEDT) — Qatar on brink of embarrassing record
Host nation Qatar were pushed to the brink of an early elimination from their own World Cup after a 3-1 defeat to Senegal.
Goals either side of halftime from Boulaye Dia and Famara Diedhiou gave Senegal the lead before Qatar substitute Mohammed Muntari replied in the 78th minute to set up a dramatic finale.
Senegal substitute Bamba Dieng scored six minutes later to put the result beyond doubt and lift the African champions, who opened with a 2-0 loss to the Netherlands, right back into contention in Group A.
Defeat left bottom side Qatar sweating on results elsewhere if they are to avoid following South Africa in 2010 as only the second World Cup hosts to bow out after the first round.
Their elimination would be confirmed if Ecuador fail to beat the Netherlands later in the day, and would make Qatar the first World Cup hosts to go out after two games.
“Today we showed what we are able to do. We were competitive and we played well,” said Qatar manager Felix Sanchez.
“Obviously the result is key but we showed a better performance. We have to get ready to play against the Netherlands.
“We know that it’s going to be an even tougher game against them.”
Qatar had made a nervy start to the tournament in a 2-0 defeat to Ecuador and they again looked tentative against Senegal.
The Asian champions dropped their goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb to the bench after his shaky performance in the opener.
His replacement Meshaal Barsham did not inspire much confidence in the early stages, flapping at a corner as Senegal pushed for the opening goal.
Ismaila Sarr and Nampalys Mendy had already missed scoring chances for Senegal by then, and Idrissa Gana Gueye and Youssouf Sabaly squandered more as the first half wore on.
– Qatar almost out –
Qatar spent most of the opening 45 minutes on the back foot but a rare break forward saw Akram Afif incensed not to be awarded a penalty after he was bundled over by Sarr.
Senegal looked like they would head into halftime without managing to break down Qatar’s resistance, only for the hosts to gift them a goal in the 41st minute.
Qatari defender Boualem Koukhi fluffed a clearance to leave Dia to pounce on the loose ball and fire it past Barsham.
Senegal doubled their lead almost immediately after the break when Diedhiou glanced home a header at the near post from a corner.
Qatar began to show much more attacking ambition from two goals down and Afif was involved in everything.
Almoez Ali forced a fingertip save out of Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy before the Chelsea man again rescued the Africans from Ismail Mohamad’s effort.
Mendy was rooted to his line when Muntari pulled one back for Qatar, powerfully heading home Mohamad’s cross to haul the hosts back into it.
The goal lifted the crowd and sent Qatar surging forward in search of another, but Dieng nipped the revival in the bud in the 84th minute when he swept the ball home for Senegal’s third.
Abdelkarim Hassan then lashed a free-kick just wide of the post as Qatar tried to hit back but Senegal held firm to see out the win.
“We had a few chances and we managed to score a goal but then at the end we didn’t have as many chances as we wanted,” said Sanchez.
11pm (AEDT) — Welsh heartbreak as Iran get it done
Iran scored twice deep into stoppage time to stun Wales 2-0 on Friday and breathe new life into a World Cup campaign overshadowed by mass anti-government protests at home.
The Iranian players sang the national anthem before the Group B clash, having opted to stay silent in their opener in Qatar, and were worthy winners against a Welsh side reduced to 10 men late in the match.
Hosts Qatar later crashed 3-1 against African champions Senegal to move to the brink of an embarrassing early exit from their own tournament.
Iran, who would have been eliminated with if they had lost, punished Gareth Bale’s Wales in the eighth minute of injury time when substitute Rouzbeh Cheshmi smashed home.
The Iranians sent their thousands of fans at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Doha wild when Ramin Rezaeian clipped in a second goal on the counter-attack.
There were emotional scenes as Iran’s players and staff, including their Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz, embraced on the pitch and took in the acclaim of their supporters.
Mehdi Taremi, the team’s star striker, paid tribute to Iran’s fans. “Thank you to our supporters, they helped us all the time,” said Taremi, who was cut down by Wayne Hennessey when the goalkeeper came haring out of his goal.
Hennessey was sent off in the 86th minute, earning the first red card of the World Cup following a VAR review.
“We need those supporters to support us like always,” added Taremi, whose side will reach the last 16 if they win a politically charged clash with the United States on Tuesday.
“Even those who are in Iran behind their TV, we need their positive energy. “We have a dream and we want to give that dream a chance.” Iran were thumped 6-2 by England in their opening match and beforehand had stood impassively during their national anthem in an apparent gesture of solidarity with anti-government protesters in the Islamic republic.
Iran has been shaken by two months of nationwide protests since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in morality police custody on September 16.
Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian of Kurdish origin, died three days after her arrest in Tehran over an alleged breach of the dress code for women, which includes the mandatory hijab headscarf.
An AFP photographer at the stadium on Friday witnessed security staff confiscating a flag from a fan with the protest slogan “Woman, Life, Freedom”.
Some Iranian fans were in tears during the singing of the anthem.
– with AFP
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