Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup- Gareth Southgate believes England clash against USA is a particularly intriguing contest
England will face Iran for the first time in international competition, but they will know their other two opponents much better when they face off in Qatar.
The Three Lions faced the USA in their 2010 World Cup opener, drawing 1-1 at the South Africa tournament in a game forever remembered for Rob Green’s error for the Americans’ equaliser. England have faced one of Scotland and Wales in their last two European Championship campaigns, while Southgate’s men dispatched Ukraine 4-0 at Euro 2020.
Wales made it through to the World Cup play-off final earlier this month by beating Austria in Cardiff thanks to Gareth Bale’s brace. The other two teams are due to play their play-off match to meet Rob Page’s side in the final in June after their original fixture was postponed due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Reacting to England’s opponents this winter, Southgate responded: “The first two [Iran and USA] are obviously teams we’ve not played for quite a while and the third is a total unknown but obviously throws up a possible British derby, we know what they’re all about, we’ve had plenty of them.
“When you’re seeded you get the advantage of missing out on those big six or seven teams. I think for most of the first seeds they would be pleased with the first group they get.
“The USA is an interesting one. I know (head coach) Gregg Berhalter quite well, we’ve met a few times and had long chats about things, in fact only a couple of weeks ago. We were smiling at the end [of the draw] there. They’ve got some very good players and we know what they could be capable of as a nation. That one, in particular, is an intriguing game.
“In this situation all our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine, so when that tie is played and how that is played out is irrelevant really. It’s for the rest of us to adapt and adjust and provide them with the opportunity to play as and when they are able to.”
Meanwhile, Southgate says his England squad will need to quit their Premier League responsibilities “as quickly as possible” in November to head off to Qatar after being handed an opening-day World Cup tie.
The Three Lions’ game against Iran on November 21 comes just eight days after the Premier League stops for a winter break. Southgate claimed he is now happy with the clarity of the situation, but will call on his players to be swift in getting out of their club duties.
“We’re in on day one so it’s quite clear now what our programme looks like with the end of the Premier League season and getting out here as quickly as possible,” Southgate told the BBC on Friday night.
While England will start their World Cup campaign earlier than most of their rival teams, it does present the Three Lions with three days’ rest before the round of 16 gets under way, should they top their group.
“It does but we’ve got to get out of the group,” added Southgate in response to that point being made. “What we’ve done well is we’ve approached these tournaments by looking at the group – the first objective is to get out of the group regardless of the opposition and then you build from there.”
