Ahead of their match with Iran, Sam updates with the latest from the USMNT camp. There is a time and a place for it.
The US will play Iran in the World Cup in 2022. Either you win or savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay
The US, England and Iran are still in the running for two spots in the knockout stage. There are no complicated scenarios.
Either Iran or the US wins. The Three Lions need to win or draw to make the knockout stage. The US can still win the group with a victory and an England loss to Wales.
There's no watching the score here. At the same time, the matches happen.
The final day of Group B play featured some of the biggest plays.
The US leads by one at the half. The attacker returned to the field after receiving treatment, but his movements looked labored.
The USA are on the verge of making the round of 16 and will face the Netherlands. The Americans need to hold on to this lead. The US will be back to square one if Iran can find an equal.
The US had more of the ball and had more chances. They've been the better team in the attacking third and haven't conceded a shot. They deserved their lead.
The final minutes of the first half may have shown a glimpse of what's to come. With Iran needing that equalizer to make it out of this group, they have had to be more adventurous in committing players forward, presenting Tim Weah with a pair of particularly tasty counterattacking opportunities that just didn't come off.
PULISIC PUTS THE USMNT ON TOP πΊπΈπΊπΈπΊπΈ@USMNT pic.twitter.com/nkcQ5DDU0i
β FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 29, 2022
CHRISTIAN PULISIC!!!!!!!!!!!
β U.S. 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
There is a goal for the United States of America. In keeping with the theme of the first 40 or so minutes of this first half, it came from Dest heading a ball across the 6 yard box for Christian Pulisic to tap home.
It has taken a toll. After he collided with Iran's Alireza Beiranvand, Pulisic was on the ground receiving treatment for several minutes.
Dest and Robinson have been prominently featured in the Americans' attack so far. Iran was invited to break into space left behind by the defenders because they were willing to move forward. The US is in complete control through the first half-hour.
The US is poking and prodding the Iranian defense, looking for vulnerabilities, and those vulnerabilities appear to be in wide areas. Even if the Americans' knock on the door is getting more assertive, there has been no breakthrough yet.
The game looks like it's being played at 1.5x speed, even though the opening minutes have been the usual feeling out process. The Americans have a 2-to-1 advantage in possession and both teams have been running.
The stands reflect that tension. So far, the noise has not changed.
There have been a lot of off-the-field issues between these two teams. For a US team that can't even afford a draw in this game, the mountain they have to climb may be looking more steep as they walk out of the tunnel.
The selection is unsurprising and also head-scratching. The starting XI for the US has not changed since the first two games.
Josh Sargent is back in the starting lineup after playing 81 minutes in the games against Wales and England. Haji Wright didn't make much of a difference in his start against the Three Lions so a change up top wasn't surprising.
The most shocking decision was at the back, where Carter-Vickers was put into the center of the defense at the expense of Walker. The Americans were held to a draw by Wales in their opening game of the tournament, but apart from that, the two-time MLS defender of the year has been very solid in the back line. Carter-Vickers and Ream have never played together and Ream has only appeared for the USMNT three times.
The noise made when the teams took to the pitch for warm ups is what makes the crowd pro-Iran.
The Americans don't have room for error. Is Berhalter making one in the process of throwing it away?
The youngest starting XI at #Qatar2022 thus far. πΊπΈ
Full Lineup Notes Β» https://t.co/QTnkPEKnw2 #USMNT x @Visa pic.twitter.com/TaaG7eI52N
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