All times Eastern Daylight Time (UTC -4)
June 16th, 12:00 p.m., Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador
Germany vs. Portugal
June 16th, 6:00 p.m., Estadio das Dunas, Natal
Ghana vs. USA
June 21st, 3:00 p.m., Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza
Germany vs. Ghana
June 22nd, 6:00 p.m., Arena Amazonia, Manaus
USA vs. Portugal
June 26th, 12:00 p.m., Estadio Nacional, Brasilia
Portugal vs. Ghana
June 26th, 12:00 p.m., Arena Pernambuco, Recife
USA vs. Germany
Teams
Germany
Bullets
- World Ranking: 2nd
- World Cup Appearances: 18 (Last in 2010; Includes West Germany appearances)
- Best World Cup Finish: Champions (1954, 1974, 1990)
- Finished 1st in Europe Round 1:Group C, 8 points ahead of Sweden to qualify.
- 9-0-1, 36 Goals For and 10 Goals Against in qualifying
- Leading goalscorer in Qualifying: Mesut Ozil (8)
- 9-0-4, 36 Goals For and 15 Goals Against in last 12 months
- Manager: Joachim Low. Low has been with the German national team since 2004, as an assistant to Jurgen Klinsmann. Low took over as manager in 2006 and has led Germany to a 2nd-place finish at Euro 2008, and a 3rd place finish in the 2010 World Cup.
- Captain: Philipp Lahm. Defender, Bayern Munich
- Odds to Win World Cup (via Bodog): 11/2
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (#1, Bayern Munich), Roman Weidenfeller (#22, Borussia Dortmund), Ron-Robert Zieler (#12, Hannover 96)
Defenders: Jerome Boateng (#20, Bayern Munich), Erik Durm (#15, Borussia Dortmund), Matthias Ginter (#3, SC Freiburg, GER), Kevin Grosskreutz (#2, Borussia Dortmund), Benedikt Howedes (#4, Schalke 04), Mats Hummels (#5, Borussia Dortmund), Philipp Lahm (#16, Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (#17, Arsenal, ENG), Shkodran Mustafi (#21, Sampdoria, ITA)
Midfielders: Julian Draxler (#14, Schalke 04), Mario Gotze (#19, Bayern Munich), Sami Khedira (#6, Real Madrid, ESP), Christoph Kramer (#23, Borussia Monchengladbach), Toni Kroos (#18, Bayern Munich), Thomas Muller (#13, Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (#8, Arsenal, ENG), Andre Schurrle (#9, Chelsea, ENG), Bastian Schweinsteiger (#7, Bayern Munich)
Forwards: Miroslav Klose (#11, Lazio, ITA), Lukas Podolski (#10, Arsenal, ENG)
Possible Starting XI
Offence
Klose or Podolski could see extended playing time but it appears Germany is set to give their false nine formation a shot in Brazil with midfielder Mario Gotze up front. Of all the teams in the tournament looking at a false nine, Germany are the most equipped to succeed with it. Formation is less important for Germany as for other teams as they are so good at possession and passing. They can voyage around the pitch and wear down opponents with their work rate. All of the front 6 can score and the full backs have free reign to fly up the field and outnumber opposing defences if possible.
Pre-tournament injuries ruled out Lars Bender and Marco Reus from this squad but they still have an overwhelming amount of depth offensively. Klose/Podolski and Andre Schurrle should make regular appearances in some way for Germany who also have the luxury of being able to slide their midfielders all over the field as necessary. Ozil should be the primary playmaker in the attacking midfield but in this squad, everyone can do everything so focusing defensive attention on one or two players will burn you. Expect a varied and constant attacking presence from Germany who scored a whopping 3.6 goals per game in qualifying.
