World Cup Group B as it happened: England and USA go through to next stage

Christian Pulisic gives his side the lead against Iran; Marcus Rashford scores twice for England

Christian Pulisic of United States scores against Iran. Photograph: Claudio Villa/Getty
Christian Pulisic of United States scores against Iran. Photograph: Claudio Villa/Getty

719 days ago

FULL-TIME: USA 1 Iran 0. USA are through after a tense finish!

Earlier, England beat USA 3-0. It means that England will play Senegal in the last 16 at 7pm on Sunday. USA will play Netherlands at 3pm on Saturday.

USA are through to the knockout stages for the first time since 2014. Well deserved for a young, vibrant team, who played well in all three matches. Their most famous player, Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic, stood up when it counted.

As for Wales, they’re out with a whimper after a poor tournament. England outclassed the Welsh in the second half with Marcus Rashford very impressive, scoring two wonderful goals. Foden got the other to leave Gareth Southgate with a selection dilemma for their next game.

That’s all from me for tonight. Gavin Cummiskey’s report of England-Wales and Ken Early’s report of USA-Iran to follow. Good night!


719 days ago

98 mins: So close! Long ball into the box and headed onto Taremi who got a touch under Turner’s legs but they couldn’t direct it in. Iran look for a penalty but nothing there.

USA 1 Iran 0


719 days ago

95 mins: Good defending by Musah and he breaks but Jalali fouls and gets a free-kick. Time running out for Iran.

USA 1 Iran 0


719 days ago

93 mins: Chance missed for Iran. Low header from a free-kick just sneaks past the post. USA hang on.

USA 1 Iran 0


719 days ago

FULL-TIME: England 3 Wales 0

Meanwhile in USA and Iran, there are nine minutes of stoppage time. Seven minutes left for Iran to get a goal to go through.


719 days ago

90 mins: High tension in Iran-USA but Iran are pushing without getting particularly near a breakthrough.

Meanwhile, John Stones misses from close range for an English fourth goal.

England 3 Wales 0. USA 1 Iran 0


719 days ago

83 mins: Chance for Iran. Free-kick played into the box into a very dangerous area but Karimi can’t direct it in.

England 3 Wales 0. USA 1 Iran 0


719 days ago

80 mins: Hosseini booked after Aaronson skins him. USA holding on so far but Iran look more threatening in this half without creating great chances.

England 3 Wales 0. USA 1 Iran 0


719 days ago

77 mins: A disappointing tournament for Wales, who have been well off the pace. Relying on Ramsey and Bale, who look well past their best. England nearly score again as Bellingham’s shot is saved by Ward from inside the box.

England 3 Wales 0. USA 1 Iran 0


719 days ago

72 mins: Chance for Rashford again! He nearly gets his hat-trick after linking up with Wilson, good save from Ward with his feet.

England 3 Wales 0. USA 1 Iran 0


719 days ago

68 mins: GOAL FOR ENGLAND! England’s 100th goal at the World Cup. Great ball over the top from Phillips. Rashford runs, stepover then powerful low drive under Ward’s legs. He’s in hot form!

England 3 Wales 0. USA 1 Iran 0


719 days ago

63 mins: Great running by Weah, who takes the ball in his own half and runs up 40 metres and wins a throw-in.

Trippier on for Shaw for England.

England 2 Wales 0. USA 1 Iran 0


719 days ago

59 mins: Great atmosphere at the Iran-USA game, which is finely poised. Iran need a goal and they’re beginning to create more.

Ramsey with a bad tackle on Henderson and Henderson gets treatment. I can see why Southgate took off Rice and Kane.

England 2 Wales 0. USA 1 Iran 0


719 days ago

56 mins: Moore drops deep and takes a shot from distance. It is deflected off Maguire but it’s smartly saved by Pickford. On comes Alexander-Arnold for the first time this tournament, Kalvin Phillips and Callum Wilson. Rice, Walker and Kane off.

In the other game, it’s much better by Iran. Some menacing crosses putting USA under pressure.

