<p>The USA is, yet again, into the U20 World Cup quarterfinal. The Americans got there via a comfortable 4-0 win over New Zealand on Tuesday. This was the best performance for the young American side, usurping that title from a <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/us-dominates-fiji-in-u20-world-cup-group-stage-win-20230523-WST-434305.html">3-0 win over Fiji</a> in group-stage play. Tuesday’s win maintained a perfect defensive record, as well. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/late-gomez-goal-gives-u-s-win-in-u20-world-cup-opener-20230520-WST-433961.html">Ecuador failed to score in the opener</a>, and Slovakia could not find a breakthrough on matchday three.</p>



<p>The United States was, perhaps, surprised to score the first goal. Given its success in the U20 World Cup thus far, scoring has been no issue. Six goals in three games is a strong return. However, the 14th-minute opener against New Zealand was one of the more unexpected. After picking up the ball 25 yards from goal, Owen Wolff, a midfielder for Austin FC, released a shot on net. </p>



<p>It took the ball a full second to reach the New Zealand net as it rolled along the ground. While the All Whites’ goalkeeper Kees Sims looked likely to save, he retracted his hands thinking it was going wide. However, it slid inside the keeper’s righthand post, giving the USYNT a lead.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">THERE IT IS! <br><br>It&apos;s an ambitious effort from <a href="https://twitter.com/AustinFC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AustinFC</a>&apos;s Owen Wolff that opens the scoring for the <a href="https://twitter.com/USYNT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USYNT</a> 👏 <a href="https://t.co/ejW0ly7eet">pic.twitter.com/ejW0ly7eet</a></p>— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1663603908735021063?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>That goal began a period of dominance for the United States. One of those chances was a deflection off the crossbar. </p>



<p>In total, by the end of the first 45 minutes, Michael Varas’s American outfit had three-fourths of the possession. That led to a spell of phenomenal chances at the end of the first half. Diego Luna made a terrific run through the midfield that produced a corner. On the following scramble, Daniel Edelman forced a strong save out of Sims on a volley from distance. The final chance was on a clipped cross from the right side. However, the American shot in the goal-mouth went wide.</p>



<h2>USA into another U20 World Cup quarterfinal with second-half display</h2>



<p>The United States continued that unfortunate trend just minutes into the second half. More well-worked play in the New Zealand end almost set up a goal. Caleb Wiley was in behind the defense, and he passed the ball into the middle for Jonathan Gómez. However, Gómez, who is in the Real Sociedad system, <a href="https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1663617692958437379" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">touched his shot wide</a> of the gaping goal.</p>



<p>The United States finally cashed in via the only player with multiple goals in the side at this tournament. Cade Cowell, who entered the game with goals in back-to-back games, fired a left-footed shot on the floor from inside the box. He dragged it across a helpless Sims. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">HE&apos;S CLINICAL 🇺🇸<a href="https://twitter.com/SJEarthquakes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SJEarthquakes</a>&apos; Cade Cowell tucks it away for the <a href="https://twitter.com/USYNT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USYNT</a> and doubles the United States&apos; lead! <a href="https://t.co/x6I54WrS6K">pic.twitter.com/x6I54WrS6K</a></p>— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1663620639331106818?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Justin Che made it three not long after. Another strong run through the midfield from Diego Luna led to an odd-man rush for the United States. Cade Cowell, one on one with Sims, went wide. With his angle to goal shut, the San Jose Earthquakes talent squared the ball. <a href="https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1663624497293828103" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Che was the one to pounce on the loose ball</a>, slamming it into the New Zealand net with 15 minutes left in the 90. Rokas Pukštas&nbsp;made it four six minutes later. A free kick swooping in from the left side met the 18-year-old’s head, who simply had to get it on target.</p>



<p>The win punches the USYNT into the quarterfinals of the U20 World Cup for the fourth-straight year. In each instance, though, the United States lost in the last eight. The Americans will play the winner of Thursday’s game between Uruguay and Gambia. </p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Icon Sportswire</em></p>


USA wins to reach fourth-straight U20 World Cup quarterfinal

The USA is, yet again, into the U20 World Cup quarterfinal. The Americans got there via a comfortable 4-0 win over New Zealand on Tuesday.

<p>As soon as their quarterfinal clash with France was confirmed, there was one question that dominated the discussion in England: how do you stop Mbappé?</p>



<p>The game <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/england-3-0-senegal-3-things-we-learned-20221204-WST-411202.html">against Senegal</a> hadn’t even finished before the commentators had turned their thoughts. England gave away the ball against the <em>Lions of Teranga</em>, acted sloppy in possession and was casual on the back line. Rather than talk about Senegal, commentators said ‘<em>they won’t get away with that against France.’</em> More specifically, the player came across their thoughts.</p>



<p><em>You would not be able to give Mbappé that kind of space.</em></p>



<p><em>I’m worried over what Kylian Mbappé can do against England in that scenario.</em></p>



<p>Newspaper headlines the next day echoed those thoughts. A range of articles and columns dedicated to what – and who – was agreed as the game’s deciding factor.</p>



