England failed to confirm their place in the knockout stages of the World Cup just yet after a dismal display during their 0-0 draw with the USA.
Gareth Southgate deployed the exact same starting eleven that made light work of Iran on Monday afternoon but would have been well aware this was going to pose a far sterner test. The best chance of the opening 30 minutes actually fell to the USA, but Weston McKennie could only fire over Jordan Pickford's crossbar.
England struggled to really find their rythm for the opening half an hour or so as they struggled to press successfully as a unit. Chelsea star Christian Pulisic rattled the frame of the goal 32 minutes in, with Pickford beaten.
More USA dominance duly followed well into the second-half as England tried to forge something while also having their backs up against the wall defensively.
The Three Lions spent large periods after the interval struggling to get out of their own half, pegged back by a USA side who simply refused to tire despite the sweltering Qatar heat.
Mirror Football has analysed six of the game's main talking points as Southgate's men failed to secure their place in the knockout stages.
USA's impressive midfield battle
Berhalter would have certainly been the happier of the two men in the touchline for the majority of the tie and a large factor as to why would have surely been the way his side won the midfield battle.
Leeds United star Tyler Adams was partnered with Yunus Musah in the middle of the park and told to nullify the threat posed by England’s technicians Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice.
It was a plan that the USA executed to perfection for lengthy periods of the game, with the Three Lions unable to forge any clear pathways to their front-line, which in turn forced Harry Kane to drop deeper than even he’d have liked at times.
There were countless times in both halves where Rice would gain possession, only to throw his arms in the air in frustration while still on the ball because every white shirt was blocked by a blue one.
Bellingham was withdrawn with 20 minutes to go, such was his anonymous performance.
Kane starts but struggles for service
While the idea of Southgate naming his captain in the starting eleven wouldn't normally be a surprise, fears were mouting in the days leading up to the game over whether Harry Kane would be fit enough to play.
The entire nation let out a collective sigh of relief after reading his name in the line-up and in truth Kane was one of England's brightest performers in what was for large spells an underwhelming display as a collective.
Lee Dixon described the Tottenham talisman as a 'proper centre-forward' mid-way through the first-half and whenever he was given the chance, he performed as such with some stellar hold-up play.
Perhaps infuriated with the lack of service he was receiving, Kane ended so far in his own half he actually ended up contributing some impressive examples of defensive work.
Remarkbly, by the 70th minute Kane had actually touched the ball more times inside the England area than the USA's.
Monday’s stars fail to shine
The likes of Raheem Sterling, Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham were all on the scoresheet and playing with a glorious care-free swagger on Monday, but by the end of the week all three looked to have all their momentum drained of them.
Sterling failed to lay a glove on the USA’s back-four, while Bellingham was doubled up on seemingly every time he picked up the ball and as a result his creativity was hindered.
Both Sterling and Bellingham were withdrawn around the 70th minute, while Saka was fortunate to last as long as he did before he too was replaced around seven minutes later by another one of Monday’s goal-scorers in Marcus Rashford.
Southgate’s bold tactical call
For the first time since the last World Cup in Russia four years ago, Southgate opted to name an unchanged side after such an impressive victory on match-day one.
Harry Maguire recovered from illness to take his regular spot in the Three Lions back-line and showcased some of the line-breaking passes that have made him so invaluable to this England outfit over recent years.
Tasked with dealing with the USA’s impressive athleticism and tendency to heavily use the flanks, Southgate’s favoured 4-2-3-1 formation didn't exactly nulify Gregg Berhalter’s system with the Americans the superior of the two teams in the first half.
Out of possession, the USA shut up shop and asked England to break down what was effectively two banks of five but the fluidity of England’s front-line meant Southgate’s men were able to create some chances, though many they failed to take.
Henderson makes history
The Liverpool captain may have been a questionable substitution in the eyes of some considering he is hardly a creative hub, but his introduction off the bench actually made history.
Henderson is now the just the fourth England international to feature for the Three Lions at six major tournaments, dating back to his place in the squad for Euro 2012 a decade ago.
He is in esteemed company, alongside Steven Gerrard, Sol Campbell and Wayne Rooney.
The Reds legend struggled to make any kind of meaningful impact on proceedings.
What the result means
The surprising result means England will now have to beat Wales to book their place in the last 16 and seal their status as group winners.
From a USA perspective, it places huge onus on their clash with Iran on Tuesday, especially after their shock 2-0 win over Wales earlier on Friday morning.
Group B now sees England sit top on four points, Iran in second on three, with USA in third with two points on the board while Wales have just one.
All four teams in the group can still progress to the knockout stage as things stand.
