Array
After a brief interruption in programming Tuesday, the U.S. soccer team will return to its familiar role on the world stage when it plays England on Friday in Al Khor, Qatar: As massive underdogs in the World Cup.
Maybe this is a good thing for the Americans, who are coming off an unfulfilling 1-1 draw with Wales on Monday in the first of its three Group B matches, taking just one point instead of three.
Though the U.S., ranked 16th in the world, was hardly a heavy favorite against 19th-ranked Wales, it didn’t handle prosperity well after playing a strong first half. The Americans built a 1-0 lead before looking like the less-fit team in the final 45 minutes.
The U.S. was outmaneuvered by Wales in the second half, playing to protect the lead instead of maintaining its more aggressive approach from the first half, and Wales had the Americans on the back foot for the remainder of the match. If we’re being honest, the U.S. was fortunate it didn’t lose the match.
The draw with Wales left the Americans in a precarious position, needing a win over either England or Iran to virtually guarantee advancing into the knockout stage. At least four points is essential to advance.
England, ranked fifth in the world, crushed Iran 6-2 in its opening Group B match and looked dominant in the process.
“They’re probably one of the favorites to win the World Cup,” U.S. captain Tyler Adams said. “We know we’re probably underdogs.”
Adams can take the “probably’’ out of both of those sentences.
That’s OK, though, because there’s a youthful brashness to the U.S. team, which is the second-youngest team at this World Cup and seems to embrace the underdog role.
