England v USA Tips: Experienced winger can get on the scoreboard

England’s record against the USA is dominant - they suffered an embarrassing first meeting back in 1950, but eight of their subsequent 10 meetings have ended with a Three Lions victory.

Every single one of those wins has been in a non-competitive clash, though, and the Americans have turned up when it mattered. In an interesting mind game, USA captain Christian Pulisic has said that they don’t fear their English counterparts.

“We’re eager to bounce back and now have the opportunity against a good team,” he told the media. “We’re not intimidated. We know how much quality they have. I have had the opportunity to play against a lot of them in the Premier League this year but we have a good team as well.”

And they shouldn’t, really. Their 1950 meeting and 1993 US Cup clash ended in victories for the underdog, and the 2010 match-up in South Africa produced another shock as Clint Dempsey earned the North Americans a surprise draw.

England came out swinging  

Gareth Southgate’s England team was heavily criticised in the build-up to their trip to Qatar. Their results hadn’t been good enough; they were relegated in the UEFA Nations League, and question marks remained over both his line-ups and overall selection.

But, after Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish easily dismantled Iran in the opening game, the nation is allowing themselves to dream once again. 

It might have been ‘only’ Iran, but England stuck six past a Carlos Queiroz side that is ranked 20th and don’t concede too many goals usually, so it’s a hammering that will give them all the confidence in the world. 

After failing to score in their first five Nations League games in 2022, Southgate’s troops have now struck nine times in two matches, so over 2.5 goals at 1.92 feels like a decent shout.

The Harry Kane Factor 

It’s not as cut and dried as ‘Kane starts, England win’, but you have to think that the Group B leaders will be even more confident of getting the job done if he is available.  

USA don’t tend to concede too many in the grand scheme of things, but they have allowed 11 goals in their last 20 matches – despite losing only four of them – and they are certainly there at the taking for England.

With the skipper an injury doubt earlier in the week it was unknown who’d start up front, making the odds of a Raheem Sterling (2.82) anytime goal tempting, but all the papers say that the talismanic number nine is now good to go and ready to start again in Qatar. Good for England, not so great for their opponents. 

Gregg Berhalter’s side aren’t without talent – or pace - thanks to the likes of Pulisic, Tim Weah, Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie, but it still feels like it’s England’s game to lose.

England v USA Tips 

England and over 2.5 goals @ 2.56
Raheem Sterling anytime goalscorer @ 2.82