• In the 0-0 tie with the United States on Friday
• Gareth Southgate’s team squandered an opportunity to secure their spot in the World Cup’s round of 16
• With a win in their second match of the tournament, Southgate’s team would have been assured of moving on from Group B, but they hardly gave a tenacious US team much to think about

England lacked the energy they shown in their opening game and was jeered off at the end after crushing Iran 6-2 on Monday.

They only mustered one attempt on goal, and the US had long stretches of control at the Al Bayt Stadium in the first half when they easily could have given up.

England fell short of expectations for the third time in three World Cup encounters with the United States.

This was another stubborn American effort against England, dampening some of the excitement about the Three Lions following the Iran slaughter. The Americans had previously lost shockingly in the 1950 tournament and drawn 1-1 in 2010.

Even if England’s performance was incredibly disappointing, they still have control over their own fate.

England would go to the knockout stages with a draw against Wales on November 29, while a win would guarantee first place.

The US plays Iran on the same day knowing that a win would advance them to the round of 16. The US had drawn their previous two games.

Even though Gregg Berhalter’s team is the second-youngest at the World Cup, they made sluggish England look like the ones who overindulged in turkey the day after America celebrated Thanksgiving.

For the first time since losing to Croatia in the 2018 World Cup semi-final, England chose an unchanged lineup with Harry Kane and Harry Maguire healthy after recovering from ankle injuries and illnesses, respectively.

But unlike the timid Iran, which England dominated possession of from the start, the US was much more eager to press higher up the pitch.

Due to the US’s temporary desire to confront England, space opened up behind them, and Bukayo Saka was let free to sprint down the right side of the US area by Jude Bellingham’s daring run and pass.

Kane received Saka’s cross, but Walker Zimmerman stopped him from scoring by blocking his shot.

That close call for England turned out to be a mirage in the desert as Haji Wright, a surprise replacement for Josh Sargent, gave the Americans their first shot at goal with a well-timed run into the box and a header that flew wide.

The US was being forewarned that England would be troubled, and a few seconds later, Weston McKennie ought to have put them in the lead.

The unmarked McKennie fired from 10 yards just wide of the relieved Pickford’s goal after Timothy Weah’s wide right cross evaded the helpless England defence.

Christian Pulisic jinked into space and blasted a rising shot against the crossbar from just inside the area, giving Berhalter’s side a chance to transform the creative display into a magnificent lead while not showing any signs of being spooked by England.

The English team appeared panicked, giving the ball away far too easily, and they laboured in their build-up play. Pulisic tested their fraying nerves with a header that glanced wide.

Saka’s pass found Mason Mount, who was playing for Chelsea, and his low drive from 20 yards forced US goalkeeper Matt Turner to make his first save in a rare instance of English threat.

Tyler Adams crunched into a tackle on Saka, winning the ball and screamed in joy afterward, exemplifying the US energy that was such a contrast to England’s sluggishness.

Even when Kane missed the target with his header from Luke Shaw’s free kick in stoppage time, England continued to play at a crawl.

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