I feel like we need to find a way to get points vs england. if england has six going in to the Wales game they won't have any incentive to go hard at them. we really needed all three today imo
England will have 2 reasons to go hard against them.
1. If Wales win against Iran, they'd be on 4 points. If they beat England, they win the group. England won't want the tougher Round of 16 opponent, so they'd need to win. If Wales doesn't win against Iran, then it doesn't matter if we get points on England.
2. It's England vs. Wales. There's zero chance England is bottling that game.
People keep saying this. But let's pretend we were playing Mexico in our last game and with a knockout berth already clinched and we were in the state we are now. Pulisic just played a hard 100' and has been limping. Weston and Dest are on yellows and another away from suspension.
We really starting those guys and running them the full game to try and run up the score on Mexico?
It's doubtful. And we most likely won't need England to just beat Wales, but keep the pressure on and beat them by multiple goals. I don't think England would turtle up or anything, but they'd not be starting their best lineup and not be pressing hard to score as much as possible.
Let's say you're right. England's backups are still gonna play balls to the wall, that's my point. No way they bottle it and kick it around just "trying to stay healthy". One, because it's Wales. Two, because they'll want to prove they should start the knockout.
Their subs today were Marcus Rashford, Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Callum Wilson, and Eric Dier. They also have Trent Alexander Arnold, Kyle Walker, Kalvin Phillips, Jordan Henderson, Conor Gallagher, and Aaron Ramsdale sitting on that bench.
That's a $600M squad in transfer dollars.
That's not a backup squad, it's a second wave of heavy hitters.
