All-Group Teams: Group G

Here's my All-Group team for Group G:

All-Group G XI







Also Considered:

Germany: Kroos
Ghana: Atsu
Portugal: Ronaldo, Moutinho, Pereira
USA: Jones, Howard

Game 45 Recap: Portugal 2-1 Ghana

PORTUGAL 2-1 GHANA

Portugal finally got the win they needed in this tournament but it was not enough as Portugal lose the second place tiebreaker against the U.S. and are headed home early along with Ghana.

It was a weird start to the day for Ghana. News broke early this morning that Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng had been kicked out of Ghana's camp. Boateng apparently had been verbally insulting manager Kwesi Appiah for days ever since being left on the bench to start Ghana's opener against the U.S. And Sulley Muntari supposedly physically assaulted a Ghana FA staff member, over unpaid bonus money that was promised to the players.

Muntari was suspended for today's match anyway but both players were dismissed by Ghana prior to the contest. One can only imagine what the state of the Ghanaian team was after the scenario. For what it's worth, Ghana did apparently get their bonuses. The cash (3.5 million dollars) was flown in overnight from Ghana. As a former investment banker, I don't want to know what that says about the Ghanaian banking system but I digress.

Ghana looked poor to start off the game. Portugal was all over possession and nearly found the opening goal off a Ronaldo cross that drifted towards goal and was only turned out by the crossbar. It was the first of several chances for Ronaldo in this game.

He came close again in the 19th minute, getting a free header off a Joao Pereira cross but the ball was too close to Fatau Dauda who punched the ball off the goal line. It was the highlight of Dauda's tournament apparently as he celebrated like Ghana had won the tournament after the save.

Portugal were not to be denied in the first half though but the source of the goal was unexpected. A Portuguese cross was awkwardly cleared by Ghana defender John Boye who ended up deflecting the ball off the inside if his post and in for an own goal. Portugal didn't care what the source of the goal was, as they had a deserved 1-0 lead.

Portugal nearly found a 2-0 lead off the break when yet another Boye clearance sailed just over his own crossbar and what was generally an awful day for the Rennes defender.

Absent from the game for much of the first half. Ghana turned up the pressure in the second half and it paid off in the 57th minute. Lax defending from Portugal led to both a free cross and free header at the back post for Asamoah Gyan who buried the ball to tie the game and strike fear in to the hearts of U.S. fans. Losing in their game, Ghana was now just one goal away from taking over second place and a spot in the knockout round.

Ghana nearly picked up the go-ahead goal 4 minutes later when they won yet another free header but Majeed Waris turned the ball just wide from the front of goal. Starting in place of the suspended Boateng, it was a poor finish by Wars and was the closest Ghana would come to taking a lead in this game.

Ronaldo had several chances to score again in this game but only converted on one in the 80th minute. Yet another poor clearance from John Boye (of course) was only cleared off the Ghana line by a Dauda punch. Unfortunately, that punch fell right to Ronaldo who had one of the easiest finishes of his Portugal career.

The goal secured the Portugal victory but well behind the U.S. in goal differential, it ensured both Portugal and Ghana would head home empty-handed from this tournament.

Goals

Portugal: Cristiano Ronaldo (80')

Ghana: John Boye (OG '30), Asamoah Gyan (57')

Discipline

Portugal: Joao Moutinho (Yellow 90+4')
Ghana: Harrison Afful (Yellow 39'), Majeed Waris (Yellow 55'), Jordan Ayew (Yellow 78')

Man of the Match

Cristiano Ronaldo was named Man of the Match and this time it wasn't just a matter of name recognition. Ronaldo had his best performance of the World Cup in this game, scoring the winning goal and being a general menace to Ghana at all times during the game. Probably should have had more then 1 goal in this game but can't take away from his performance today.

Key Moment

There was a feeling when the game was 1-1 that it wasn't going to stay that way and it was mostly American fans waiting for the result. A Ghana win would've sent them through to the knockout round but it was not to be. A poor clearance by John Boye in the Ghana penalty area led to goalkeeper Fatau Dauda being forced to punch the ball off his goal line. The punch fell straight to Ronaldo who calmly buried the ball in the net. Ironically that ball ensured neither team in this match would play any further part in this tournament.

