In this article, we preview the teams in Group B and their World Cup 2022 chances – group fixtures, route to World Cup qualification and key members of each squad.
Team England
Manager: Gareth Southgate
World ranking: 5th
World Cup 2018 performance: Semi-finals
Best World Cup performance: Winners (1966)
Nickname: The Three Lions
Team Iran
Manager: Carlos Queiroz
World ranking: 20th
World Cup 2018 performance: Group stage
Best World Cup performance: Group stage (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018)
Nickname: Team Melli
Team USA
Manager: Gregg Berhalter
World ranking: 16th
World Cup 2018 performance: Did not qualify
Best World Cup performance: Third (1930)
Nickname: The Stars and Stripes, The Yanks
Team Wales
Manager: Rob Page
World ranking: 19th
World Cup 2018 performance: Did not qualify
Best World Cup performance: Quarter-finals (1958)
Nickname: The Dragons
Group C members
Group-stage fixtures – UK time
Team England fixtures:
- Monday, November 21, 13:00 – England v Iran
- Friday, November 25, 19:00 – England v USA
- Tuesday, November 29, 19:00 – England v Wales
Team Iran fixtures:
- Monday, November 21, 13:00 – Iran v England
- Friday, November 25, 10:00 – Iran v Wales
- Tuesday, November 29, 19:00 – Iran v USA
Team USA fixtures:
- Monday, November 21, 19:00 – USA v Wales
- Friday, November 25, 19:00 – USA v England
- Tuesday, November 29, 19:00 – USA v Iran
Team Wales fixtures:
- Monday, November 21, 19:00 – Wales v USA
- Friday, November 25, 10:00 – Wales v Iran
- Tuesday, November 29, 19:00 – Wales v England
Route to World Cup qualification
Team England:
England defeated San Marino 5-0 at home to start their World Cup qualification campaign. They then went on to record a 10-0 thrashing of the European underdogs; doubling the scoreline in the away fixture.
Harry Kane, along with Memphis Depay of the Netherlands were the top marksmen in the European division with 12 goals in qualification. The Tottenham man reached that number with four goals in his last game for England.
Over 10 games, the Three Lions went undefeated, but they did drop points against a strong Hungary and Poland side with both ending with a 1-1 scoreline.
#WorldCup2022 | England 🏴
🔑 Is it finally coming home? Harry Kane and his compatriots will certainly be hoping so as they head to Qatar with ‘hope’ in their heart.
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Team Iran:
Iran came into qualification as the highest-ranked Asian team – having ranked 21st before the first round of qualification.
Receiving a bye into the second round, Iran topped their group, ahead of Iraq, Bahrain, Hong Kong and Cambodia. They won six of their games and lost only two, finishing one point ahead of close chasers Iraq.
A memorable 14-0 drubbing of the group’s whipping boys Cambodia, was a highlight in Iran’s ran to the World stage.
The game was a fitting spectacle, as history was made when women were allow to officially enter the national stadium for the first time in more than 40 years.
Iran secured their World Cup qualification by topping their third-round group ahead of South Korea.
They won eight times, drew once and lost only one, finishing two points ahead of the Koreans.
Team USA:
Due to their ranking as one of the top teams in CONCACAF (North, Central American and Caribbean area), the USA received a bye into the final round.
To automatically qualify, the Americans had to finish in the top three of a group of eight nations.
And by doing this, they narrowly avoided Costa Rica and the need for a playoff based on goal difference.
With seven victories, four draws and two losses, the USA came in third place.
While the Canadians won the group, The Yanks did just enough to secure a place in Qatar.
Team Wales:
It was never going to be a simple affair for the Welsh to qualify for the the World Cup after failing to do since 1958.
Wales would face a top seed because they were placed in pot 2 for the group draw.
And that arrived in the shape of Belgium, the planet’s then-top-ranked international squad. An automatic slot already appeared challenging to attain.
