USA vs Wales Predictions

• Wales have won only one of their last seven competitive internationals 
• The US were level at half-time in ten of their 14 World Cup final-stage qualifying matches
• Wales have failed to score in two previous internationals against USA
• The US won 1-0 five times in six games during their victorious Gold Cup run last year

Early decider for Welsh

There’s always an odd atmosphere for a top-two showdown in the opening game. England are favourites to progress from Group B, with Iran expected to just make up the numbers. That gives Wales a great chance to make the last 16 in their return to the World Cup.

However, the USA come into this tournament on the back of a revolution. They have the tournament’s youngest squad with an average age of 24.2, with DeAndre Yedlin the only player in their travelling party to have featured at a World Cup before. Can this young side triumph, or will Gareth Bale enjoy a last international hurrah?

Tough clash for Page and co.

The Welsh have a tried and tested style, which took them to the tournament and got them into the last 16 at Euro 2020. They are a defence-first side, who send their pacey front-three on the counter-attack when they get the chance.

The problem for the Welsh is that the US are perfectly set up to avoid falling for that trap. While they start with a 4-3-3, they tend to switch to a back-three in possession and push their full-backs aggressively high.

The US also don’t let in a lot of goals. They won the Gold Cup – North America’s continental competition – last year, conceding just once along the way. They won 1-0 in each of their last four games, so this is a defence the Welsh will struggle to shake.

USA to land knockout punch

The US can take a huge step towards the last 16 with a victory on Monday. While the Welsh will struggle to break through the US, while the American side get their full-backs high it’ll also be a struggle to contain them.

Expect the US to pin back a deep Welsh defence, using their wide-threat to try and break them down. With that in mind, it could be Weston McKennie’s threat from deep which makes the difference. The Juventus midfielder is a classy option in the US midfield, while he has scored in two of his last three for the Italian side.

Wales have lost three straight games coming into this one and they lost five of six games in their previous Nations League campaign. They’ve conceded in 10 of their last 11 games, so back a solid US side to edge them out. Back the returning Americans for the points, while a 1-0 win is my correct score prediction.

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