The United States will face the Netherlands and England Senegal with the first two group stages of the 2022 World Cup now complete. Whilst the USMNT battled to a 1-0 win over Iran that secured second place for them, England romped into Group B's top spot with a 3-0 victory against British rivals Wales.
Though it took until the second half for their dominance to show the Welsh levee eventually broke when Marcus Rashford bent a free kick beyond Danny Ward to open the scoring in the 50th minute. Seconds later England's lead was doubled, the Manchester United forward pressing high to win the ball back before Harry Kane squared for Phil Foden to score. The rout was complete with one of the best goals of the tournament, Rashford spinning in behind to claim Kalvin Phillips' excellent pass before drilling through Ward's legs.
In the day's earlier games Netherlands won against Qatar and qualified as first in the Group A, while Senegal after beating Ecuador finished second in the group stage and will face the Three Lions.
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Check out the table and qualification scenarios below for Group A as they kick off the day's action. (you can find all of the World Cup qualification scenarios here).
| Team Name | W | D | L | Goal Difference | Matches Played | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
England | 2 | 1 | 0 | +7 | 3 | 7 |
United States | 1 | 2 | 0 | +1 | 3 | 5 |
Iran | 1 | 0 | 2 | -3 | 3 | 3 |
Wales | 0 | 2 | 1 | -4 | 3 | 1 |
| Team Name | W | D | L | Goal Difference | Matches Played | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Netherlands | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 7 |
Senegal | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
Ecuador | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Qatar | 0 | 0 | 3 | -6 | 3 | 0 |
Tuesday, Nov. 29
Netherlands 2, Qatar 0,
Senegal 2, Ecuador 1
Iran 0, United States 1
Wales 0, England 3
Yeah look this game finished a while back, to be honest I've gone from having half an eye to events in the other Group B game to continually looking over to my iPad. Really you've just got Callum Wilson chasing a World Cup goal and that's about it. Go join Chuck on the USMNT blog!
This feels like the return of the breakout superstar we saw in 2016. It's great news for England and for the world's game, there are few more admirable young men than Rashford.
This is what their testy fans have been waiting for, Bellingham picking the ball up deep and breezing past the Welsh pressure. When he is in the mood he makes this game look so easy and seconds later he is in the Wales box, nearly turning home a low cross at the back post. England have been crying out for a player who can do the hard work deep and in the penalty area. They have found him now.
Rashford is running riot, scoring England's 100th World Cup finals goal thanks to some brilliant play and an almighty helping hand from Ward. Rashford comes short and immediately spins in behind to claim a wonderful pass by Phillips. He's driving straight at Roberts, cutting onto his left foot and firing low and hard. The Leicester City goalkeeper could do better than let it roll through his legs but maybe he was just taken aback by the goal.
You suspect that Southgate is pretty convinced this game is in the bag, hence a triple change that is as much about the likely round of 16 tie against Senegal as it does what will be coming over the next half hour. And so Kane, who has looked rather more sprightly today, makes way for Callum Wilson and perhaps the only other player that rivals him for irreplaceability also comes off, Rice being replaced by Phillips. Trent Alexander-Arnold also gets his first minutes of this World Cup after an impressive hour from Walker.
That should be that. England have hit greater heights more consistently in this second half precisely because they're upping their intensity levels. Rashford presses high and blocks Davies' attempted clearance. Kane crosses low along the six yard box and it evades everyone until Foden connects at the back post. England are almost certainly bound for top spot in Group B.
That is quite spectacular. England win a free-kick just outside the box. The Manchester United man stands over it and fires a wonderful strike into the far corner. Ward expected him to go over the wall and is left looking rather foolish indeed. And it's about to get a lot worse!
What might well be Gareth Bale's final World Cup game ends at the half time break with Brennan Johnson taking his place. You have to assume that that is due to an injury. Bale might not have done much in the first 45 minutes but most of his games of late have involved him not doing all that much and then pulling a rabbit out of the hat at the decisive moment.
Still this could be an intriguing changing of the guard moment for the Welsh. If there's a great hope for the post-Bale and Ramsey era it might just but Johnson, the electric Nottingham Forest forward.
There have been a few moments where England have flashed but this is the nearest they got to scoring in what was a dominant half where they had 74 percent possession and nine shots to their opponents' two, both of which were long range punts.
The first half whistle is a blessed relief for Wales, who are starting to get really stretched by the late running of Bellingham and the movement of Kane, who looks a little better today than he did back on Friday, and takes a late shot that forces a corner. Wales have defended rather well just to limit England to eight shots with Ramsey, Ampadu and Allen cleaning up all the loose balls that come their way.
And a welcome one for England, for now at least. Christian Pulisic bundles the ball in at close range off Sergino Dest's knockdown. With that the USA leapfrog Iran for second place in the group. They'd need three more to take top spot.
Neco Williams took an almighty blow to the head when Rashford's cross slammed into him and he has been struggling ever since. Perhaps he should not have been allowed to continue no matter how much he might have wanted to. His place is taken by Connor Roberts of Swansea. As this is a suspected concussion substitute Wales will retain their full compliment of substitutions.
