In England, it was just another sensational edition among the many mass-produced by that nation’s media. He struck differently across the pond, providing billboard material for Bob Bradley’s USMNT and their fast-growing fan base ahead of their stunning first place in Group C in South Africa, due to much to the 1-1 draw they managed. came against England via a goalkeeping howler from Rob Green with a shot from Clint Dempsey.
On Thursday, MLSsoccer.com asked England manager Gareth Southgate about that headline and his nation’s overall outlook for American soccer.
“Have we ever beaten the United States in a major tournament?” he asked, a nod to the World Cup meeting of other countries, the Yanks’ historic victory over the Three Lions in Brazil 1950. “No, I didn’t think so. So tomorrow, we have to try to make history, number one. We are good at this, we are good at speaking well of ourselves as a nation and on the basis of very little evidence. So what we have to do is perform on the field. And we know that we will play a very motivated player [US] team, perhaps even more motivated by some of these types of headlines.
“But we have great respect for our rival. We know a lot of the players in our league, and we know the quality they have and the athleticism they have. So we have to be at our best.”
Source: USMNT vow to show England “what we’re capable of” at World Cup
