It’s been 64 years for Wales. Eight years for the USA. At 2 p.m. ET Monday will see both of those World Cup droughts coming to an end. The most important game in the group stage for both of these teams, and it’s the first one of the tournament. It’s sure to be a fun one, so let’s take a look at the squads, and how this game might play out.
The USMNT are coming to Qatar with one of the most inexperienced squads, and one of the younger ones as well. Inter Miami’s Deandre Yedlin is the only American to have appeared in a World Cup. He was apart of the squad that went to Brazil in 2014. With an average age of 25 years and 175 days, the US check in as the 2nd youngest squad, only Ghana are younger at 24 years old. Wales, on the other hand, obviously don’t have a single player with World Cup experience. They check in at an average age of 26, and are one of the younger sides as well.
Key To The Game
Wales are a team that like to bunker down and defend, while trying to hit you on a counter attack. With talented attackers in Gareth Bale, Daniel James, and Kieffer Moore likely being in the starting XI, that’s a very realistic possibility. If the USMNT can open the game up, and break down the low block, the US should be able to control the game. We saw what the opposite of that looked like during the Japan and Saudi Arabia matches. A 2-0 loss to Japan was very eye opening, but the 0-0 draw to Saudi Arabia was frankly more telling. For either of these teams to have success at this Word Cup, this game is the key.
Projected Starting XIs
Gregg’s Berhalter likes to line up in a 4-3-3 formation, and I don’t see him changing things around for Wales. My prediction for the yanks is as follows:
GK Matt Turner
LB Antonee Robinson
CB Aaron Long
CB Walker Zimmerman
RB Sergino Dest
CDM Tyler Adams
CM Weston McKennie
CM Yunus Musah
LW Christian Pulisic
ST Jesus Ferreira
RW Timothy Weah
Wales manager Rob Page typically likes to switch formations around, but tends to lean 3-4-3. My prediction for Wales line up is this:
GK Wayne Hennessey
CB Ethan Ampadu
CB Ben Davies
CB Joe Rodon
RM Connor Roberts
CM Joe Allen
CM Aaron Ramsey
LM Neco Williams
LW Gareth Bale
ST Kieffer Moore
RW Daniel James
Game Prediction
I’m anticipating this to be a slow, pragmatic game to start. Both sides are coming off of World Cup droughts, and I think this will be 0-0 at halftime. I think play opens up, and the USA show their quality over Wales, and nab a second half winner to take all three points in their first World Cup match since 2014. 1-0 Final score, Brenden Aaronson winner.
Weston McKennie says he feels good after the friendly and is ready to go for the USMNT 👀 pic.twitter.com/X5IrO7ICfr
— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) November 19, 2022
