There were no goals in Friday’s game between the US Men’s National Team (USMNT) and England in a key World Cups game at Qatar 2022, but the result spoke volumes as to where this American team looks to be heading.

Facing an England team full of superstars that reached the European Championship final last year is no easy task, but the Americans looked more than at home.

Indeed, the USMNT players appeared disappointed as they were cheered off the field – frustrated, perhaps, that they couldn’t find the winner they might well have deserved.

“We had the majority of the chances, we were more dangerous,

but just couldn’t get in the back of the net,” midfielder Weston McKennie told reporters after the match.

Any annoyance is unlikely to last too long with the USMNT still unbeaten against England at World Cups.

The sides have now met three times on the world stage with the USMNT winning once and the other two matches ending as draws.

The USMNT’s hopes of progressing into the knockout rounds are still very much in its own hands, knowing a win against Iran on Tuesday will see it through to the last 16 from Group B.

Despite England getting the better of the early exchanges,
the USMNT grew into the match and looked the most threatening by halftime.

Christian Pulisic saw his effort crash off the crossbar as England. Struggled to cope with the intensity of the American team.

It felt reminiscent of the USMNT’s previous match against Wales when it started in brilliant form. On that occasion, this young side – with an average age of 25 years 214 days. When the World Cups began – struggled to keep up the intensity and suffered a late equalizer through Gareth Bale’s penalty.

But against England, Gregg Berhalter’s side doubled down after the break and continued. Its waves of attacks against the opposition’s nervous-looking defense.

Pulisic, the player of the match, was orchestrating

the US fans behind the goal, whipping them into a frenzy as they started to believe. Their team could beat England, which ranked fifth in the world.

The breakthrough never came but the USMNT coped well with a late surge from England. Which finally seemed to wake up with no more than five minutes to play.

“I thought it was a really solid performance from the team against a good opponent,” Pulisic told reporters after the game.

“A draw is not the worst thing but I felt there were stretches of the game where we showed dominance […] We even could have won the game.”

He added: “This team has come a very long way. I think we should be proud of the performance but most of all, it should spark confidence in the team.”