Wales & England

WALES

I have to admit when I saw the starting XI an hour before the match, I was very pleased.  I think it was only the second time in a match that really mattered where Gregg Berhalter (GGG) put out what I would consider his best available lineup.  Not only that, but he got the tactics spot on in the first half.  We were clearly the better side, had 66% of the possession, a goal and probably should have bagged another.

Then halftime happened and Wales changed tactics.  They came out of their defensive shell, started playing direct to freshly substituted striker Kieffer Moore (6’5) and pressed the hell out of us.  For some reason our players could not adjust to this and the match started to get away from us.

There are a few reasons for this.  I think the main one is that several of our key players started to run out of gas.  For some reason GGG was extremely slow to recognize this and make substitutions.  Also, any manager worth their salt would have expected the Welsh to make some kind of change after the break.  Not knowing exactly what it would be is understandable, but once he saw it Berhalter really didn’t change up his tactics at all.  Instead, he froze like a deer in headlights.

I said to the people sitting at my table that I would have subbed Weston McKennie out at halftime.  I give him credit for trying to battle through his injury, but he clearly didn’t have it, both mentally and physically.  GGG did finally bring on Brenden Aaronson for Wes at 66, but that was only after McKennie plainly couldn’t move anymore.

As happy as I was about Berhalter’s starting lineup, I was equally as upset with his subs.  Beside waiting far too long on Wes, he also waited too long on the others and used three players I would not have.  GGG waited until 74-75 and 88.  I would have made all four other changes at 60 since it was obvious by then that we were losing control of the match.  Haji Wright for Josh Sargent he got correct, but DeAndre Yedlin for Sergiño Dest, Kellyn Acosta for Yunus Musah and Jordan Morris for Tim Weah he got all wrong.

As I said in my preview, I’d have switched Dest for Joe Scally, Musah for Luca de la Torre and Weah for Gio Reyna.  Now de la Torre might not be fit, but according to a US Soccer spokesperson ALL players were ready and available. 

Which makes the case of Gio even more confounding.  As in how could arguably our most dangerous attacker not get any time in a match where we desperately needed a late goal?  He played McKennie on one leg for over an hour, but couldn’t give Reyna 13 minutes?  Makes no sense and is borderline unforgivable.

Reading the quotes after the match didn’t clear much up.  Other than Berhalter was being disingenuous regarding a player’s status once again.  This has been a common theme during his tenure when trying to gloss over inexplicable roster decisions. 

GGG said, “It was trying to get him [Reyna] up to speed.  There was some tightness we were guarding against.  But we've been building him up and think he can play a big role in this tournament.  The question is when.  Hopefully Friday, he'll be another step ahead.”

Then Gio completely undermined what his manager said.  “No, I feel great.  I feel really good.  I feel ready to go.  I felt good, I felt ready to go but it was just his [Berhalter] decision.  He doesn't have to tell me why he didn't put me in or why he does.  But I'm 100 percent. I'm good to go.”

The only other thing I want to say about the match in general is the referee was awful.  When I saw the day before that Abdulrahman Al-Jassim and his crew were from the Qatari League, I knew we were in trouble.  Then combine that with him having a track record of being very card happy in that league, and let’s just say he lived up to his reputation.

Overall, this performance was that of a young side in their first high-pressure match.  We came out like a house on fire and couldn’t maintain it.  A few players lost their focus for a second on the goal.  Our manager flashed his lack of big-time experience.  Add it all up and it cost us two points at the end of the day.

PLAYERS

Matt Turner – Lost his mind very late in the match coming WAY off his line and was a little shaky on some crosses in his area.  Other than that, he made the big save when he had to and even got a hand to the penalty kick.

Jedi Robinson – Played his normal game using his speed to get forward and track back.  His crossing was inconsistent as usual and he was guilty of switching off on the throw-in that led to the goal.

Tim Ream – One of our best players and didn’t put a foot wrong all match.  He took a smart tactical yellow early in the second half stopping a counterattack.  Hopefully he doesn’t pick up another.

Walker Zimmerman – Cost us two points by committing an amateurish foul in the box on an attacker with his back to goal.  It’s a fundamental that is taught from the youth levels up.  Zimm said after the match, “On the way to step up to the ball, I don't see Bale come across.”  When you watch the replay you can see for yourself Walker saw Gareth the whole way.

