That has gone about as swimmingly as the United States could have hoped.
Eight years on from its last appearance at a World Cup, with a side boasting a grand total of zero minutes of experience at this tournament, Gregg Berhalter’s side has looked accomplished and assured. That it will be mildly disappointed only to lead by one — an expertly crafted, precisely finished goal from Tim Weah — is a reasonable measure of performance. Wales, on the other hand, has seemed curiously inhibited.
The Welsh haven’t been to this tournament for 64 years, remember; it is possible the significance of the moment has proved too much to bear for the players.