Defence
High-pressure offensive system does require defenders to push far up the field and can leave them susceptible to counter-attacks. Have a pair of excellent phenomenal holding midfielders and central defenders to mitigate much of the damage though. Both Schweinsteiger and Khedira will contribute offensively but they have the field awareness and knowledge of each other's game that rarely do both push up at once so they have cover at the back. Mats Hummels and Per Mertesacker are two giants of a central defence pair and provide solid cover in front of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
Biggest questions coming in to the tournament were at right and left back. Captain Philipp Lahm has been the long time incumbent at right back but spent a lot of time at midfielder this season for Bayern Munich. Shouldn't have an issue transitioning back to defence, but an opener against Cristiano Ronaldo will test that. Left back appears to have been won by newcomer Erik Durm, more by default then anything. Marcel Schmelzer is unavailable due to injury and experiments with centre backs like Jerome Boateng outside have failed miserably. 1 international cap to his name so far, Durm looks set to make his 2nd in the starting lineup against Portugal. Not a true weakness on this team but look for teams to go after Germany on Durm's side of the field.
3 Key Players
Bastian Schweinsteiger. Joachim Low once called him the brain of this German team, which is a perfect description. Can do absolutely everything in the midfield and hardly ever turns the ball over in possession. Schweinsteiger can run for days and loves to fly around the midfield to work the German passing game in different areas of the pitch to try and work chances on goal. Also able to score from distance and defend with the best of midfielders, Schweinsteiger is one of the top midfielders in the world and is a standout in a team full of talented players.
Mario Gotze. No one's yet sure what his role will be but whether it's as an attacking midfielder or a striker, Gotze will be integral to Germany's success. If he does play up front, his play-making ability will be his biggest asset. Capable of holding the ball up for support or using his dribbling to create space for shots, Gotze creates all kinds problems as a false nine striker for opponents. Just as dangerous in the midfield, his vision and passing are perfect and will set up a number of chances on goal for the Germans.
Philipp Lahm. Very few full backs in the world can rival Lahm's skill and experience. Back at right back after some experimenting with his club, Lahm will lead a German defence that is the key in their run for a 4th world title. One of the most dangerous players on Germany going forward with his crossing and passing ability. Uses his speed and pace to pop up in the offensive zone in dangerous positions. Also tasked with shutting down Cristiano Ronaldo in the German opener.
Other Name to Know
Miroslav Klose. Now 36 years old, it's unknown exactly what role Klose will have on this team. Appears to be set to see some run as a substitute and look for his teammates to try and seek him out as frequently as possible. Klose's 14 goals in his World Cup career set him just 1 back of Ronaldo for the all-time record, a feat Klose and Germany would surely love to eclipse in what should be his last tournament.
Overall Impression
Since 1966, Germany have finished 3rd or better in 9 of the 12 World Cups played. It's an incredible feat in a sport where teams do experience highs and lows. This year's squad looks well positioned to make another run at a berth in the final. Not the pure goalscorers up front that an Argentina has but this team very much resembles the Spanish side that won 4 years ago. Everyone is expected to be able to pass the ball efficiently, make runs on and off the ball and be able to finish if the opportunity arises. A couple concerns about inexperience in the back from players like Durm and Hummels but Germany should make a valiant run at being the first European team to win a Cup in the Americas.
Ghana
Bullets
- World Ranking: 37th
- World Cup Appearances: 3 (Last in 2010)
- Best World Cup Finish: Quarterfinals (2010)
- Received a bye for African Round 1. Finished 1st in Round 2:Group D, 4 points ahead of Zambia to advance to Round 3. Defeated Egypt 7-3 in Round 3: Pairing 4 to qualify.
- 6-2-0, 25 Goals For and 6 Goals Against in qualifying
- Leading goalscorer in Qualifying: Asamoah Gyan (6)
- 8-5-4, 22 Goals For and 14 Goals Against in last 12 months
- Manager: James Kwesi Appiah. Appiah has managed Ghana since April 2012, having previously managed the Ghana U-23 team.
