- World Cup updates from 10am ET/3pm GMT kick-off
- Email Beau with your thoughts or tweet @duresport
Welcome to The Biggest US Men’s Game Since the Last One …
It’s typical of a World Cup, of course, for each game to be “bigger” than the last, and we knew that about the US when we saw the draw.
In the opener, the US came storming out the gates and looked like they would carve up Wales for a convincing victory after Tim Weah’s goal. But the Americans faded badly in the second period and the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
USA then faced England, and maintained their unbeaten record against the Three Lions at the World Cup. The Americans were the better team but could not convert their chances in a 0-0 draw.
The US needed to beat Iran in their final group game, and did so thanks to Christian Pulisic’s effort, in which he definitely did not injure his unmentionables. The 1-0 victory sent the Americans through as Group B runners-up
The Dutch left it late in their opening game, with their first goal coming in the 84th minute of their 2-0 victory. They also relied on a good performance from their keeper, Andries Noppert.
Cody Gakpo scored an early goal but the Dutch were put under pressure for large parts of the game in their 1-1 draw with Ecuador.
Gakpo was dangerous again as Netherlands coasted to a 2-0 win over the already eliminated hosts in their victory against Qatar. The win meant they progressed as group winners, even as manager Louis van Gaal bristled at suggestions watching his team is like “grinding teeth”.
