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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Barney Ronay at Al Bayt Stadium

Stodgy England toil in cold footballing custard but the message is don’t panic

England Gareth Southgate Football Harry Kane United States World Cup Declan Rice Jude Bellingham Tom Jenkins Iran
Harry Kane is challenged during England's draw
England delivered jetlag-ball against USA as they failed to reproduce any of the excitement from their emphatic win over Iran. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

How to control the narrative, how to cool the air, to reverse the fevered expectation of an early tournament romp? Well, that was certainly one way.

Who knows, perhaps there was an element of masterful long-game vibes-chess about England’s performance against the USA in the gleaming shell that is Al Bayt stadium.

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