- Captain: Asamoah Gyan. Forward, Al-Ain (UAE)
- Odds to Win World Cup (via Bodog): 200/1
Goalkeepers: Stephen Adams (#1, Aduana Stars), Fatau Dauda (#16, Orlando Pirates, RSA), Adam Kwarasey (#12, Stromsgodset, NOR)
Defenders: Harrison Afful (#23, Esperance, TUN), John Boye (#21, Rennes, FRA), Samuel Inkoom (#2, Platanias, GRE), Jonathan Mensah (#19, Evian Thonon, FRA), Daniel Opare (#4, Standard Liege, BEL), Rashid Sumaila (#15, Mamelodi Sundowns, RSA)
Midfielders: Afriyie Acquah (#6, Parma, ITA), Albert Adomah (#14, Middlesbrough, ENG), Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (#8, Udinese, ITA), Kwadwo Asamoah (#20, Juventus, ITA), Christian Atsu (#7, Vitesse, NED), Andre Ayew (#10, Marseille, FRA), Michael Essien (#5, Milan, ITA), Wakaso Mubarak (#22, Rubin Kazan, RUS), Sulley Muntari (#11, Milan, ITA), Mohammed Rabiu (#17, Kuban Krasnodar, RUS)
Forwards: Jordan Ayew (#13, Sochaux, FRA), Kevin-Prince Boateng (#9, Schalke 04, GER), Asamoah Gyan (#3, Al-Ain, UAE), Majeed Waris (#18, Valenciennes, FRA)
Possible Starting XI
Offence
Relies heavily on the front 6 and struggles with inconsistency. When on their game though, they are as potent as any nation on the attack as South Korea discovered last night in a 4-0 drubbing. Play with a pair of holding midfielders but both are offensive-minded players who love to push forward when possible. Formation means little to this squad. This is an offence that's very much predicated on individual battles and players getting in to open space regardless of where it is and if that pulls them out of position.
Asamoah Gyan leads the way up front after his breakout performance in the 2010 World Cup. Has averaged over a goal per game in the past 3 seasons in the UAE with Al-Ain, Gyan is a prototypical target man up front and a constant threat to score. Ayew, Boateng and Asamoah complete a dynamic front four for this Ghanaian team. All three possess excellent speed, power and finishing ability and take much of the pressure off of Gyan as a striker. Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari provide the bulk of the play-making and passing in the central midfield, but both lack the pace the others have and can't provide the same type of offensive pressure.
Defence
As deadly as their front 6 can be, the defensive end for Ghana has the potential to be a nightmare for the Black Stars in Brazil. Ghana has struggled to find a balance of players that works effectively together and it has showed in pre-tournament games. Ghana has cycled different personnel in at the various positions and while they did shut out Korea last night, it was a far from convincing performance by the Ghana back line.
My defensive line up top is an educated guess at best. John Boye started last night with Mensah and could form a rotation with Sumaila as well. Afful is a central defender that absolutely appears to be destined for a spot on the wing. Ghana has a capable right back in Samuel Inkoom but they put Afful there last night and moved midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah down to left back. Similar to the offence, formation tends to fall apart when this back line becomes pressured and that disorganization should be exploited by the dangerous attacking teams in this group.
3 Key Players
Michael Essien. The heart of the Ghana midfield, Essien has lost some of his speed over the years and will have to fill the holding midfield role in the Ghana defence. Ghana counts on Essien and Muntari beside him to push forward as part of the offence and make plays in the offensive third, but this is an absolutely dreadful defensive four for Ghana and they cannot afford to be left without defensive cover. Muntari provides more of the offensive threat at this stage in their careers, so while Essien will still have to make plays offensively, it is more crucial that he hang back and slow up opposing counter-attacks in this group.