England 2 Wales 0. USA 1 Iran 0


719 days ago

54 mins: England just upped a gear in the second half. That should be that for Wales’s chances. Now a draw would qualify Iran for the next round and Ghoddos nearly scores. A great cross but he can’t direct his header on target.

England 2 Wales 0. USA 1 Iran 0


719 days ago

51 mins: GOAL FOR ENGLAND! Stunning free-kick by Marcus Rashford. Wow, blasted into the top corner. Brilliant strike.

England 1 Wales 0. USA 1 Iran 0


719 days ago

52 mins: GOAL FOR ENGLAND! Another one, two in two minutes! Phil Foden this time. Wales blown away. Rashford wins the ball high up and gives to Kane who puts in a perfect cross for Foden to finish.

England 2 Wales 0. USA 1 Iran 0


719 days ago

48 mins: Foden wins a free kick after a skilful run. Meanwhile Aaronson is on for USA, Ghoddos for Iran.

England 0 Wales 0. USA 1 Iran 0


719 days ago

Big update for Wales at the start of the half. Gareth Bale has been taken off for Brennan Johnson.


719 days ago

HALF-TIME: England 0 Wales 0. USA 1 Iran 0

Christian Pulisic’s brave finish after clever play by Dest is the difference between the two sides against Iran. England had a few chances against Wales but were unable to break through, it’s a stalemate there.

As it stands England will top the group and USA will finish second, but all to play for second half.


719 days ago

51 mins: Goal ruled out. McKennie slides Weah through who expertly finishes off the post but it’s ruled offside. Tight but VAR agrees with the referee.


719 days ago

50 mins: Allen gets the ball on the edge of the box and he takes a curling shot just over the bar, half-chance for Wales. That’s the half.

England 0 Wales 0. USA 1 Iran 0


719 days ago

47 mins: Kane gets a very lucky corner for England that seemingly hit Maguire. The header from the corner by Stones is easily caught by Ward.

England 0 Wales 0. USA 1 Iran 0


719 days ago

44 mins: Adams with another great pass, Sargent and Weah pass to each other but mess it up on the edge of the box with numbers over.

England 0 Wales 0. USA 1 Iran 0


719 days ago

41 mins: Pulisic still receiving treatment after clashing with the goalkeeper. Bittersweet for USA if Pulisic is too injured to continue. It was brave play and he got into the ball at full speed.

England 0 Wales 0. USA 1 Iran 0


719 days ago

38 mins: Chance for England, some beautiful touches by Bellingham - two backheels in one move as he drives through. Foden’s shot is poor though, he hits it well over from the edge of the box.

England 0 Wales 0. USA 0 Iran 0


719 days ago

39 mins: GOAL FOR USA! Tyler Adams plays it over the top to Dest who beats the offside trap and Pulisic bravely comes flying into the box and finishes! America take the lead.

England 0 Wales 0. USA 1 Iran 0


719 days ago

37 mins: Neco Williams for Wales has been left concussed after being hit in the face with the ball. Will lead to a lot of stoppage time. On comes Roberts in an early sub.

England 0 Wales 0. USA 0 Iran 0


719 days ago

34 mins: Neither game a classic so far. USA play some nice high-tempo football, but perhaps lack a quality striker. Sargent does well though and holds it up well after a cross and lays off to Weah but he blazes over.

England are again lacking in a bit of the intensity they had in the first game.

England 0 Wales 0. USA 0 Iran 0


719 days ago

31 mins: Nasty tackle by Dan James on Stones, high on the ankle, expect more of that in this derby game.

In the other game, Dest runs past three players but again his shot is blocked. Iran not giving much away.

England 0 Wales 0. USA 0 Iran 0


719 days ago

28 mins: Timothy Weah is through on goal in the box after Sargent’s shot was blocked. But he heads it without much power, surely should have let that drop to his foot.

England 0 Wales 0. USA 0 Iran 0


719 days ago

25 mins: Another dangerous cross, this time from Weah is blocked again as it was heading towards Pulisic.

