For the United States, which faces Iran on Tuesday in the 2022 World Cup, it’s a no-brainer. Win or go home.
Three of the four Group B teams (USA, England and Iran) have qualified for two rounds of 16. The scenario is simple.
Iran or US victory goes through either. Whether England win or draw, the Three Lions will advance to the knockout stage. The Americans can win the group if they beat Wales and lose to England, or if England draw by at least four goals and beat the United States.
But we’re not looking at the scoreboard here. Matches are played simultaneously.
Here are the biggest moments and top plays on the final day of play for Group B:
Latter half
58 minutes: Pulisic was unable to continue playing after clashing with the Iranian keeper and was substituted in the first half with what Burhalter called an “abdominal” injury. Leeds United playmaker Brenden Aaronson took his place.
The first few minutes of this second half were in stark contrast to what unfolded in the opening 45. Very open, very end-to-end, both sides had chances and Iran scored the first shot.
Halftime: Iran 0, USA 1
In the first half, Pulisic’s goal gave the USA a 1-0 lead. The Chelsea attacker returned to the pitch after a few minutes of treatment, but his movement looked to be a struggle.
And as it stands, the USA are set to advance to the Round of 16 and face Group A winners the Netherlands. Of course, that depends on whether the Americans can maintain this lead. If Iran can keep the balance, we will be back to square one.
Throughout the first half, the United States held more of the ball and took more chances. Not only have they been a good team in the attacking third, they haven’t allowed a single shot. Their lead is deserved.
And maybe the last few minutes of the first half provided a glimpse of what could happen in the next 45 minutes. Iran needed an equalizer to break out of this group and needed to be more adventurous to advance their players, and to Tim Weah he presented two particularly tasty counter-attacking opportunities. However In fact, the second shot eventually went deep into the net, but the Lille forward was ruled slightly offside.
first half
U.S. strikes first
PULISIC puts USMNT on top πΊπΈπΊπΈπΊπΈ@USMNT pic.twitter.com/nkcQ5DDU0i
β FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 29, 2022
Christian Pulisic!!!!!!!!!!!!
β United States Men’s National Soccer Team (@USMNT) November 29, 2022
Christian Pulisic!!!
β New York Jets (@nyjets) November 29, 2022
Let’s go!!!! πΊπΈπΊπΈπΊπΈ
β Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) November 29, 2022
America’s goal! And in keeping with his theme for the first 40 or so minutes of this first half, Dest headed the ball across his six-yard box and Christian Pulisic tapped home.
However, it comes at a price. Pulisic was receiving treatment on the ground for several minutes after a violent clash with Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand.
28 minutes: Dest and Robinson have featured prominently in the Americans’ offense so far, and opportunities stack up. But their willingness to move forward has given Iran an invitation to invade the space left behind by its defenders. That said, it’s the U.S. that’s firmly in control of her first half hour, but, importantly, there’s nothing to indicate it.
18 minutes: The US has begun poking and ramming Iran’s defenses, looking for vulnerabilities that appear to be widespread. Full-backs Anthony Robinson and Sergino Dest each scored dangerous crosses and Cristian Pulisic threw in his 0.09 xG header, but still no breakthrough.
9 minutes: This game start time is the normal feel out process, but so intense that the game appears to be playing at 1.5x speed. The Americans have an almost 2-1 advantage in possession, which isn’t surprising, as both teams are full of direct, purposeful runs.
The tension is reflected in the stands. Noise is stable for now.
Pre-match breakdown
Leaving aside the off-field controversy that has steadily built up between these two teams throughout this tournament. The stakes in this game β win, you are β create a lot of drama for themselves as you exit the tunnels of Al Thumama Stadium.
It’s not surprising and it’s mind-boggling at the same time, so let’s start with the selection.
Josh Sargent returned to the starting line-up after 81 minutes of little effect against Wales and England. The top change was not unexpected, as Hajiwright had even less of an impact when he started the threes in his game against the Lions, but Greg his Barhalter coach has consistently made Jesus his Going back to Sargent, who had chosen Ferreira, is a disturbing choice.
The most jarring decision comes in the rear where Cameron Carter-Vickers sacrifices Walker Zimmerman to enter the center of the defense alongside Tim Ream. Zimmermann conceded a penalty for Gareth Bale to give Wales a draw, but apart from that, the two-time MLS Defender of the Year was very solid in the backline and it was definitely this Qatar The team’s bright spot in the . Carter said that Vickers and Reem have never played together, and the Celtic centre-back has only appeared in his USMNT three times in 2022. match, friendly match against Morocco).
Oh, and the crowd inside the Al Thumama Stadium is clearly pro-Iran, at least based on the noise the team makes when they take to the pitch for a warm-up.
Americans have no room for error. Has Berhalter already destroyed Zimmerman and he created one?
lineup
Youngest to start XI # Qatar 2022 ever. πΊπΈ
Full lineup note Β» https://t.co/QTnkPEKnw2 #USMNT X @visa pic.twitter.com/TaaG7eI52N
β United States Men’s National Soccer Team (@USMNT) November 29, 2022
π has team news #IRN When #united states of america#FIFA World Cup | | # Qatar 2022
β FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 29, 2022
presidential endorsement
πΊπΈπΊπΈπΊπΈπΊπΈπΊπΈ https://t.co/cAVGtnuJ90
β United States Men’s National Soccer Team (@USMNT) November 29, 2022
A fan appears
.@Ted Lasso that you? pic.twitter.com/sUQ83hlVxa
β US Soccer (@ussoccer) November 29, 2022
growing controversy
After US Soccer Federation social media accounts briefly displayed the Iranian flag without the Islamic Republic crest, the Iranian government accused US Soccer of removing the name of God from its flag, and the Iranian Football Federation denounced their country. said they would file a complaint. with FIFA. Iran has also threatened legal action, according to an Associated Press report.
In a statement Sunday morning, the USSF said it had decided to abandon its official flags on its social media accounts to show “support for Iranian women fighting for their fundamental human rights.”
The post was eventually removed and the flag emblem restored. A US spokesperson said the USSF is still supporting Iranian protesters, while US advocate Walker Zimmerman said the team focused on Tuesday but supported women’s rights. He emphasized that he continued
“I think it’s a group that’s very focused on the issue at hand, but at the same time we’re empathetic, and we firmly believe in and support women’s rights,” Zimmermann said.