What we learned from Portugal

Impressed with how well they came back in this group after the Germany loss. Felt they actually had a chance to threaten for second-place in this game but too many shots directed straight a Fatau Dauda in goal. Curious to see what the Portuguese future is in world soccer. Ronaldo will be 32 next time around and this team has been on a downward trend for years.

What we learned from Ghana

They didn't look good today. Not sure how much of that was Portugal picking their game up and how much was Ghana being a mental mess after the Boateng-Muntari debacle earlier today. Struggled defensively again (John Boye is just terrible) and didn't have the same flare on the wings as they usually do. This is a solid program when they care about playing though and we'll see them again sooner rather then later.

Going Forward

Advancement chances for both teams were slim and a narrow Portugal victory was one of the sure-fire ways for both teams to be eliminated. Both sides will head home early, but at least Ghana got their tournament bonuses! I may do a post later on this trend amongst African teams (hint: It won't be kind).

Game 45 Starting Lineups (Portugal vs. Ghana)

Game Preview here.
Starting Lineups below:

Portugal

Costa, Almeida, Meireles and Postiga out. Pepe, Carvalho, Amorim and Eder in. This may turn out to be a 3-4-3 unless Veloso truly is playing as a left back.

 

Substitutes:

Goalkeepers: Eduardo (#1), Rui Patricio (#12)

Defenders: Andre Almeida (#19), Ricardo Costa (#13), Luis Neto (#14)

Midfielders: Raul Meireles (#16), Rafa Silva (#15), Silvestre Varela (#18), Vierinha (#10)

Forwards: Hugo Almeida (#9). Helder Postiga (#23)


Ghana

Waris and Agyemang-Badu replace the suspended Muntari and Boateng.



Substitutes:

Goalkeepers: Stephen Adams (#1), Adam Kwarasey (#12)

Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (#2), Daniel Opare (#4), Rashid Sumaila (#15)

Midfielders: Afriyie Acquah (#6), Albert Adomah (#14), Michael Essien (#5), Wakaso Mubarak (#22)

Forwards: Jordan Ayew (#13)

Game 45 Preview: Portugal vs. Ghana

PORTUGAL vs. GHANA

 Date: June 26, 2014

Time: 12:00 p.m. EDT

Venue: Estadio Nacional, Brasilia

Overall Head-to-Head Record (W-L-T): N/A

Last Match: N/A

Line: Portugal +110

Group G Preview here.

Starting Lineups posted separately once they're announced.

Team Profiles 

World Ranking: Portugal (4th), Ghana (37th)

Managers: Paulo Bento (POR), James Kwesi Appiah (GHA)

Captains: Cristiano Ronaldo (POR), Asamoah Gyan (GHA)

World Cup Appearances: 6 (POR), 3 (GHA)

Best Finish: Portugal (Third Place, 1966), Ghana (Quarterfinals, 2010)

Qualifying Records: Portugal (8-1-3, GF: 24, GA: 11), Ghana (6-2-0, GF: 25, GA: 6)

Previous Game Results

Portugal

June 16th - Germany def. Portugal 4-0

June 22nd - Portugal tied USA 2-2 

Ghana

June 16th - USA def. Ghana 2-1
June 21st - Germany tied Ghana 2-2

Rosters

Injuries/Discipline

Portugal: Hugo Almeida (Doubtful - Leg), Fabio Coentrao (Out - Hamstring), Rui Patricio (Questionable - Thigh), Joao Pereira (Yellow Card), Helder Postiga (Questionable - Hamstring)
Ghana: Kevin-Prince Boateng (Suspended by Team), Sulley Muntari (Suspended - Card Accumulation, SENT HOME), Daniel Opare (Doubtful - Leg), Mohammed Rabiu (Yellow Card)

Overview

A must-win game for both teams if either wants to continue their journey in the 2014 World Cup. While Portugal have been seen as a team in disarray all tournament, reports coming out this morning suggest that Ghana is an even bigger mess.

Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari have both left the Ghana team, and not necessarily by choice from the sounds of things. Boateng has apparently been verbally sparring with their manager Kwesi Appiah over selection concerns, and Muntari apparently physically assaulted a Ghanaian staffer over unpaid bonuses. These are still rumours but neither play will have any part in this tournament going forward.

