DOHA: England scored six goals in its opening World Cup game against Iran, but it was the two it conceded that concern coach Gareth Southgate and provide hope for the United States.
鈥淏y the end we looked sloppy,鈥� said Southgate of the 6-2 win over Iran on Monday. He also warned the US would be coming 鈥渇ull-throttle鈥� in Friday鈥檚 Group B match.
The tournament has already produced some shocking results, including 黑料社区鈥檚 win against Argentina and Japan鈥檚 upset over Germany.
A win for the US over England would not be on the scale of 黑料社区鈥檚 win 鈥� but Gregg Berhalter鈥檚 team is undoubtedly the underdog against one of the tournament favorites.
The two goals conceded against Iran gave Southgate something to focus on in an otherwise encouraging performance.
His message to the players has been clear: They will need to be better against the US team that tied 1-1 with Wales in its opening group game.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e a top nation with a lot of top players who have played in the Premier League and who we鈥檝e come up against,鈥� said England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 about us as a squad being 100 percent. It鈥檚 about us taking the result from Iran and going into the US game positive.鈥�
One of those Premier League plays is Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic, a point of focus for England鈥檚 defense.
鈥淗e鈥檚 good with both feet, very clinical,鈥� Pickford said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got to be wary of him.鈥�
A win for England would see it qualify for the round of the 16 with a game still to play 鈥� but the fate of Lionel Messi and Argentina is proof nothing can be taken for granted.
鈥淚t鈥檚 what World Cup football is all about,鈥� said Pickford. 鈥淭here are going to be surprises.鈥�
US goalkeeper Matt Turner is predicting more of them at the World Cup.
鈥淵ou see that the world of football is levelling out in a lot of ways,鈥� he said. 鈥淭eams have game plans. Teams have been investing in their youth academies over a number of years.鈥�
鈥淚 think the message is when you have one team that鈥檚 bought into the same message, you can beat anyone on any given day.鈥�
If US is to produce the latest surprise of the competition, it will have to contain an England attack that was ruthless in the match against Iran, which featured two goals by Bukayo Saka.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 pretty clear he鈥檚 one of the young stars of world football,鈥� said his Arsenal teammate Turner. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a top, top player and you don鈥檛 need me to tell anybody on our team how much of a threat that he poses in the game. He鈥檚 scoring goals in a variety of ways. He鈥檚 really developed, matured.鈥