USA vs Wales: Crunch clash in store for two ambitious teams
A crunch clash is in store as the USMNT and Wales prepare to lock horns on Monday in their group stage opener for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Both teams are back on the world’s biggest stage after an absence, albeit Wales’s far exceeds the four experienced by the USMNT.
Indeed, while the Stars and Stripes surprisingly failed to make the cut back in 2018, Wales have not featured at a World Cup since 1958, well before any of the players, the manager, and many fans were even born. However, the Dragons, who made it to the semi-finals at their first ever EURO appearance back in 2016, have high hopes of putting on a good show in Qatar. Spearheaded by Gareth Bale, who will be looking forward to this tournament as it appears to be his only chance to play at a World Cup, Wales will aim to not just get out of their group, but progress as far as possible.
Both Wales and the USMNT have struggled over the past year for results
The Dragons did not have an impressive Nations League campaign, with just one point earned from their matches that saw them relegated to League B. By contrast, their performance in World Cup qualifiers was quite solid, where despite losing to Belgium in their first match, Wales went on to go on a seven match unbeaten streak to qualify for the play-offs, where Bale first scored twice against Austria before being involved in the own goal to dispatch Ukraine and book their spot in Qatar.
Meanwhile, the USMNT will be looking to make amends after their embarrassing failure to qualify for the 2018 edition. The Stars and Stripes did recently win the 2021 Gold Cup by beating Mexico 1-0 in the final, but have not impressed in the build-up to this competition. Namely, a 2-0 loss to Japan followed by a surprise scoreless stalemate against Saudi Arabia has some concerned about the team’s abilities ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
In addition, the USMNT has struggled against European teams, with zero wins from their previous nine attempts. However, they are unbeaten so far against Wales, with one draw and one victory from their two prior meetings (albeit those were friendlies). In any case, Group B features two European teams – Wales as well as England – so naturally, that will be something the Yanks will need to overcome if they hope to get out of their group. To date, they have qualified for the knockout rounds in four of their last seven World Cups, but clean sheets have been hard to come by, with just two shutouts recorded in their last 27 World Cup games.
Berhalter to make history in a game that could prove decisive for both the USMNT and Wales
Berhalter will be making history on Monday as the first American to both play and manage at a World Cup, having been part of the USMNT’s squad during the 2002 edition of this competition. There have been some questions about his squad selection, with players like Manchester City’s Zack Steffen snubbed after a disappointing campaign with the Premier League giants, while Colorado Rapids’ Gyasi Zardes failed to make the cut, despite having earned nearly 70 caps for his national side. Still, with the USMNT not being in the best form coming into this competition – with even qualifiers having their fair share of struggles – Berhalter clearly has decided that the 26-man squad who have arrived in Qatar represent the team’s strongest personnel to take on the challenge ahead.
With both teams knowing that England are the heavy favorites to win Group B, this game could prove to be the deciding factor as to who finishes as runners-up and who has an early flight out of Qatar. The USMNT boasts young stars like Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, and Tyler Adams in their ranks, as well as Timothy Weah, son of AC Milan and Liberian footballing legend George Weah, who is now his country’s president. Meanwhile, Wales, which were described as a “Premier League” team by Berhalter ahead of this game have quite a few players who were part of the EURO 2016 run and will be confident in their team’s chances at not just getting out of the group, but possibly making it out of the round of 16 and perhaps beyond.
Given that England are expected to pick up three points against Iran without much fuss, the onus will be on Wales and the USMNT to try to keep pace. Will either come out on top? Or will they end up cancelling each other out in a stalemate?
