England v USA: World Cup 2022 LIVE

Harry Kane was fit to lead England into their World Cup clash against the United States after overcoming an injury scare to captain the side at Al Bayt Stadium.

The 29-year-old took a kick to the foot during England’s Group B opener against Iran on Monday and was sent for a precautionary scan on his ankle.

Kane trained as usual on Wednesday and Thursday and, as expected, retained his place as manager Gareth Southgate named an unchanged starting line-up.

The United States opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Wales and made one alteration from that match as Haji Wright replaced Norwich forward Josh Sargent.

Boos greeted the final whistle as England blew their chance to qualify for the World Cup knockout phase with a match to spare in a turgid 0-0 draw with the United States.

Monday’s 6-2 thumping of Iran represented their best start to a major tournament, but Friday’s loose and lacklustre performance brought Gareth Southgate’s side back down to earth.

The US maintained their unbeaten record against England on the world stage and went close to winning Friday’s Group B clash in Al Khor, where Christian Pulisic rattled the crossbar in an ultimately scoreless encounter.

Kane’s first sniff of goal came deep into stoppage time as he headed a Luke Shaw free-kick wide of the post.
Nick Potts

Progress to the last 16 remains in England’s hands, but this match is a wake-up call that increases the pressure heading into Tuesday’s eagerly-anticipated clash with neighbours Wales.

Southgate publicly warned his side to up their game in the immediate afterglow of the Iran thrashing but did not get the desired response from his unchanged team.

The US should have punished a passive first-half performance at the imposing Al Bayt Stadium, where Pulisic hit the bar with a wicked strike as Gregg Berhalter’s Americans played at full throttle.

Flat, uninspired England created little across the 90 minutes.

Harry Kane, available after an injury scare, saw an early shot blocked and sent a stoppage-time header wide as Southgate’s men floundered under the Friday night lights.