England 0 Wales 0. USA 0 Iran 0


719 days ago

21 mins: Ball over the top finds Taremi for Iran in the box but he sloppily fails to find Azmoun, good chance wasted.

England 0 Wales 0. USA 0 Iran 0


719 days ago

18 mins: Shaw beats Bale to the ball and Kane holds the ball up and wins a free-kick in a dangerous area. Shaw plays to Maguire on the back post but the ball is out of play.

In the other game, a few good crosses for USA put Iran under pressure but they can’t create a great chance.

England 0 Wales 0. USA 0 Iran 0


719 days ago

15 mins: Foden takes shot from distance but he drags it wide. Twentieth England cap but only two goals so far, can he score today?

England 0 Wales 0. USA 0 Iran 0


719 days ago

12 mins: Chance for USA but Pulisic can’t get any pace on the header. USA dominating possession as Iran sit back, they only need a draw unless Wales surprise against England.

England 0 Wales 0. USA 0 Iran 0


719 days ago

11 mins: Rice wins the ball in midfield and Harry Kane beautifully plays the ball into Marcus Rashford but Ward closes him down well and Rashford can’t convert the chance.

England 0 Wales 0. USA 0 Iran 0


719 days ago

8 mins: Wales set up to contain early on, lacking quality in the final third with some misplaced passes.

England 0 Wales 0. USA 0 Iran 0


719 days ago

3 mins: High tempo start to USA-Iran as Pulisic runs through the middle but is well tackled. No chances yet in Wales-England.

England 0 Wales 0. USA 0 Iran 0


719 days ago

Time for the national anthems, attention has been on Iran all tournament after they refused to sing the anthem before the game against England, while the Iranian crowd jeered the anthem. Considerable jeering and booing in the stadium for the Iranian anthem again it sounds like, the players mumble along though.


719 days ago

Gareth Southgate came under pressure for not bringing Manchester City forward Phil Foden off the bench as the English failed to score against USA. Well today Foden gets his chance up front. Jacob Steinberg wrote this earlier in the week:

England must ensure history does not repeat itself with FodenOpens in new window ]


719 days ago

The teams for today’s games:

Wales: Danny Ward, Neco Williams, Ben Davies, Chris Mepham, Joe Rodon, Joe Allen, Aaron Ramsey, Gareth Bale, Dan James, Ethan Ampadu, Kieffer Moore

England: Jordan Pickford, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Phil Foden

Iran: Alireza Beiranvand, Ehsan Hajsafi, Milad Mohammadi, Saeid Ezatolahi, Morteza Pouraliganji, Ali Gholizadeh, Majid Hosseini, Ahmad Nourollahi, Ramin Rezaeian, Mehdi Taremi, Sardar Azmoun

United States: Matt Turner, Sergino Dest, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams, Yunus Musah, Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah, Josh Sargent

Some points to pick out - Plenty of changes for England, notable include Kyle Walker fit to play at right-back and Phil Foden back in the line-up. Bale and Ramsey start for Wales. Beiranvand back in goal for Iran after a head injury. Josh Sargent starts for the USA after not playing against England.


719 days ago

Tensions have been simmering between Iran and USA in the build-up to the game as the USA manager Gregg Berhalter quizzed on political situation by Iran’s media. “Everything from censorship to American racism and the presence of the US fleet in the Persian gulf was thrown at him. It was an experience he will never have had before and few coaches will encounter.” USA captain got similar treatment in the press conference, corrected on his pronunciation of Iran. Watch here:

And the USA manager report here:

USA manager Gregg Berhalter quizzed on political situation by Iran’s mediaOpens in new window ]


719 days ago

Hello and welcome to live coverage of World Cup Group B where England will play Wales and USA will play Iran, with places in the last 16 at stake. England are more or less through, barring a four-goal hammering to Wales. But they will want to win to ensure topping the group and avoid the Netherlands in the next round. For Iran, a draw may do against USA, for USA they must beat Iran to go through. Here are the permutations:

World Cup permutations - Path to the last-16 explainedOpens in new window ]