There's not much to do say about the team that currently sit bottom of Group B other than every one of the outfield players of their opponents completed a pass in the final third before any Welsh player did. There's half a moment when they get the ball to Moore with his back to goal but he is swarmed by England bodies, who force the ball backwards. A shrewd gameplan might be to try to play off him but when so much is being asked of your midfielders without the ball it will be hard for them to get up the pitch in time.
Here's Jordan Henderson's pass map through the first 15 minutes of this game and it shows why England are struggling to zip through the Welsh backline.
So many balls are going backwards when they come to a player who really ought to be feeding England's frontline with the quick ball they have got rather infrequently in these 20 minutes. The critique you would aim at him is there is space to move into or lines to exploit, he just isn't doing so. And almost as soon as I write that a Shaw cross bounces over his head as he's unmarked in the area.
This will be a different challenge for England to their last game, they're not facing the pressure of the USMNT midfield but instead deep Welsh defensive lines that they have to puncture. It does not necessarily make it easier to do so when Henderson's every touch seems to divert the ball backwards. After 10 minutes of fairly fruitless slow ball they counter-press well and Kane gets the ball in midfield. His pass is perfectly judged to Rashford, who cannot quite get the ball out from under his feet. By the time he does Ward is on hand to block the shot.
Away we go, Wales getting the ball rolling through Aaron Ramsey. It is immediately thumped down the left channel where England clear.
A reminder that Chuck Booth is on the call for our USMNT-centric live blog, though we'll make sure you're aware of the score in the other match.
Meeting No.104 between these two great rivals is moments away, the first time they have met at a World Cup but hardly their first tournament face off. Six years ago last gasp goals from Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge fired England to victory. Neutrals would take some more drama like that!
For Wales it's nice and easy: win and hope that Iran and USA split the points. Only if England lose by four goals can they be eliminated but Gareth Southgate's side still need to consider top spot, which they are only absolutely guaranteed of with a win.
If they draw and Iran win then Team Melli sweep in for top spot. If England draw and the USA win it will come down to goal difference, where the US have a big margin to make up.
There's four changes to this England team and it's no great surprise that two of them come in the frontline. There is, however, a little bit of a murmur that is relevant for the inclusion of Harry Kane, who looked to be carrying some sort of injury against the USA. Next to him Foden and Rashford will both have points to prove after being given the starts over Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling. In midfield Henderson brings experience and more solidity than Mason Mount whilst Kyle Walker returns at right back. It'll be intriguing to see whether he flies down the flank or if, as is the case at club level, he tucks in as more of a third center back or extra midfielder.
As for Wales, could that be a 4-3-3? They seem to be a defender light... unless James is playing wing back.
England XI: Pickford; Walker, Sonts, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Henderson, Bellingham; Rashford, Kane, Foden
Wales XI: Ward; Williams, Mepham, Rodon, Davies; Ampadu, Allen, Ramsey; Bale, Moore, James
Will this game prove to be Gareth Bale's last stand on the international stage? His answer to that was brusque enough in his pre-match press conference. "Nope," was as clear a one-word answer as he could offer. If that is indeed the case for one of Wales' greatest ever (and another in the form of Aaron Ramsey) then might Page be better off testing out some of his younger players on the bigger stage?
The Welsh manager intimated that he would consider doing exactly that. "It's a big ask for anybody in this environment to go four days later from one competitive game to another," he said of Ramsey and Bale. "They are talented footballers. OK, we're all getting a bit of criticism right now, and rightly so because results ain't going our way and [because of] our performances. That's the industry. We're big enough to take it – it's not a problem. We'll put our big-boy pants on and get on with it. We'll have a team that's ready for England."
It's an all British battle for us on this blog -- our laser focused USMNT coverage is already up and running with Chuck Booth over here -- as Wales face off against England. Almost certainly this will be the final match for the Welsh in this tournament unless they can give a thrashing to their rivals from across Offa's Dyke. England, meanwhile, need a win to wrap up top spot and a draw might well be good enough if the US beat Iran, thanks to their sizeable goal difference advantage. Still there is almost certain to be fireworks when two neighbours face off.
Senegal managed to win the deciding game against Ecuador and the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations title holders will play in the Round of 16 against the winner of the Group B.
The Dutch are through as Group A winners thanks to Gakpo and De Jong's goals. The hosts exit with a whimper and will go down as a thoroughly forgettable home nation on the pitch.
It's 2-1 Senegal right after Ecuador scored the equalizer! Kalidou Koulibaly scored the second goal for the African side that are now back ahead in the game. Ecuador's draw didn't last too long.
Ecuador equalized against Senegal with the goal scored by Moises Caicedo after a corner kick. Ecuador totally deserved to score after a positive start of the second half.
Berghuis think that he has made it three! Janssen provided as the two substitutes combined moments after coming on. However, VAR rules it out. Regardless of the goal, this one is finishing well for Van Gaal's men as Qatar exit on a low.
Ecuador are looking much better in this second half and had a good approach with the new incomings. However, they still need to score at least one before the end of the game. Senegal are still leading 1-0 as of now.
De Jong this time! Memphis denied, but his Barcelona teammate follows up to score. That should be the Dutch secured in top spot and Qatar going home without a single point. How long until those die hard home fans start to stream towards the exits?
