Second goal for Iran. They out played Wales all game, but Wales goal keeper getting a red card at about 86 minute mark really killed them.
Unlikely to win today so might as well rest the starters to have them fresh for a must win Tuesday.My take now is that there's no way we can get by with a loss to Iran. They would finish with 6 points, definitely advancing. If we'd beat England we'd be at 4 points, but England would only need to draw Wales to tie us on points - and they have that +4 goal differential in hand already.
So here are are our paths:
1. Win today, win or draw over Iran
2. Draw today, win over Iran
3. Lose by 1 today, win over Iran
4. Lose by 2 today, win big over Iran or win and get help from England
The first two are mathematical certainties, the last 2 just my takes. In situation 3 we'd finish with 4 points and a 0 or better goal differential - Wales would have to beat England by 2+ to catch up on goal differential. Of course that could still happen but I see it as unlikely since England would go into that last game knowing a draw clinches first in the group.
First things first - let's go all 1776 on England today!
Unlikely to win today so might as well rest the starters to have them fresh for a must win Tuesday.
The whole point is they don’t need a result. They have to beat Iran on Tuesday. Any player on a yellow card should have been dropped along with any with even the slightest knock. USA could win this game and still be eliminated on Tuesday. They cannot advance or be eliminated today.No, just no. I get being realistic about the U.S.'s chances but that's a bit of a defeatist attitude to take with this match. U.S. absolutely have to get a result on this match. No point in resting any of the main starters unless they are injured.
The whole point is they don’t need a result. They have to beat Iran on Tuesday. Any player on a yellow card should have been dropped along with any with even the slightest knock. USA could win this game and still be eliminated on Tuesday. They cannot advance or be eliminated today.
They have a MUCH better chance of advancing if they get a result today. If they win today, they would go through with at least a draw on Tuesday or a loss and an (unlikely) England loss to Wales. If the U.S. draw with England, they have to defeat Iran on Tuesday no matter what. If the U.S lose, they would have to defeat Iran and hope Wales gets a draw or worse vs. England. If Wales were to somehow win vs England, then 2nd place in the group would be decided by goal difference.
U.S.-England tied at 0:0 at half.
England controlled possession for most of the 1st half but Americans had the better quality chances with Pulisic having one shot go off the crossbar and another header hit wide.
The referee today was at least better than the one on Monday, no? He at least was a bit more lenient to let stuff go it seemed.