England continued their World Cup campaign last night with a 0-0 draw against the USA in what was one of the worst games of football I’ve sat through this season.
It was so bad that it has taken me this long just to get the energy to write about it. It actually cured my insomnia.
Gareth Southgate reverted back to his negative style of playing with Kieran Trippier forced to play more backward passes in one game than he has done all season for Newcastle. Harry Kane played more like a sweeper than a forward, in fact, if he was any deeper he’d have to be wearing a nice pair of Sondico gloves.
Even as it was obvious to all who were still watching that Wilson, or indeed anyone else, would have been a better attacking option as we struggled to break through the American dee-fence. Foden and Wilson remained on the bench in a game that they could have easily influenced. Foden is one of the best midfielders in the world and he didn’t even get a sniff. Meanwhile, Wilson would have made runs through the defence that would have pulled players out of position.
Do You Hope This Is Southgate's Last Tournament?
YES!
There's nobody better.
Instead, Southgate stuck with Kane swanning about on the halfway line winning balls, and passing to midfielders who then had nobody to aim for as Kane was still on halfway.
England are still in the driving seat to qualify from the group, but if Southgate continues to play that negative football, we’re not going to get beyond the next round. That’s if we don’t get stuffed by Wales who I guarantee will be much more up for the game than us.
Meanwhile, Garang Kuol’s Australia got three points in the day’s first game, but the soon-to-be Geordie didn’t get off the bench this time. That seems to be the story for all of Newcastle’s players at the World Cup with Wilson, Schar and Guimaraes all seeing out their last games from the bench without getting a kick.