Martin Rogers
FOX Sports Insider
AL KHOR, Qatar — United States captain Tyler Adams passionately urged his players to show the mental fortitude needed to produce a historic victory in their all-or-nothing clash with Iran on Tuesday, a clash that will decide the team’s fate at the World Cup.
After Friday’s impressive 0-0 draw with England, Adams and his colleagues know they must beat Iran (Tuesday, 2 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports App) to qualify for the knockout phase, and that failure to do so will result in elimination. .
He insisted a determined mindset was the key to getting out of Group B in what would be a major achievement for Gregg Berhalter’s young side.
“We know what we have to do in the last game and I think it’s important to have that mindset,” Adams said. “Definitely, we can’t go ahead and punch a hole. It’s not going to be an easy win; we have to compete.
“Now that we’ve come here and tested ourselves against quality opponents, it feels good, but we can’t be too happy with ourselves. We have to get the negatives out of the way before the last game.”
Gregg Berhalter, Should USMNT be WORRIED about Iran game? | BELOW
Alexi Lalas and David Mosse react to Iran’s win over Wales and what their thrilling victory means for the United States in the final group stage game of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
With the Americans drawing their first two games, it’s only natural that comparisons to the 2010 campaign in South Africa have been drawn. Then Landon Donovan scored the most famous goal in US soccer history with a late winner against Algeria, after two draws.
“It’s exciting, but hopefully it won’t be as dramatic as [Donovan’s] goal,” Adams said of Tuesday’s game. “We don’t want to leave it until the end.”
The magic of the World Cup is that it generates great moments. And of course, the biggest moments are the ones that stick in the mind, attracting fans and creating memories.
This is the opportunity that opens up for a team that is fully aware of the national support that is starting to grow at the back.
“I think today the whole world will see that the United States can do great things, but I guess time will tell and you can’t do it just for one game, you have to do it consistently,” midfielder Yunus said Musah. .
“I know that the home crowd supports us a lot. It’s a pleasure to inspire future generations. This World Cup will be there forever and future generations will look at it and want to be like us. I am very grateful. the place I am now to do- it”.
And so it all boils down to that. Having entered the second round of matches with almost unlimited permutations, there is clarity, and it is simple, without worries about goal difference or countdown or concern about other results.
“We’re nowhere near where we want to be and we still have a lot to do in this tournament,” said forward Christian Pulisic, who was named Player of the Match against England.
Just win, baby. Just to win, though no easy task against an Iran side that were motivated and fired up to beat Wales 2-0 earlier in the day.
“It sets up our first World Cup knockout game,” Berhalter said. “We win or we’re out of the World Cup. We have to understand the intensity Iran will bring. We’ll have to be ready if we have a chance to advance.”
Will USMNT forward woes COST us in the match against Iran? | BELOW
Alexi Lalas and David Mosse break down the USMNT’s limitations at the forward position and whether they could pose a problem for the U.S. against Iran.
World Cups are all about pride and passion. Time and again over the years, teams with a special sense of spirit and will have overcome the odds. Is this American side one of those? We will soon find out.
Regardless, they have already earned the respect of one of the biggest nations in world football. England are fifth, but Berhalter’s men were outplayed for long periods.
England midfielder Jordan Henderson has spoken about the efforts Gareth Southgate’s side made to prepare for the game.
“We definitely approached the game like we were a top team,” Henderson said. “I’m not sure who’s thinking this [they aren’t], but they have very good players, they were organized. We knew it was going to be tough and it certainly turned out that way.”
Game 3 awaits you. The story is there for the taking.
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Martin Rogers is a columnist for FOX Sports and author of the FOX Sports Insider newsletter. Follow him on Twitter @MRogersFOX i subscribe to the daily newsletter.
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