Muntari was suspended for this game anyway due to an accumulation of cards. Boateng is a key player for Ghana but they are loaded in attacking players that can supplant him up front. Biggest concern for Ghana in this game is their mental state. I can imagine the Ghana FA wants to keep as tight a lid on this as possible so its not known what the state of team morale or chemistry is. Stories like this are never a good sign in a tournament though (see: 2010 France).

Portugal's personnel troubles are known and are based on injury. Fabio Coentrao is still out. Hugo Almeida and Helder Postiga are both doubtful and Beto may again see time in goal in place of Rui Patricio. That says nothing to the health of Cristiano Ronaldo who Portugal claim is 100% fit.

Won't even attempt to analyze formations until they come out with so many injuries/suspensions. Keys to the game will be the wing play. Ghana love to press high and attack the outside of the pitch before cutting towards goal. Portugal meanwhile like to counter-attack the flanks with Ronaldo and Nani. Expect a fast-paced back-and-forth contest in this one.

Personnel

In the Portuguese Third: Pepe is back from suspension which should bolster Portugal's defence. Even without Boateng and Muntari though, this is a scary offensive front to play against. Atsu and Andre Ayew have terrorized full backs throughout this tournament and Asamoah Gyan up front is one of the top target men around. Portugal have surrendered 6 goals so far this tournament, and will be hard pressed to contain this Ghanian front 4. Advantage: Ghana.

In the Midfield:Interesting question. Both teams love to counter-attack as the focal point of their offences. Difference in terms of pressure though, Portugal content to sit back and defend while Ghana love the high press. Can Ghana press Portugal without exploiting them to fast breaks? And can Portugal counter-attack against Ghana's speed? Advantage: Ghana, only because of the speed advantage.

In the Ghanaian Third: Ghana have some quality full backs but this is a weak central defence pairing. Eder is likely to start up front for Portugal and is the least experienced of the Portugal strikers, but Ronaldo, Nani and Moutinho among others can provide enough pressure themselves to cause Ghana concern. Advantage: Portugal.

Goalkeeping: Through 4 games, 4 different goalkeepers have played for these teams. I would imagine Dauda gets the call for Ghana on strength of his showing against Germany. For Portugal, depends entirely if Rui Patricio is healthy or not. Who knows? Advantage: Incomplete

Portugal will win if:

Comes down to individual battles on the flanks in my opinion. Can Andre Almeida and Joao Pereira do what neither Germany or the U.S. could do which is close down Ghana on the wings and prevent Ayew and Atsu from having their way with crosses and shots. Close those two players off and Portugal will severely limit Ghana's potential for goals. This is far easier said then done.

Ghana will win if:

Neutralize Ronaldo and own their penalty area. If Ronaldo is truly 100% fit (lol, no) then he will be the player to end Ghana's World Cup hopes. Have to find a way to keep him away from the centre of the field and harass him as much as possible on the ball. Ghana have not been able to keep opponents from their goalfront in the first 2 games. Can't win in this game if they don't close that down, Nani and Ronaldo will eat them alive with crosses.

Prediction

I was all set to pick Ghana in this game. Then I remembered Muntari's out and Pepe's back. Then I woke up today and saw Ghana had gone in to full 2010 France Meltdown Mode.

I don't know to be honest. Can't judge the mental state of Ghana and how much fight-back potential Portugal has down so far in the group. I think there will be goals but impossible at this point to tell if either team comes out on top. If they have heads in the game, I still think Ghana. If not, does Portugal have enough to overcome their speed?

Ghana 2-2 Portugal.

