USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter has revealed that Gareth Southgate has started to ignore his text messages ahead of their World Cup clash with England taking place on Friday.
The Three Lions take on the USMNT in their second clash of Group B, with the knowledge that victory could be enough to secure qualification, and even top spot depending on how things play out between Iran and Wales. The USMNT remain full of confidence despite being clear underdogs, and Berhalter has attempted to message the England boss ahead of the game.
Berhalter holds a friendly relationship with the England boss as the USMNT head coach once spent a season at Southgate's beloved Crystal Palace back in 2001. Although they weren't in the same side they've developed a friendship, but Southgate has put personal feelings to one side as he focuses on the job in hand.
The USMNT head coach revealed the news in their pre-match press conference, joking that Southgate had not replied on WhatsApp in the build-up to the game. "I've been WhatsApp-ing him but I haven't seen the blue checkmark, so I don't know what's going on," he said.
"We kind of took a hiatus. We'll pick up our relationship after tomorrow." Although England are heavy favourites to win Friday's clash, Southgate is taking things very seriously, as he should.
England have never beaten the USMNT in a World Cup, losing 1-0 in 1950, and then settling for a 1-1 draw in 2010. England finished second in their group behind the USMNT back in 2010, and then were knocked out by Germany in the round of 16 after they lost 4-1.
Although their previous meetings are separated by 60 years, the mental edge is with the USMNT, and they'll be eager to keep up their record. And they're also set to enter Giovanni Reyna into the mix, after the Borussia Dortmund star was an unused substitute in their 1-1 draw against Wales.
England on the other hand are in fine form after winning their opening clash 6-2 against Iran, and Southgate is expected to name an unchanged side on Friday. A win for England would surely be enough to see them progress, but they'll know where they stand ahead of time.
With their meeting with the USMNT the late kick-off on Friday, they'll already know the result between Wales and Iran. But with England the only side in Group B to have a win so far, the odds are stacked firmly in their favour.
The USMNT caused problems against Wales, but it was their lack of killer instinct in front of goal that allowed their opponents to remain in the game. A late penalty from Gareth Bale meant that the points were shared, much to their disappointment.
England on the other hand put six past Iran, as five players got on the scoresheet - with Bukayo Saka netting a brace. But the USMNT are likely to pose more of an attacking threat than Iran, and the two goals they conceded will worry Southgate.
