2022 World Cup Group B: Results and final standings
Group B of the 2022 World Cup is done and dusted with England and United States the two sides making it through to the last 16.
England were the high seeds in the group and ranked 5th in the world as the tournament began. They are hoping to go at least one stage further than in the last World Cup where they lost out to Croatia in the semifinals. The Three Lions were also Euro 2020 finalists, only a penalty shoot-out loss to Italy denied them a first tournament victory since 1966. Gareth Southgate’s men went unbeaten in the group with two wins and a draw from their three matches. They opened with a 6-2 thumping of Iran but were brought back down to earth in a drab goalless draw against United States. Local bragging rights, and top spot, were sealed in the final game with a 3-0 win over Wales.
As has been mentioned many times in the build-up to the tournament, this was Wales’ first World Cup Finals appearance since 1958. The miraculous run to the Euro 2016 semifinals and the successful qualification for Euro 2020 meant that many of the Welsh squad are now playing in their third tournament. Gareth Bale is still the talisman and he cropped up with yet another pivotal goal in his side’s opening game, converting a penalty to secure a 1-1 draw with USA. However, that was where his influence peaked as Wales struggled in 2-0 and 3-0 defeats to Iran and England respectively, finishing bottom of the group.
The USMNT have recovered from the shock of not qualifying for the last World Cup and have taken a youthful squad to Qatar. Of course, the Stars and Stripes will be co-hosts for the next edition in 2026 so the age of the squad has half an eye on that tournament. However, the talent is there to make an impact in this edition. There are American players in many of the top leagues in Europe, whilst the standard of MLS has probably never been higher. After drawing with Wales and England, USA went into their final game slightly on the back foot against Iran but they pulled through with a 1-0 win to finish second..
Iran are Asia’s highest-ranked team at #20 in the latest Fifa rankings. There are a couple of players with high-level European experience, including forward Mehdi Taremi who has been in rich goalscoring form for Porto. With Carlos Queiroz back as coach once more Iran will hope to be solid at the back and to produce a result against USA in their final game. The nation bounced back from that thumping defeat to England by beating Wales 2-0, but could not build on that, with the 1-0 defeat to USA dumping them out.
As winners of the group England will face Group A runners-up Senegal in the last 16, while USA take on winners Netherlands.
2022 World Cup Group B results
Monday 21 November 2022
- England 6-2 Iran, Khalifa International Stadium
- USA 1-1 Wales, Ahmed bin Ali Stadium
Friday 25 November 2022
- Wales 0-2 Iran, Ahmed bin Ali Stadium
- England 0-0 USA, Al Bayt Stadium
Tuesday 29 November 2022
- Wales 0-3 England, Ahmed bin Ali Stadium
- Iran 0-1 USA, Al Thumama Stadium
2022 World Cup standings
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