<p>It’s an understandable approach for those looking in. Mbappé is the tournament’s <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/mbappe-brace-guides-france-to-quarter-finals-past-poland-20221204-WST-411186.html">stand out player, so far</a>. In the now, he is the tournament’s top scorer with five goals. Assuredly, he is <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/06/01/kylian-mbappe-road-to-being-the-greatest-of-all-time/">a future Ballon d’Or winner</a>, and quite possibly a two-time World Cup winner, or even more.</p>



<p>His speed and ability to take the ball past players alongside the ease at which he appears to find scoring certainly marks him out as the biggest threat England will face.</p>



<p>The biggest but not the only threat, that is.</p>



<h2>Kylian Mbappé not the only threat England faces</h2>



<p>Amid all the talk of Kylian Mbappé, there is a danger in England overlooking the rest of France. It is an immensely talented and disciplined squad with players across the front line capable of hurting England.</p>



<p>Now his country’s top scorer of all time, Olivier Giroud carries a threat like few other No. 9s. He is adept with both his head and his feet, and he is comfortable with his back to goal. His uncanny ability to possess and find space amidst the defense brings others into the game outside of him.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Congratulations to Olivier Giroud who is now France&apos;s all-time leading goalscorer. 52 goals! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FRA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FRA</a> <br><br>🎥 <a href="https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FOXSoccer</a><a href="https://t.co/hribmS7Bng">pic.twitter.com/hribmS7Bng</a></p>— World Soccer Talk (@worldsoccertalk) <a href="https://twitter.com/worldsoccertalk/status/1599430334877118464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Dembele’s one-on-one prowess should more than worry Luke Shaw on the right hand side. The Barcelona winger looks a player reborn after his injury battles earlier in his career. He looks to come inside and take the game to a potentially shaky <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/harry-maguire-poses-dilemma-for-southgate-and-england-20221108-WST-407222.html">Harry Maguire</a>. This is cause for concern on the faces of all England supporters.</p>



<p>Behind the front three lies perhaps the key player to all of this, Antoine Griezmann. The Atletico Madrid star sacrificed his more selfish instincts to turn from goal scorer to deep-lying playmaker. Now, he finds space between the lines. Therefore, he ties together moves to hurt opponents. How England tackle him will be just as important as their tactics against Kylian Mbappé. Cutting out the supply line to the front three will prove crucial to England’s chance of success. Could Declan Rice be tasked with a man-marking role?</p>



<p>For all the talk of opponents, it shouldn’t be forgotten that England have some serious weapons of their own.</p>



<h5>Attack may be the best form of defense</h5>



<p>They will go into the quarterfinal as the tournament’s top scorers and can boast a genuine world class forward in Harry Kane. They have a bench as strong – if not stronger – as any other nation, with game-changers like <a href="https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1599357853281705985" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rashford</a>, Grealish, Mount, Maddison and Sterling able to affect the outcome late in the game.</p>



<p><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/jude-bellingham-and-bukayo-saka-englands-world-cup-stars-20221124-WST-409625.html">Saka</a>, Foden and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/09/27/england-cant-win-the-world-cup-without-jude-bellingham/">Bellingham</a> have already proved they are more than ready to become international regulars. Bellingham in particular has <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/psg-president-cant-contain-interest-in-jude-bellingham-20221207-WST-411517.html">captured the imagination</a> with his commanding performances. His bursts from central midfield have drawn comparisons with some of the greats in his home country with pundits and journalists alike lining up to herald him as ‘the world’s next best midfielder’.</p>



<p>The fear for those supporting England is that Gareth Southgate will pay too much attention on how to stop France that he fails to focus on how best to hurt them. In order for England to succeed, they must remember to bring the sword as well as the shield.</p>



<h5>Formational decisions</h5>



<p>Central to that is formation. They’ve come this far deploying a 4-3-3 which gets the best out of their young stars and provides enough stability defensively to allow Bellingham the freedom to play his natural game. It plays to their attacking strengths and places the onus on the front six breaking quickly as a unit, as they did so impressively against Senegal.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">MBAPPE IS UNREAL<br><br>He scores his FIFTH goal of the 2022 FIFA World Cup 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/ZevekmF47V">pic.twitter.com/ZevekmF47V</a></p>— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1599446282157826059?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Calls for Southgate to return to a back three in order to double-up on right-backs and mitigate the threat of Mbappé would result in a midfield short in numbers and hand the initiative to France before a ball is kicked.</p>



<p>Whatever approach England do take, it promises to be&nbsp; gripping encounter, the match-up of the tournament so far and true test of both team’s chances of making it all the way to the final on 18 December.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Laci Perenyi</em></p>



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England must focus on more than Kylian Mbappé to beat France

England has a tough task in slowing down the blistering pace and finishing of Kylian Mbappé. Yet, France is far more than its PSG talisman.

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USA wins to reach fourth-straight U20 World Cup quarterfinal

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England must focus on more than Kylian Mbappé to beat France