World Cup 2022 [GROUP B] England, Iran, USA, Wales

[Dragonite]

@Lorric ,

It's what I've said, he had more impressive matches after the World Cup, but it's not the same. Any World Cup match is much more important than any non-World Cup match.

There is a hierarchy, World Cup on top, followed by continental tournament, international club football after that (Beiranvand was AFC CL beaten finalist in 2018), and domestic club football at the bottom.

Why do you choose to focus on the least important layer and ignore the others?

Beiranvand was great at the highest level (World Cup), great at the second highest level (Asian Cup), great at the third highest level (AFC CL playing for Persepolis).

I suppose he should be great at the least important layer too, but what happens there is irrelevant.

[Lyonnais]

Does not look good for Iran.
Unless they change things in second half they are very likely to end with the worst goal difference against England, and hence will probably need 6 points to advance.

agreed. It's not impossible but they'll have a harder task.

Otherwise I have been unable to watch England but starting the competition with 6 goals is an excellent boost for self confidence (should England lack of it )

[bugylibicska]

Why would Iran need 6 points to advance when 4 most probably enough. I don't think either USA or Wales capable of beating England, so neither of them can reach 4 points.

[bugylibicska]

To win the group, to qualify:

England 1.17 1.02
USA 7.00 1.60
Wales 9.00 2.25
Iran 126.00 9.00

[LRansborg]

Why would Iran need 6 points to advance when 4 most probably enough. I don't think either USA or Wales capable of beating England, so neither of them can reach 4 points.

True, the draw late yesterday was a good outcome for Iran, now 4 points will be enough as long as England does not lose any of their matches.

[Dragonite]

Iran much better today than in the previous match against England, for a combination of three things:

Firstly, this time Iran played in a normal tactical display instead of the ultra-defensive tactic that they used against England

Secondly, this time goalkeeper Hossein Hosseini saved Wales' three shots on goal, while against England he was awful

And finally, Welsh players are much worse than English players.


I'm curious to see England vs USA later today, but first we have the two Group A matches.

[kenzel]

Iran vs USA will be the decisive game! Too much rating I see.

[bugylibicska]

Iran need a draw - unless Wales beat England - to advance. They beat the US in '98, why not again? England barking again "coming home", but were 2nd best against the US even Canada beat.

[Dragonite]

USA once again with just one shot on goal in 90 minutes. They can be eliminated like New Zealand in 2010, without losing a single match.

[bugylibicska]

To win the group, to qualify:

England 1.17 1.01
USA 5.50 2.00
Iran 19.00 1.73
Wales 751.00 15.00

Anybody can explain this? USA have much bigger chance to top the group, but less chance to advance than Iran?

[Lorric]

To win the group, to qualify:

England 1.17 1.01
USA 5.50 2.00
Iran 19.00 1.73
Wales 751.00 15.00

Anybody can explain this? USA have much bigger chance to top the group, but less chance to advance than Iran?

That seems super weird, especially when Iran can get over England with a win and an England draw, but US can't unless they destroy Iran.

[SimonB]

To win the group, to qualify:

England 1.17 1.01
USA 5.50 2.00
Iran 19.00 1.73
Wales 751.00 15.00

Anybody can explain this? USA have much bigger chance to top the group, but less chance to advance than Iran?

That seems super weird, especially when Iran can get over England with a win and an England draw, but US can't unless they destroy Iran.

Iran only need to draw the match to probably qualify whereas USA need to win to qualify. In order to win the group both probably need to win (certainly USA) and in the bookmakers opinion USA have a better win chance than Iran in this head to head.

[bugylibicska]

I hoped for different outcome, but predicted the right rankings. It was an easy group for England and from the 3 underdogs the US probably deserved it more than the other 2 to advance. So, England - Senegal and Netherlands - US.

[Dragonite]

Rashford was the man of the match according to goalpoint. He couldn't score a single goal in 13 matches in the previous three major tournaments (Euro 2016, 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020), but now he already has three, and is finally impressive at the highest levels.

Congratulations England!


They could have qualified even with a short defeat against Wales today, but instead of just doing the bare minimum, they did a lot more than that.

It's interesting that four years ago Kane scored half of England's goals, while this time he hasn't scored (yet).




Pulisic was the hero today, scoring the goal that qualified USA to the next stage and being the man of the match according to goalpoint.


Congratulations USA!


They're in the World Cup last 16 round for the fourth time this century (2002, 2010, 2014 and now 2022). There aren't that many teams that can say the same. Only Brazil (x6), Mexico (x5, possibly x6), England (x5), Germany, Spain and Argentina (all x4, possibly x5). Then Portugal, Netherlands and France did it as many times as USA, while Belgium, Japan, Switzerland and Uruguay all did it thrice in the previous five editions and can also do it for a fourth time now.

The shock of missing the 2018 World Cup was just an "exception" in a team that is consistently among the World's finest.