Asamoah Gyan. The Ghana captain needs just 1 goal for his country to become the all-time leading scorer for Ghana. Is surrounded by talented play-makers but is the only forward on the roster that's known as a true finisher. Can create plays for himself but is best when able to take the ball towards on goal on a first or second touch. Gyan's leadership up front will also be called upon to try and create some semblance of an organized attack from the Ghanaian front.
Kwadwo Asamoah. Regarded as the top player for this Ghana team, Asamoah is a bit of an x-factor in terms of his role for this team. Typically a left winger, Asamoah lined up at left back in their friendly against Korea. This is a mistake in my opinion, Asamoah is a phenomenal play-maker and deliverer of the ball and is best utilized next to Gyan and Boateng up front. Whether it be at midfield or defence, look for Asamoah to be a force in the Ghana offence, while also a potential liability in the back end.
Other Name to Know
Kevin-Prince Boateng. Has had an eccentric career with Ghana, having starred in 2010 before retiring from international play in 2011 at age 24. Returned in 2013 and is a very dangerous force in the Ghana attack, operating behind Gyan up front. Most notable is that Ghana will play Germany in group play. Boateng grew up in Germany, and his brother Jerome Boateng is a central defender for the German national team. Is entirely possible that the two Boateng's will find themselves locked in a battle for the ball at some point in their game.
Overall Impression
If Ghana wants to advance from this group then they had better be prepared to win some games by 3-2 or 4-3 scorelines. This is a completely different defence than the one that went to the quarterfinals in 2010 and in this group, they could get torn apart by all 3 opponents defensively. When their offence is clicking, they are equally as dangerous, but that part of the game is far less consistent than the poor defensive play. If they get on a role offensively, they stand a chance of advancing but I think any chance of them repeating their last performance is out the window.
Portugal
Bullets
- World Ranking: 4th
- World Cup Appearances: 6 (Last in 2010)
- Best World Cup Finish: Third Place (1966)
- Finished 2nd in Europe Round 1:Group F, 1 point behind Russia to advance to Round 2. Defeated Sweden 4-2 in Round 2:Pairing 1 to qualify.
- 8-1-3, 24 Goals For and 11 Goals Against in qualifying
- Leading goalscorer in Qualifying: Cristiano Ronaldo (8)
- 8-1-3, 22 Goals For and 10 Goals Against in last 12 months
- Manager: Paulo Bento. Bento was appointed Portugal manager in September 2010 and led them to a semifinal berth in Euro 2012. Bento previously coached Sporting Lisbon.
- Captain: Cristiano Ronaldo. Forward, Real Madrid (ESP)
- Odds to Win World Cup (via Bodog): 25/1
Goalkeepers: Beto (#22, Sevilla, ESP), Eduardo (#1, Braga), Rui Patricio (#12, Sporting Lisbon)
Defenders: Andre Almeida (#19, Benfica), Bruno Alves (#2, Fenerbahce, TUR), Fabio Coentrao (#5, Real Madrid, ESP), Joao Pereira (#21, Valencia, ESP), Luis Neto (#14, Zenit St. Petersburg, RUS), Pepe (#3, Real Madrid, ESP), Ricardo Costa (#13, Valencia, ESP)
Midfielders: Joao Moutinho (#8, Monaco, FRA), Miguel Veloso (#4, Dynamo Kyiv, UKR), Nani (#17, Manchester United, ENG), Rafa Silva (#15, Braga), Raul Meireles (#16, Fenerbahce, TUR), Ruben Amorim (#20, Benfica), Silvestre Varela (#18, FC Porto), Vieirinha (#10, Wolfsburg, GER), William Carvalho (#6, Sporting Lisbon)
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (#7, Real Madrid, ESP), Eder (#11, Braga), Helder Postiga (#23, Lazio, ITA), Hugo Almeida (#9, Besiktas, TUR)
Possible Starting XI
Offence
Otherwise known as Cristiano Ronaldo and Friends. If there's such a thing as a 2-3-2-3, consider that Portugal's offensive formation. Like Brazil, Portugal love to get their wing backs forward in attack and Coentrao and Pereira are 2 of the best at it. Portugal lives on the wings and having 2 guys pushed up on either side of the field is a matchup nightmare for opposing defences to prepare for.
