A Tale as Old as Time: England vs United States Preview

When you look back in history, the United States Men’s National Team has always had
passion and fight, but never the technical prowess that the top European teams
possessed. When they missed out on the 2018 World Cup, their starting lineup
consisted of 8 players who played European football, and only 2 who played in the
Champions League. Four years later and this team has changed drastically. Seventeen
players on the roster are playing in the top-five European leagues, with seven of them
playing UCL, and talisman Christian Pulisic winning the trophy with Chelsea FC in 2021.
This youthful team has increased dramatically since these teams last matched up in
2018.

On the other side of the pitch, the Three Lions are fielding a fantastic team filled
with top quality players. The line-up still has their star players (Harry Kane, Raheem
Sterling, Jordan Pickford), but they’ve also added some brilliant young talent (Mason
Mount, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham). England has done well in
producing young prodigies and giving them the opportunity to play at the highest level.
They’ve also all come up through the same system, allowing them to gel as a unit in
quick fashion.

Whether you’re a fan of either side or a neutral looking for a good match, you’re
in for a true spectacle.
What happens today will be determined by the United States. England is a
superior side in debatably every position, and they won their first match in a 6-2 blowout
against Iran. On the other hand, the United States disappointed in a 1-1 draw against
Wales, who lost 2-0 this morning to Iran. The Americans lost that first match due to a
lack of commitment to one style of play. After dominating the first half, they seemed to
neither commit to attacking, or commit to defending in the second half. It was sloppy,
unorganized, and eventually led to a penalty that a past-his-prime Gareth Bale
converted from 12 yards out. The United States needs to play fast and aggressive today
to unsettle a confident English side. Hopefully head coach Gregg Berhalter will
implement this style of play, or the Americans might be going home sooner than
anticipated.

English football fans are some of the most passionate sporting fans in the world,
and matches like these are some of the loudest ones. Fans will be looking for England
to see the net ripple multiple times, and don’t be surprised if this dream is satisfied.
England dismantled Saudi Arabia in their first World Cup match. The Three Lions had 5
different goal scorers, and Harry Kane didn’t even find the back of the net. England will
most likely possess the majority of the ball, and will have to patiently wait for openings
as this US side will be more structured after a collapse a couple days ago. Expect
Raheem Sterling to run rampant down the left wing as Sergino Dest will be caught out
of position too many times. Assuming Sterling and Shaw start on that left-wing today,
expect the both of them to be difference makers. This side has what it takes to make a
run in this tournament.

What should you expect? Look forward to the United States starting with a fire lit
under them. The first 15 minutes should be filled with a high-intensity gegen-press from
the Americans, but if England can subdue the pressure, it should be easy going from
there. Harry Kane will be the key playmaker for this side. Of course, he’s known as a
clinical goal-scorer, but he will be dropping deep to create space in behind for his
wingers. Trust Harry Kane to control the play from deeper today, and trust England to
win comfortably. It’s been said for years, but this year may be different. Is it finally
“coming home”?

Prediction: England 3 – 0 United States