Dest – Needed to come out 14 minutes sooner than he did since he was noticeably out of gas.  Besides that, I thought he played his normal game going forward while losing track of his defensive assignments.  Took one shot from long distance where he should have passed and his yellow wasn’t warranted. 

Musah – Also played his normal game which includes cramping up late on.  I watch almost all of his minutes at Valencia and I’ve literally never seen another footballer who cramps up as regularly as he does.  We are going to need him fully fit for Friday.

Adams – Easily our best player on the day.  He’s in the form of his life at Leeds right now and thankfully that carried over to the World Cup.

McKennie – Far too many sloppy giveaways all over the pitch.  Also didn’t have his normal bite and hustle.  I didn’t think his yellow was deserved either.  He’s apparently fit, but I’m not sure how he can play against England with only three full days to recover.

Christian Pulisic – Produced a moment of magic with his inch-perfect assist.  Other than that, his performance was decidedly mixed.  His set piece delivery was consistently terrible and he drifted into “hero ball” late holding the ball when he should have passed it.  In fairness, Wales beat him up pretty good as he was our most fouled player.

Sargent – Missed a snap-header by about 12 inches early on that would have gone in as you can see.  Had the “hockey assist” on the goal but wasn’t as impactful as I hoped he would be.  Overall, I thought he played well but I have a feeling GGG might not see it the same way.  If he doesn’t start Josh against the English Berhalter is asking to be fired.

Weah – Took his goal well and was dangerous all match making runs in behind the Welsh defense.  He is a locked in starter if healthy as I see it, both for scoring the goal and his contributions during Qualifying.  He is also the only player in American history to score at the U17, U20 and Senior World Cups.

Aaronson – Was his normal pesky/dangerous self after coming on, albeit too late.  I think he gets the nod in place of Wes on Friday.

Wright – Didn’t get much service overall, but had a nice header go wide immediately after coming on.  If Sargent doesn’t start Haji should be the man to replace him up top.

Yedlin – Had some chances to make things happen with crosses late but mishit all of them.  I know he has experience, but Scally is a better situational defender than DeAndre at this point in their respective careers.

Acosta – Took a match-saving tactical yellow at 90+10.  If doesn’t chop Gareth Bale down, Bale likely chips Turner from around midfield and we lose at the death.  Kellyn was also guilty falling asleep on the throw-in that led to Zimm’s penalty.

Morris – Shouldn’t even be on the roster.  Much less see the pitch.  Much less EVER play over Reyna.  This was a big-time head scratcher and the main talking point after the match for many.

ENGLAND

Coming into Friday’s match we are pissed off that we threw away two points.  Compared to the Three Lions who rolled Iran 6-2 and are feeling contented and good about where they stand.  Tactically this match will be far different than what Wales presented us.  For starters the English are not going to just sit back and play for a draw.  They are going to be on the front foot pressing and attacking us nonstop.  We are going to have defend for our lives and hope we can exploit England’s lack of pace on the backline with counterattacks.

With that as the backdrop here is the lineup I would use.  I’m saving McKennie, Dest and de la Torre for Iran.

  Pulisic Sargent Weah

Musah Adams Aaronson

 Jedi Ream Zimm Scally

             Turner

SUBS: Reyna, Wright, Acosta, Yedlin, Cameron Carter-Vickers

By drawing with Wales our chances of advancing to the knockout round dropped from 84% to 59%.  Another piece of bad news is that we currently lose the tie-breaker to Wales based on fair play (4 yellow cards to 2).  Some good news though is that we have advanced in all five World Cups where we avoided losing our opening match. 

If we manage that feat again it’s going to be an extreme sweat with lots of scoreboard watching.  Considering we will likely lose to England we have to play far more conservatively that we did versus Wales and try to limit the damage to our goal differential.  Assuming Wales beats Iran (2:00 AM Pacific on Black Friday) we will have to make up any goal differential and hope the English take care of business on 11/29.

There is also another nightmare scenario in which England has already clinched a spot in the knockout round and has nothing to play for on the final matchday.  They could trot out a lineup of mostly backups and play for a “gentlemen’s draw” with Wales eliminating us.  Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.