However, Wales could be confident in their 18th-place ranking and the fact that the Czech Republic, who was ranked 42nd, was their closest competitor for a qualifying spot.
The rankings proved accurate, as Belgium topped the group, with Wales edging out the Czechs to secure a playoff spot.
Wales were drawn against Austria in their play-off semi-final and would face the winners of Scotland and Ukraine if they managed a win.
A big-time player was needed to help them over the final hurdles and talisman Bale rose to the occasion.
His two goals were enough to see off Austria 2-1 – and he fired Wales to Qatar with the only goal of the game in the final against Ukraine, meaning Wales would make the World Cup finals for the first time in more than 60 years.
Ones to watch
Team England:
Top scorer: Harry Kane – 12
Most assists: Phil Foden – 4
Talisman: Harry Kane/Jude Bellingham
This Englands teams playing style centres on Harry Kane, with the two inverted wingers sprinting inward off him whenever he drops deep. It is clear then that the 2018 World Cup golden boot winner will have a lot of burden on his shoulders to inspire his nation to a memorable campaign.
And while the freakish Erling Haaland’s performances this season in the Premier League has eclipsed that of Kane, he has had an admirable campaign so far scoring 12 goals in 15 league outings.
Jude Bellingham is set to be in for a classic tournament as he proves just how good he is on the world stage after having an impressive season at Borussia Dortmund. The boy looks a generational talent, putting in performances that belie his age
Another generational talent in the English squad is Liverpools Trent Alexader-Arnold who has shown for so many seasons that he is a special talent. He can be a wildcard for Southgate if he opts to play him.
Team Iran:
Top scorer: Sardar Azmoun – 10
Most assists: Mehdi Taremi – 5
Talisman: Alireza Jahanbakhsh
Ehsan The only serious concern for Iran coming into the Qatar World Cup 2022 is the fitness of striker Sardar Azmoun, who would likely be a regular starter up front.
27-year-old Azmoun picked up a muscle injury playing for Bayer Leverkusen in October, and although he should be fit enough to take his place in the squad, his participation in Iran’s opening game is doubtful.
#WorldCup2022 | Iran 🇮🇷
🔑 Ehsan Hajsafi and his compatriots will hope to make it out of the @FIFAWorldCup Group Stages at the very least after failing to do so in five previous occasions.
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However, Porto striker Mehdi Taremi is probably the headline maker in this Iran team as he has become a regular in the Portuguese side, scoring and assisting for fun in the domestic league and in the Champions League.
Taremi has made 60 appearances for the national team and will be leading the way in Qatar.
Team USA:
Top scorer: Christian Pulisic – 5
Most assists: Antonee Robinson – 3
Talisman: Christian Pulisic
Even though the agile attacker has had some difficulty at club level, Chelsea star Pulisic is expected to spearhead the USMNT assault at the World Cup in Qatar.
Should he stay healthy, Gio Reyna will add more originality to the team because the BVB wonderkid has recently demonstrated that he has recovered from a number of injuries and is performing at his peak.
Although the USMNT has many options in attack, Brenden Aaronson was interestingly listed as a midfielder in the nation’s squad announcement. Tim Weah and Brenden Aaronson are also possible candidates to start out wide.
The biggest snubs were Jordan Pefok and Ricardo Pepi.
Team Wales:
Top scorer: Gareth Bale – 6
Most assists: Bale and Harry Wilson – 3
Talisman: Gareth Bale
Despite just participating in 28 minutes of professional football since September, Gareth Bale has declared himself “100% fit” and prepared for the World Cup.
Although the Wales captain enters the competition on a high after aiding Los Angeles FC to a thrilling victory in the MLS Cup final earlier this month, there have been growing worries about his physical condition.
Swansea midfielder Joe Allen is another trying to make his injury comeback in time for Wales’ World Cup opener against the United States.
A hamstring injury has prevented the 32-year-old from playing since September 17, and his fitness is one of Wales’ top concerns as they get ready to compete in their first World Cup match since 1958.
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