Wales: USMNT’s opening World Cup opponents and how to beat them

World Cup pedigree

Wales’ sole other finals appearance came in 1958, when Manchester United caretaker manager Jimmy Murphy led them to the quarter-finals of a 16-nation tournament with only four non-European teams. Wales advanced from a group also containing hosts Sweden, Hungary and Mexico, but without the injured Juventus star John Charles they lost to Brazil. Pele scored the only goal. Singled out for rough treatment by Hungary in the previous game, Charles’ absence is one of the most famous “what ifs” in Welsh football.

Past meetings

Only two, both friendlies. The first was a 2-0 win for the US in San Jose in 2003, with Landon Donovan and Preston North End’s Eddie Lewis scoring second-half goals. “US Has No Problem With Wales,” read the headline in the LA Times, making it sound like the White House was denying reports of a diplomatic incident. The countries met again in Swansea in November, 2020. The uneventful (dull) behind-closed doors game was a goalless draw but notable as two 17-year-olds, Gio Reyna and Yunus Musah, made their US debuts. They’ve since proved to be a bit useful.

Strengths

A battle-hardened band of overachievers who are effective on the counter-attack, Wales have shown their mettle this year in tense playoff victories over Austria and Ukraine. Their games tend to be tight: since being crushed 4-0 by Denmark at Euro 2020 only one out of 16 fixtures (a 5-1 win over Belarus) hasn’t been a draw or settled by a single-goal margin.

Weaknesses

Perennial fitness concerns over Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale and a serious lack of squad depth: less than half the roster play in leading European leagues. Chris Gunter is Wales’ most-capped player in history, but the 33-year-old AFC Wimbledon defender plays his club football in the English fourth tier – as does Swindon Town’s Jonny Williams.

Star player

You really need to ask? With due respect to MK Dons midfield dynamo Matt Smith, it’s Bale, of course. Oft-injured and 33 years old, he’s no longer a rampaging speedster, but the five-time Champions League winner is his country’s talisman and can still seize the moment, as shown by his 128th-minute equalizer for LAFC in the MLS Cup final earlier this month.

What the US need to do to beat them

A limited but direct and well-drilled opponent that can hurt you with pace on the break? Sounds worryingly like Canada, who took four points off the US in qualifying. Gregg Berhalter’s men will need to guard against the speed of forwards Dan James and Brennan Johnson, track Kieffer Moore’s aerial threat and avoid giving away free kicks in dangerous areas, given Bale’s set-piece prowess. Expect the US to have most of the possession – so the result will hinge on how well they use it.

Score prediction

1-1: A nervous US get off to a bad start but grow into the game; their pressure leads to an equalizer but they can’t quite find a winner. Berhalter “takes the positives”.