Post-Game Reaction: USA 2, Portugal 2

30 Seconds To Glory

The United States entered this game with the strategy of playing for the tie, which is very rarely a good idea because it means having the ball in your defensive end for most of the game. Klinsmann, in the absence of Jozy Altidore due to injury, chose to play a 4-5-1 with two defensive midfielders and just Clint Dempsey playing up top. The game plan, however, quickly needed to be adjusted when the U.S. got off to a nightmare start to the game, a horribly botched clearance by Geoff Cameron led to a gift of a goal six yards out by Portugal’s Nani in the 5th minute, and now had to look to score and get the game back level. The U.S. did a great job maintaining their composure after going down early and actually outplayed Portugal for almost the entire game. Jermaine Jones tied the game in the 64th minute after a picture perfect strike from almost 30 yards left Portugal goalkeeper Beto merely a flat-footed spectator. In the 81st minute Dempsey converted on an easy tap in off his stomach from a cross courtesy of Graham Zusi and the U.S., needing a win to guarantee a spot in the Round of 16, looked like they were on their way to a victory. However, when you are facing Ballon d’Or award winner Cristiano Ronaldo you cannot afford to celebrate until the final whistle blows, which is exactly what led to the game-tying goal for Portugal. With the last play of the game the United States seemingly fell asleep and Ronaldo sent in a beautiful cross that was headed home by a cutting Varela, who was undeterred on his way to the ball. Portugal’s slim hopes were kept alive in this World Cup and the Americans were denied a guaranteed spot in the knockout stage.

United States 2014 World Cup Preview

          It could not have gotten much worse for the United States during the World Cup draw. In addition to being drawn into Group G, the Group of Death, with Germany, Portugal, and Ghana, the U.S. also has the toughest travel schedule, having to go about 9,000 total miles between games in the group stage. It will not be easy moving on from this group, but what the USA has proven over the years is that the team is best when they are the underdogs, which is certainly the case coming into the summer of 2014. Here is an analysis of each positional level of Team USA, as well as how they may fair in each game.