Group B delivered its verdict on Tuesday evening: England finished first in the group after their victory (3-0) against Wales. The United States finished second, thanks to their short success in front of Iran (1-0). They will play respectively against Senegal and the Netherlands in the round of 16.
Jostled by the United States during the second day (0-0), the English regained the offensive drive that had allowed them to sweep Iran (6-2) during the first day. Even though they were held in check during the first period, the English accelerated on the return from the locker room, scoring three in 18 minutes against Wales. Marcus Rashford, author of a double (50th, 68th), validated his tenure, as did Phil Foden (51st) who had been stamping his feet since the start of the competition. In this British derby, the Welsh ended up giving in to the talent of Gareth Southgate’s men.
It is a victory which allows the Three Lions to finish leader of group B and to meet the second of group A, Senegal, qualified a little earlier.
In this pool, it is the United States who will accompany the English after their difficult victory against Iran (1-0). The Americans have supplanted the Iranians in a poster with strong geopolitical repercussions. For their sixth attempt, Iran still experienced the heartbreak of a failure in the first round of a World Cup, Team Melli bowing to Team USA (1-0) on a goal from Christian Pulisic (38th) at al-Thumama Stadium.
Here is the United States in the round of 16 of the World Cup, as in 2010 and 2014, a performance that bodes well for the country of “soccer” four years before a World Cup co-organized by Canada and Mexico.
But if this duel against the Iranians was not a football summit, it still made headlines because of its symbolic and political significance, between two countries which do not maintain diplomatic relations.
Iran and the United States had already faced each other for the “brotherhood match” at the 1998 World Cup in France, where Iranians and Americans had communed on the lawn, posing together in the official photo of the match and offering each other flowers and pennants.
In the round of 16, the English will face Senegal, second in group A, on Sunday, while the Americans will meet the Netherlands, who dominated this same group A, on Saturday.