The front 3 of Postiga, Nani and Ronaldo push very far up the field typically and offer little in the way of defensive support. Because they play so high though, the field is often very stretched vertically as the threat of a quick Portuguese counter-attack always exists. Moutinho and Meireles in the centre of the field provide balance and can slow the play down with their ball possession if Portugal gets out of control. Make no mistake though, this is all about Ronaldo. I said in the Uruguay preview that Ronaldo and Luis Suarez mean more to their teams then any other players and it's absolutely correct. If Ronaldo is not healthy or playing well, this is a very beatable Portuguese team. When he's on though, it's going to be a long day for the opposing goalkeeper.
Defence
Doesn't necessarily get the credit it deserves on Ronaldo's team, but this is a reliable unit that can provide an offensive boost on top of being defensively sound. Portugal employs a holding midfielder, partly because they allow their wing backs to advance so far up the field. It's a battle between Miguel Veloso and William Carvalho for the spot. Both provide adequate cover for the Portugal central defence though.
Those central defenders are the bright spot for the Portugal back line. Pepe and Bruno Alves are 2 veterans that have played extensively together for their country and are as good as any defence pairing in Brazil. Alves and Pepe are responsible for both the penalty area and covering the flanks if necessary if Coentrao or Pereira are caught out of position. Can allow goals at times on odd-man rushes but given the situations they are often put in, they are a world-class unit that opponents will struggle to beat one on one.
3 Key Players
Cristiano Ronaldo. The best player in the world in some eyes, Ronaldo has the potential to single-handedly take over a game like no other. One of the best dribblers and finishers in the world, Ronaldo has the potential to make a run at goal whenever he finds himself in possession of the ball. Excels in space and in tight coverage, there isn't really a formula to covering him other then effort and trying to keep him in front of them. Portugal looks entirely different when Ronaldo is on his game and more then anyone else, he is they individual key to his team's success.
Fabio Coentrao. As much a midfielder as he is a left back, Coentrao brings an attacking edge from the back of the field that few in the world can replicate. Speedy and strong on the ball, Coentrao loves to jump in to the midfield and create a sort of 3-4-3 formation. Not a huge defensive liability with an elite Portuguese central defence, Coentrao forces opponents to know where he is at all times, an odd quality for a defender. Is a potential x-factor for Portugal in games as his style is tough to prepare for and unpredictable.
Nani. There are other players that could fit in here but while Ronaldo is a forward playing on the wing, Nani is a true winger in every sense of the word. Very fast and with quick movement of the ball, Nani is one of the top assist men on the wing in the world. If he catches a left back napping, he'll have no problem blowing by them and can provide wicked crosses in to the penalty area. Allows Portugal to stretch the field by its entire width and opens up more space on the left side for Ronaldo to operate.
Other Name to Know
William Carvalho. May not have yet supplanted Miguel Veloso as the holding midfielder but Carvalho will see time in this tournament and is the likely future of the Portugal midfield. A bruiser at nearly 6'2", Carvalho is a huge presence in the defensive midfield and has the speed to keep up with opposing attackers to match his size. Also great on the counter-attack as he has the vision required to pick out the front 3 with long balls to create odd-man rushes. Potential for breakout player of the tournament.
Overall Impression
Depends entirely on Ronaldo. Media and Portuguese camp says he's good to go so we'll see how it goes. The entire fate of Portugal's World Cup run rests on his shoulders. They struggled to qualify for this tournament and if you look at the games they had trouble with, Ronaldo simply wasn't there (literally or figuratively). Solid enough on the back end to survive without him but will struggle to advance out of here if he isn't in top form.
