A win over Wales, and a simplified path to the knockout rounds, was there for the taking, but the U.S. let it slip. Will it derail their World Cup?
— It was there for the United States men’s national team. It was there through the first half. It was there early in the second half. It was there with half an hour to go. It was there with 15 minutes left. It was there.
Everything the U.S. wanted to do against Wales had worked. All the work they had done to break down the Welsh block, all the effort they’d put into containing Gareth Bale and the Wales attack — all of it had had set things up perfectly. The scenario was what they’d craved: three points here, get through the England game and a good performance against Iran sends you into the knockout round.
It was all right there for the U.S. Until, suddenly, it wasn’t.
– World Cup 2022: News and features | Schedule | Squads
To be clear: USA 1, Wales 1 is no disaster. No tragedy. As Tim Weah rightly said, „In a World Cup, the most important thing is that we didn’t lose.“ But what happened to the U.S. on Monday night brought to mind that old Mike Tyson line, the one he famously said in response to a question about whether he was worried about the plan Evander Holyfield might have for him in their upcoming boxing match.
„Everyone has a plan,“ Tyson said, „until they get punched in the mouth.“
So consider the U.S. punched.
Their plans, and those of the most optimistic U.S. fans, absolutely took a hit Monday. It will almost surely take four points to get out of Group B, and barring a surprise win over England, the U.
