DOHA: Iran and Wales failed to qualify for the knockout stage following their defeats against the United States of America and England respectively, while the latter two sides booked their Round of 16 berths in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022.
England, needing just one point to qualify for the Round of 16, bagged three following an emphatic 3-0 victory over neighbours Wales and topped the Group B standings with seven points.
Following another dominant triumph in the first round, Gareth Southgate’s side topped the Group B standings at the back of Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden.
Defiant Wales did well in the first half to keep the English attack silent and managed to keep the scoresheet blank.
England, however, regrouped after the break and intensified their domination over Wales and it soon rewarded just five minutes into the second half when Rashford broke the deadlock and opened the scoring for England.
Foden then doubled England’s lead just seconds later to put his side completely in command of the one-side affair and took the game away from Wales’ grasp.
Rashford then struck again to pile on the misery of Wales, whose world cup’s return after 1958 ended in dismay.
One of the tournament’s favourites England will next face Group A runners-up Senegal in the Round of 16 on Monday.
Meanwhile, in the last group B fixture, two bitter rivals Iran and the USA put on a thrilling contest but Christian Pulisic’s first-half goal turned out to be enough for the latter to pull off a vital victory.
The USA have been all over Iran since the start of the match and finally got the lead when Sergino Dest headed the ball to their star of the day Pulisic, who then made no mistake to send the ball past the Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand.
The victory powered the USA to finish second in Group B with five points behind leader England with seven, while Iran finished third with three points.
The USA have a major task ahead of them in the Round of 16 as they will take on Group A winners Netherlands on Saturday.
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