In order to upset England, the USMNT needs to be full strength, all hands-on deck, and in mid-season form. Unfortunately, that is not the case, as a few of the USA stars are not fully recovered from recent injuries and thus, not completely 100% match fit.
In other words, we might not actually see what this young nucleus, this potential emerging golden generation, can honestly do, together and firing on all cylinders, at a World Cup until 2026. It’s the brutal truth.
World Cup Group Stage FYIs
Yes, the national teams from two of the biggest empires that world history has ever known meet in a 2022 FIFA World Cup Group B clash.
Kickoff: 1pm CST, Mon. Nov 25
Transatlantic Passage: How the Premier League Redefined Soccer in America: LINK
After Extra Time Podcast: Spotify Apple
Starting XI Predictions: England USMNT
Current FIFA world ranking: England 5 USMNT 16
Group B Standings England 1st, 3 pts USMNT 2nd, 1 pt
World Cup titles: England 1 USMNT 0
World Cup Highest Finish: England 1st, 1966 USMNT 3rd, 1930
Previous World Cup appearances: England 15 USMNT 9
Both Yunus Musah and Weston McKennie could miss out against England, and if that is indeed the case, then Kellyn Acosta and Leeds United’s Brenden Aaronson could come into the team.
If stellar defender Sergino Dest isn’t fit to feature, he could be replaced by former Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United defender DeAndre Yedlin, the only player on the USA squad not making his World Cup debut. And lord only knows if Gio Reyna is actually fit or not.
USMNT Starting XI Prediction vs England (World Cup Group B)
Turner; Dest, Robinson, Zimmerman, Ream; Acosta, Adams, Aaronson; Pulisic, Weah, Sargent
Prediction: England 2, USMNT 0
Yorktown 1781. New Orleans 1815. Al Bayt Stadium 2022. Actually, scratch that last one. It looks like this time the Mother Country will triumph over their former colonies. Unlike in the Revolutionary War or the War of 1812 (a.k.a. as the two wars for independence), the Britons will triumph.
Paul M. Banks is the Owner/Manager of The Sports Bank and author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” as well as “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He has regularly contributed to WGN News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune, and he co-hosts the After Extra Time podcast. Follow him and the website on Twitter and Instagram.