USA
Bullets
- World Ranking: 13th
- World Cup Appearances: 10 (Last in 2010)
- Best World Cup Finish: Third Place (1930)
- Received byes in Rounds 1 and 2 of North American qualifying. Finished 1st, 3 points ahead of Jamaica in Round 3:Group A to advance to Round 4. Finished 1st, 4 points ahead of Costa Rica in Round 4 to qualify.
- 11-3-2, 26 Goals For and 14 Goals Against in qualifying
- Leading goalscorer in Qualifying: Clint Dempsey (8)
- 19-3-2, 57 Goals For and 23 Goals Against in last 12 months
- Manager: Jurgen Klinsmann (GER). Klinsmann has managed the USA since July 2011, and led them to victory in the 2013 Gold Cup. Klinsmann coached native Germany in their 2006 World Cup campaign, finishing in third place.
- Captain: Clint Dempsey. Forward, Seattle Sounders
- Odds to Win World Cup (via Bodog): 100/1
Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (#12, Aston Villa, ENG), Tim Howard (#1, Everton, ENG), Nick Rimando (#22, Real Salt Lake)
Defenders: DaMarcus Beasley (#7, Puebla, MEX), Matt Besler (#5, Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (#6, Hertha BSC, GER), Geoff Cameron (#20, Stoke City, ENG), Timothy Chandler (#21, FC Nurnberg, GER), Omar Gonzalez (#3, Los Angeles Galaxy), Fabian Johnson (#23, Hoffenheim, GER), DeAndre Yedlin (#2, Seattle Sounders)
Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (#15, Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (#11, Nantes, FRA), Michael Bradley (#4, Toronto FC, CAN), Brad Davis (#14, Houston Dynamo), Mikkel Diskerud (#10, Rosenborg, NOR), Julian Green (#16, Bayern Munich, GER), Jermaine Jones (#13, Besiktas, TUR), Graham Zusi (#19, Sporting Kansas City)
Forwards: Jozy Altidore (#17, Sunderland, ENG), Clint Dempsey (#8, Seattle Sounders), Aron Johannsson (#9, AZ Alkmaar, NED), Chris Wondolowski (#18, San Jose Earthquakes)
Possible Starting XI
Offence
Klinsmann has been experimenting with a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-4-2 diamond formation and it appears the diamond has won out. The diamond has it's pros and cons for the U.S. The big pro is that it puts their best player Michael Bradley in to open space in the centre of the field and allows him to be the play-maker for the strikers which is how he fits best in this squad. The drawback is the formation counts on the 2 outside midfielders to cover a lot of space width-wise and provide strong delivery of the ball to the centre of the field and the U.S. lacks the quality of players in that role that other nations have.
Altidore and Dempsey will lead the way upfront. This is the other benefit of having 2 strikers, is that Dempsey can fill a play-making second forward role behind Altidore and free up the big centre forward to focus on scoring. Bradley fills in behind as an attacking midfielder role and has a wealth of options open to him to make decisions with. Not much offensive support from the back four, This is an offence that relies heavily on those three to drive the U.S. attack, not dissimilar to what Netherlands is doing with their 2-3-5. Johannsson, Diskerud and Wondolowski all provide offensive depth off the bench and should feature regularly in the U.S. attack as well.
Defence
Will be somewhat of an adventure for the Americans in Brazil. Have 2 bright spots in front and behind the back line. Kyle Beckerman is a solid defensive midfielder and is able to put enough pressure on the opposing counter-attack himself to allow time for the rest of the U.S. midfield to swarm back defensively. And in goal, Tim Howard provides a safe, consistent goalkeeping and leadership presence.
