The United States and Wales squared off in their first World Cup game, and the Americans came out on top with a 20-13 victory. With this win, the U.S. moves on to face England in the quarterfinals. The match was close throughout, but it was the American defense that stood out most. The U.S. was able to hold onto the ball and keep Wales from scoring, leading to a high-stakes match against England in the quarterfinals. This matchup is sure to be exciting, and whichever team comes out on top will have a leg up in the competition for the World Cup title.
USA defeats Wales by a score of 27-10 in the first World Cup game
The United States of America came into their first World Cup match against Wales looking to take home a victory and build off of their impressive showing in the 2016 Olympic games. However, it was Welsh players that led the way throughout most of the game, holding on for a 27-10 victory that sets up a high-stakes match against England next Sunday.
Despite leading 10-0 at one point, Wales found themselves in trouble when quarterback Drew Brees connected with wide receiver Devin Funchess for a touchdown late in the second quarter. This proved to be a turning point as the US went on to dominate the rest of the game, scoring 26 unanswered points while limiting Wales to just three field goals over the final two quarters.
While this first World Cup game wasn’t perfect by any means, the USA showed real potential and could definitely improve upon their play moving forward. Next week’s matchup against England will be an important test for both teams and will tell us a lot about which squad has what it takes to make it far in this tournament.
The match has significant implications for the rest of the tournament
The USA-Wales match in the first World Cup game has significant implications for the rest of the tournament. If the USA loses, it would likely mean that they would not reach the knockout stage. Conversely, a winning performance against Wales could propel them into second place behind England and put them in good position to advance. The match also has implications for individual players. For instance, if DeAndre Yedlin is playing well and the USMNT wins, he could potentially earn himself a big transfer fee next year.
England is the team to beat and will likely be the eventual champion
England is the team to beat and will likely be the eventual champion. The Three Lions are coming off a semifinal victory over Sweden, which was their first World Cup win since 1966. This performance has England fans confident going into their matchup against Wales on Thursday.
Wales is a strong team, but England’s players are better and more experienced. England’s back line is led by captain Harry Kane who had a stellar tournament with six goals. Kieran Trippier is another key player for England, providing quality defense and attacking flair from the midfield. Wales’ best player may be Gareth Bale, but he tends to play as an extra forward and doesn’t have the same impact off the bench as Kane or Trippier do.
The match between England and Wales is sure to be exciting both on and off the pitch. If England can advance to the final, they will face Croatia in what many consider to be one of the most hotly contested tournaments in World Cup history. The winner of this match will take home the coveted gold medal and earn bragging rights for years to come.
If the USA can win its remaining games, it could make it to the semifinals
The United States tied Wales 1-1 in its first World Cup match on Thursday, setting up a high-stakes match against England on Wednesday. With the win, the US could still reach the semifinals if it wins its remaining two games. The team has already beaten Ghana and Portugal. The US needs only a draw against England to clinch a spot in the semifinals, but anything less would mean that they need both Belgium and Sweden to lose their matches.
In the last World Cup, held in Brazil in 2014, the US was eliminated in the group stage. Many people are expecting this year’s team to advance past the knockout stages for the first time since 1986. Coach Jurgen Klinsmann has been praised for his ability to mix veteran players with some younger players who have stood out during qualifying play.
Overall, there is no clear favorite to win this World Cup. However, if America can make it past England and maintain its strong play throughout the tournament, it has a good chance of becoming champion for the first time since 1990.
Conclusion
The United States and Wales tied 1-1 in their first World Cup game, setting up a high-stakes match against England on Tuesday. This is the last 16 matchup of Group D teams, and with both teams already qualified for the knockout stage, this game has major implications for those two countries’ chances of advancing.
