World Cup Agent Match Report: ‘Only a disaster can stop England qualifying’

Things can only get better from both an English and Welsh perspective in the final game of Group B this evening as the home nations line up against eachother at the Qatar World Cup.

England go into the game after a poor 0-0 draw with Iran but are guaranteed passage into the next round unless there is a dire result against Wales, which is on the hunt for a World Cup win.

Stuart Robinson, director of Zoom Estate Agents, files his latest World Cup Match Report below and looks ahead to this evening’s crunch match.

Going from a free scoring, highly entertaining attacking display to a laboured, dull performance against the USA, certainly hindered our momentum.

The evening kick-off on a Friday night, after a strong first game, England fans were up for it! Confidence seemed to be flowing through fans across the country. Unfortunately, that confidence didn’t seem to flow through to the England players at the Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor.

Only a calamitous collapse against Wales will derail our hopes of qualifying for the last 16, so whilst a point isn’t necessarily a bad point, the performance echoes concerns for our hopes later on in the tournament.
 

It was a performance perfectly summed up by many… ‘BORING!’ - and it was boring. England looked lethargic, leggy and flat throughout. Small glimpses, small openings but no real big chance, other than the Harry Kane free header in the dying embers of the game. 

The substitutions lacked ambition and didn’t have the impact Gareth Southgate was looking for. It was good to see Jack Grealish providing a positive spark off the bench, drawing fouls, running at players but at times, he looked like the only one interested in getting a goal.

You have to wonder though, why were James Maddison and Phil Foden left on the bench? 

Two of the most creative players in European football, let alone in England, left on the bench in a game that was calling out for a spark, a moment of magic. 

Maybe Maddison is still not 100% but some match fitness could’ve done him good. 

It’ll be very hard to rely on his creative input in the later rounds if he hasn’t got the required match fitness to meet the physical demands of knockout football, let alone in the heat Qatar presents.

You could argue that getting a point required a more disciplined midfield, but if you’re struggling to see out a draw against the USA, what’s the outcome going to be when you face France, Spain, Brazil?

That by no means is slandering the US. They were brilliant. Quick, attacking football, high pressing throughout, they created the games best chances. 

Weston McKennie missed a huge chance in the first half, a free volley from inside the box. A little more composure and he would’ve taken a touch and buried it, giving the US a deserved lead. Which leaves the US needing to beat Iran to progress to the next round.

England have never beaten the USA at a major tournament, so it may just be the case that they’re our bogey team. The USA looked sharper and hungrier for the result and rightfully so, they needed the points more than England. However, you would expect the team to show more of a fight and continue building momentum, a huge ally in tournament football.

As we look ahead to Tuesday evenings game against Wales, England need a performance, not a result. 

Yes, three points will see us top the group but England need to build momentum and dominate. 

It’s true that getting three points and perhaps not playing your best is a sign of a good team, but that can also be transmitted by a rampant, clinical attacking display. 

With five substitutes now available, you will have to wonder if Southgate will make some changes to the starting XI and with his substitutes, perhaps give a chance to those on the fringes, keeping them match fit should they be called to action.

All in all, a reality check and much needed humbling Friday evening for England players and fans alike. Let's hope it was just a one off and that they will bounce back with a brilliant performance against a desperate Wales, who need a win. 

Some speculate that Southgate will revert back to his trusted five at the back, to counter the attacking line-up Wales will need to produce, hitting them on the counter attack.

Only a disaster can hinder qualification. With one group game remaining, how will England perform? Will the players be ready to match the intensity from the Welsh? Going forward, can England afford another performance like this? Time will tell.

As we watch the remaining group games, hoping for more upsets, we can only hope that England aren’t involved in what would be a catastrophic upset.

Come on England!