While the back line seems set with Johnson, Cameron, Besler, and Beasley it is the definite weak point in this U.S. squad. Beasley provides tons of experience with over 110 caps in his career. Beasley is also 32 years old though and has seen his pace dissipate over the years. With no other world-class left back at their disposal though, Beasley is the go-to man in the position. Will be curious to see how he handles the likes of Ayew and Nani in competition. Amongst the other 3 players, no one has more then 30 caps for their country. Physically capable, the biggest question with the U.S. is there decision-making and awareness. Too often, scoring chances against the U.S. come from missed assignments as opposed to poor play. If they can keep track of some dynamic attacking fronts in this group, the U.S. could be ok.
3 Key Players
Michael Bradley. Somewhat overlooked in his time with Roma, Bradley goes under the radar internationally but is one of the better attacking midfielders in the game. Has incredible endurance and while he should play a quasi attacking midfield/third forward role for the U.S., he can easily drop back in support of the defensive midfield for the U.S. Has excellent vision and finds holes in a defence where none should exist. Dictates the pace of play for the Americans and provides a wealth of experience as well. No player is more critical to the U.S. having success in the offensive zone then Bradley.
Kyle Beckerman. Relatively slow and little utility in the attacking third, but Beckerman is a rock in the defensive midfield. Doesn't do anything flashy but gets by on heart and effort and provides a solid force in front of a shaky defensive backfield. The emergence of Beckerman has been a boon to the U.S. national team, allowing them to move to a diamond midfield and freeing Bradley up to use his creativity in the offensive area as opposed to being stuck in the holding midfield.
Jozy Altidore. Much maligned for his streakiness, the U.S. relies heavily on Altidore as a focal point in their offensive attack. At his best when facing goal, Altidore has struggled previously as a lone striker. Dempsey should be playing as a second forward alongside which helps Altidore be more of a target man than a playmaker, but goal production from Altidore is critical on a team that lacks the natural goal-scoring talent that Germany or Portugal possess.
Other Name to Know
Julian Green. Not expected to play in Brazil, The 19 year old made headlines when he was selected for this squad ahead of all-time leading goalscorer for the U.S. Landon Donovan. This in spite of the fact that Green did not play at all for Bayern Munich this past club season and had just one appearance for the national team prior to his callup. They don't play the same position and there are other factors at play, but Donovan's absence sent shockwaves through the U.S. and Green will inevitably be linked to that decision should the U.S. struggle.
Overall Impression
My mantra with the U.S. has been this for a while. Not nearly as good as some of the "USA! USA!" fans believe they are, but far better then the rest of the world believes they are. You could plop them in almost any other group and I'd say they'd be favoured to make the Round of 16. They aren't though and have a huge task ahead of them to get out of the group. I actually liked their chances until yesterday when Ghana demolished Korea and Ronaldo was declared fit. Can they advance? Yes, but they need a defensive performance that is beyond what they have shown capable of in the past and their attacking three to be completely on point.
FINAL THOUGHTS & PREDICTIONS
The GROUP OF DEATH as it were. That doesn't do it justice. Hang on...
Well that's not nearly as dramatic as I wanted. You let me down Google.
This group features 3 teams ranked in the top 13 in the world, as well as a 2010 quarterfinalist who has eliminated one of those 3 teams in 2 straight world cups. Doesn't get more entertaining then that.
First off, I think Germany wins every game they play. I'll have my knockout round predictions tomorrow and need to review them still but I tentatively have Germany winning it all. Portugal will struggle with Germany's passing and movement and the other 2 are simply outclassed.
I do however think it's an open competition for second place. Portugal have a solid back line and if not the best player in the world then he's 1b. The U.S. and Ghana bring some explosive attacking offences and some shoddy defensive play. I think Ghana better up front then the U.S. but the American defence far more reliable. I think Portugal takes the group if they draw each other though. If one of those two can win against the other then it comes down to 1 game between the winner and Portugal. Best guess is US gets revenge against Ghana but struggles to penetrate the Portuguese lines and gets burned by Ronaldo and Nani on the wings.
Predicted Standings:
Germany - 9 pts
Portugal - 6 pts
USA - 3 pts
Ghana - 0 pts
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