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[monks data]
Iran national football team
World Cup | Group Stage
Nov 29, 2022 at 7pm UK
Azadi Stadium, Tehran
USA national football team

Iran
0 - 1
USA


Hosseini (77'), Kanani (83'), Jalali (90+6')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Pulisic (38')
Adams (43')

How USA could line up against Iran

How USA could line up against Iran
© Reuters
Sports Mole looks at how USA could line up for Tuesday's World Cup clash with Iran at the Al Thumama Stadium.

USA head coach Gregg Berhalter has tough decisions to make in numerous positions ahead of a crucial clash with Iran in Group B at the World Cup.

With no fresh injury concerns after an impressive display and point against England, attention turned to the lack of gametime received by Giovanni Reyna on Friday night, with the Borussia Dortmund man being a very late substitute in the game where the Stars and Stripes had a leggy England team on the back foot.

Issues have been raised about the 20-year-old's fitness before this tournament, but boss Berhalter deemed Reyna fully fit ahead of the Three Lions match yet continued to start Christian Pulisic and Timothy Weah ahead of him in wide-attacking positions, suggesting he might be out of favour with the coach.

Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner will start in goal for USA once again, with an unchanged centre-back partnership of Tim Ream and Walker Zimmerman in front of him as the Stars and Stripes look for consecutive clean sheets.

The pace and power of both Antonee Robinson and Sergino Dest stood out for USA in that stalemate with Gareth Southgate's men, and it would be a major shock to see either drop out of the side considering all other full-back options for Berhalter play their club football in the MLS.

Tyler Adams, Yunus Musah and Weston McKennie have formed an energetic and busy trio in the USA midfield, impressing with their pressing and technical ability in both of their matches so far.

Brenden Aaronson for the aforementioned McKennie has been Berhalter's first substitution in both the Wales and England matches, but that midfield three should remain the same when they face Iran given they are able to recover well enough by Tuesday night.

The most contested position in the USA starting XI appears to be the forward slot in the front three, with Norwich's Josh Sargent being dropped in favour of Haji Wright for the fixture against England.

Much has been said about poor finishing from the likes of Pulisic and McKennie last time out, with the lack of a proven goalscorer at international level preventing USA from having knockout qualification already wrapped up.

Twenty-one-year-old Jesus Ferreira has just finished an 18-goal campaign with FC Dallas in the MLS and could be a third number nine in as many games to partner Pulisic and Weah in the attacking spots, but Berhalter will likely stick with Antalyaspor's Wright who only trails Enner Valencia in the Super Lig's goalscoring charts this season.

USA possible starting lineup: Turner; Dest, Zimmerman, Ream, Robinson; Adams, Musah, McKennie; Pulisic, Weah, Wright

> Click here to see how Iran could line up for this fixture

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Written by
Carter White
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USA
45.8%
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Christian Pulisic in Chelsea training on September 13, 2022
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Netherlands Netherlands32107
Q Senegal flag Senegal32016
3 Ecuador flag Ecuador31114
4 Qatar Qatar30030

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England32107
Q United States USA31205
3 Iran Iran31023
4 Wales flag Wales30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Argentina Argentina32016
Q Poland Poland31114
3 Mexico Mexico31114
4 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia31023

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France32016
Q Australia Australia32016
3 Tunisia Tunisia31114
4 Denmark Denmark30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Japan Japan32016
Q Spain Spain31114
3 Germany Germany31114
4 Costa Rica flag Costa Rica31023

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Morocco Morocco32107
Q Croatia Croatia31205
3 Belgium Belgium31114
4 Canada Canada30030

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Brazil Brazil32016
Q Switzerland Switzerland32016
3 Cameroon flag Cameroon31114
4 Serbia Serbia30121

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Republic of Korea South Korea31114
3 Uruguay flag Uruguay31114
4 Ghana flag Ghana31023


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