England wants the round of 16 before the Welsh miracle attempt

England wants the round of 16 before the Welsh miracle attempt

The English are worth a tie to advance to the crosses, while the 'Red Dragons' need to win and wait for other results

   MADRID, 28 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The English team will seek this Tuesday (8:00 p.m.) in the British duel against Wales the round of 16 of the World Cup in Qatar, for which they only need a draw, although even losing they would maintain options, while those led by Gareth Bale, this Tuesday ' Intimate enemies' of the 'Three Lions', they face a miracle, since they are forced to win to continue with what is almost impossible.

Gareth Southgate's team marveled in their debut in the tournament with a resounding 6-2 victory over Iran, thanks to a direct game, nothing speculative, based on the power and effectiveness of names like Jude Bellingham, Bakayo Saka or Raheem Sterling. However, their threatening potential was stopped in the second day, when they were unable to beat the United States (0-0), postponing their pass to the crosses.

That somewhat unexpected draw caused the doubts and uncertainty that haunted the English before their debut in the tournament to return, after a 2022 with more shadows than lights. The English team knows that its strengths are strengthened in open games and with spaces to take advantage of the path of its wingers and long sides, as well as the arrival of Bellingham and Mason Mount, acting as glue with the attack point.

After the disappointment against 'The Stars and Stripes', Southgate could give in to popular desire and include a Phil Foden who already said he was in very good shape. The inclusion of the Manchester City player would relegate Sterling or Saka to the bench, although he does risk even more with a more offensive version, Mount could fall out of the 'eleven'. With Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Bellingham set to coach, the remaining doubts are on defense.

Southgate will have to choose between Kyle Walker, already one hundred percent, and Kieran Trippier, a little thicker against the United States, on the right side. While the pairing Jones Stones and Harry Maguire seems non-negotiable for Southgate, with Luke Shaw in the left lane. A team with outstanding names that has yet to find its best version as a group and become a strong candidate for the title.

He will have a rival against whom he has historically never lost. A duel of 'friends', this Tuesday 'enemies', which has never occurred in the World Cup, although of the last six meetings between the two teams, five have fallen on the English side, while the Welsh have only scraped a draw , the only positive in the historical balance (11 wins for England and one draw). His scoring record against England is not encouraging either, since he has only scored one goal for them in seven games, out of eleven for the 'Three Lions'.

Wales had not played a World Cup since 1958, and everything indicates, except a miracle, that they will leave Qatar at the first opportunity. They have almost everything against them to be eliminated in this first group stage. They need to beat England and then win on goal difference against the English or Iran, who could also end up with four points.

His last game against Iran left a lot to be desired, finishing ten times, only three of them on target; for the 21 shots from the Iranians, of which six were between the three sticks. And to improve their staging on the final day they will entrust themselves to a Gareth Bale who has gone from more to less in the World Cup and who should be the beacon of a team with few variations.

In addition, Wales, who will have goalkeeper Henneesy out due to suspension, will seek to end their worst run of results since 2003 against the English. And the thing is that the 'Red Dragons' have not won in their last seven games, with two draws and five losses . Without major changes in the 'eleven', Rob Page could once again opt for Moore as '9', accompanying Bale and James in attack, in a system with three central defenders and four midfielders.

   GALES: Ward; Mepham, Rodon, Davies, Roberts, Williams; Ramsey, Ampadu, James, Moore y Bale.

ENGLAND: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Bellingham, Mount; Saka, Foden and Kane.