The U.S. males’s nationwide crew makes its return to the World Cup with some acquainted foes ready for them.
The USMNT, sixteenth within the FIFA world rankings, has confronted two of its three group-stage opponents in earlier World Cups, and confronted the third opponent in a pleasant two years in the past.
Right here’s a take a look at the groups the USMNT will sq. off with in Group B:
vs. Wales
Monday, 2 p.m., Fox
FIFA rating: No. 19
The USMNT performed Wales on Nov. 12, 2020, in its first sport because the begin of the COVID pandemic, ending a nine-month layoff for the squad. The consequence at Liberty Stadium in Swansea was a 0-0 draw. Christian Pulisic missed the sport with an damage. The sport marked the USMNT debuts for Giovanni Reyna and Yunus Musah.
Wales is making its first World Cup look since 1958. Supervisor Rob Web page lately led Wales to the Spherical of 16 in final summer time’s delayed Euro 2020 match. That adopted Wales’ gorgeous run to the semifinals of Euro 2016.
Led by the likes of ahead Gareth Bale and midfielder Aaron Ramsey, Wales is harmful sufficient on the counter to make noise on this group and provides the U.S. suits.
vs. England
Friday, 2 p.m., Fox
FIFA rating: No. 5
Right here we go once more. The U.S. and England confronted off in Group C throughout the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, starting the group stage with a 1-1 draw. Each groups secured 1-0 victories within the remaining sport of the group stage to advance to the Spherical of 16.
There could possibly be loads of shifting components for England this time round, however one factor is for sure: Harry Kane can be entrance and middle. The 29-year-old Tottenham star scored 4 objectives for England throughout its run to the Euro 2020 remaining after successful the Golden Boot (most objectives) on the 2018 World Cup with six. His 12 objectives this English Premier League season are the second-most within the league. Conserving Kane at bay can be a precedence. Teenage midfielder Jude Bellingham is one other key participant to observe.
England might deploy a three-man again line, one thing supervisor Gareth Southgate utilized in matches earlier this 12 months.
vs. Iran
Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2 p.m., Fox
FIFA rating: No. 20
Iran defeated the USMNT 2-1 within the group stage of the 1998 World Cup in France; each groups ended up failing to qualify for the knockout stage.
Iran is in a wierd place after making a training change simply two months in the past, firing Croatian Dragan Skocic. His substitute, Carlos Queiroz of Portugal, was Iran’s supervisor from 2011-19, main the squad throughout the 2014 and ’18 World Cups. He had quick stints with Colombia and Egypt lately, leaving the latter after failing to qualify for Qatar.
Queiroz’s Iran groups have pissed off opponents with a relentless dedication to protection, however additionally they possess some attacking threats, led by Mehdi Taremi, who performs for Portuguese membership Porto.
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