Boos greeted the final whistle as England blew their chance to qualify for the World Cup knockout phase with a match to spare in a turgid 0-0 draw with the United States. Monday's 6-2 thumping of Iran represented their best start to a major tournament, but Friday's loose and lacklustre performance brought Gareth Southgate's side back down to earth.
The US maintained their unbeaten record against England on the world stage and went close to winning Friday's Group B clash in Al Khor, where Christian Pulisic rattled the crossbar in an ultimately scoreless encounter. Progress to the last 16 remains in England's hands, but this match is a wake-up call that increases the pressure heading into Tuesday's eagerly-anticipated clash with neighbours Wales.
Southgate publicly warned his side to up their game in the immediate afterglow of the Iran thrashing but did not get the desired response from his unchanged team. The US should have punished a passive first-half performance at the imposing Al Bayt Stadium, where Pulisic hit the bar with a wicked strike as Gregg Berhalter's Americans played at full throttle.
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Flat, uninspired England created little across the 90 minutes.
Harry Kane, available after an injury scare, saw an early shot blocked and sent a stoppage-time header wide as Southgate's men floundered under the Friday night lights.
Kane admitted England were far from their best, but told ITV: "We had some good spells with the ball, created some good positions, just didn't quite have the final product today, but a clean sheet puts us in a great position in the group.
"(It was) the complete contrast to the game against Iran when we took our chances really well. Today we had two or three opportunities and didn't quite put it away. We played a tough team and we move on. We know we can play better than that for sure. No game is easy in a World Cup. After our first performance people thought we were going to landslide every team we play but it's not the case."
England player ratings
Mark Mann-Bryans, PA, Al Khor
JORDAN PICKFORD 6
Beaten by a Christian Pulisic strike that cannoned off the crossbar but rarely worked beside that moment
KIERAN TRIPPIER 5
Scrappy and loose in possession, given Gareth Southgate's options at right-back, his place in the side could come under threat
JOHN STONES 6
Did not take enough chances to bring the ball out from the back but was largely solid defensively
HARRY MAGUIRE 7
A decent display to mark his 50th cap, the Manchester United skipper made some crucial clearances when the United States were on top.
LUKE SHAW 6
Not as marauding as in the opening match but not found wanting at the back
DECLAN RICE 6
A shield in front of the back four and did his defensive duties well without really being able to charge forward enough
JUDE BELLINGHAM 5
Clearly highlighted as the dangerman by the US, who did a great job of stagnating his influence on proceedings
MASON MOUNT 5
Always trusted by Southgate but was poor in possession. Did test Matt Turner with England's only shot on target in the first half, though
BUKAYO SAKA 5
After his brace against Iran there were big expectations of the Arsenal forward but, like his team-mates, he failed to repeat those highs
RAHEEM STERLING 5
Nothing like the impact he had in the win over Iran despite a couple of flashes
HARRY KANE 5
Fit to captain the side but forced to drop so deep to be in the game his goal threat diminished as the clock ticked by
SUBSTITUTES
JACK GREALISH 5
(for Sterling, 68): A couple of bursts of excitement and energy but not enough to drag England to victory
JORDAN HENDERSON 5
(for Bellingham, 68): An experienced head brought on by Southgate but not a very dynamic change
MARCUS RASHFORD 5
(for Saka, 77): Scored just 25 seconds after coming on against Iran but no similar introduction here.
How they lined up
England: Pickford, Trippier, Stones, Maguire, Shaw Bellingham (Henderson 69), Rice, Saka (Rashford 78), Mount Sterling (Grealish 68), Kane.
Subs Not Used: Walker, Pope, Phillips, Dier, Coady, Alexander-Arnold, Foden, White, Ramsdale, Wilson, Gallagher.
USA: Turner, Dest (Moore 78), Zimmerman, Ream, Robinson, McKennie (Aaronson 77), Adams, Musah, Pulisic, Weah (Reyna 83) Wright (Sargent 83).
Subs Not Used: Ferreira,Horvath,de la Torre,Long,Morris,Roldan Carter-Vickers,Yedlin,Acosta,Johnson,Scally.,
Att: 68,463
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