June 22nd Game Recap

Missed games today but brief updates below. Full update on standings to follow:

BELGIUM 1-0 RUSSIA

Goals

Belgium: Divock Origi (88')

Russia: N/A

Discipline

Belgium: Axel Witsel (Yellow 54'), Toby Alderweireld (Yellow 73')

Russia: Denis Glushakov (Yellow 38')

Man of the Match: Belgium MF Eden Hazard

ALGERIA 4-2 SOUTH KOREA

Goals

Algeria: Islam Slimani (26'), Rafik Halliche (28'), Abdelmoumene Djabou (38'), Yacine Brahimi (62')

South Korea: Son Heung-Min (50'), Koo Ja-Cheol (72')

Discipline

Algeria: Madjid Bougherra (Yellow 67')

South Korea: Lee Yong (Yellow 54'), Han Kook-Young (Yellow 69')

Man of the Match: Algeria FW Islam Slimani

USA 2-2 PORTUGAL

Goals

USA: Jermaine Jones (64'), Clint Dempsey (81')

Portugal: Nani (5'), Silvestre Varela (90+5')

Discipline

USA: Jermaine Jones (Yellow 75')

Portugal: N/A

Man of the Match: USA GK Tim Howard

Game 32 Preview: USA vs. Portugal

USA vs. PORTUGAL

 Date: June 22, 2014

Time: 6:00 p.m. EDT

Venue: Arena Amazonia, Manaus

Overall Head-to-Head Record (W-L-T): 2-2-1

Last Match: 2002 World Cup (Group Stage). USA def. Portugal 3-2.

Line: Portugal -140

Group G Preview here.

Starting Lineups posted separately once they're announced.

Team Profiles 

World Ranking: USA (13th), Portugal (4th)

Managers: Jurgen Klinsmann (USA), Paulo Bento (POR)

Captains: Clint Dempsey (USA), Cristiano Ronaldo (POR)

World Cup Appearances: 10 (USA), 6 (POR)

Best Finish: USA (Third Place, 1930), Portugal (Third Place, 1966)

Qualifying Records: USA (11-3-2, GF: 26, GA: 14), Portugal (8-1-3, GF: 24, GA: 11)

Previous Game Results

USA

June 16th - USA def. Ghana 2-1

Portugal

June 16th - Germany def. Portugal 4-0

Rosters

Injuries/Discipline

USA: Jozy Altidore (Out - Hamstring)
Portugal: Hugo Almeida (Doubtful - Leg), Fabio Coentrao (Out - Thigh), Rui Patricio (Doubtful - Thigh), Joao Pereira (Yellow Card), Pepe (Suspended - Red Card), Cristiano Ronaldo (Probable - Knee)

Overview

The Group of Death could go a long way towards determining how it will finish today with a U.S. victory. Or Portugal can rebound from their opening blowout and throw the group in to a complete state of chaos.

It's highly unlikely both teams will get out of this group and while the U.S. can get by with a draw, it's a must-win game for Portugal if they want to avoid being the latest top-10 team to fall in the group stage this tournament.

Both teams will have to get through this game with key absences. The U.S. are without striker Jozy Altidore who injured his hamstring against Ghana in their opener and may miss the rest of the group stage at least. That pales in comparison to the injury woes Portugal face. Fabio Coentrao is out at left back and striker Hugo Almeida and Goalkeeper Rui Patricio are expected to miss out as well. Cristiano Ronaldo should play but is having all kinds of fitness issues and to top it all off, centre back Pepe is suspended.

Minus Altidore, the U.S. should send out their same lineup against Portugal that they did against Ghana. Big concerns will be defending the wings defensively and shutting down Cristiano Ronaldo when he is in possession. Also need to find a way to get the offence going without Altidore up top to stretch the field.

Portugal still have a number of attacking options but will take on this U.S. team without 3 of their 5 starters on defence. Portugal will have to be at their best on the back end to deal with the dangerous U.S. counter-attack.

Personnel

In the U.S. Third: Like many aspects of this game, tough to predict as Portugal's form cannot be known prior to the start of the match. Ronaldo is absolutely not healthy but can still impact the game with the ball on his foot. Portugal are also without Hugo Almeida but have players like Postiga and Eder to step up. Nani is also poised to take advantage of DaMarcus Beasley on the wing. USA held upwell against Ghana, Portugal are more dynamic offensively, IF they are on. Advantage: Portugal but injuries really hurting them.

In the Midfield: Portugal have some bruisers in the midfield defensively that will be looking to prevent the US from getting the ball to Michael Bradley and their strikers. Neither team is necessarily fantastic at moving the ball in the midfield. Portugal susceptible to mental lapses and don't have forward support in the midfield. More talented though then the Americans and likely to win time of possession and be able to keep the ball in the American half. Advantage: Portugal, slightly.

In the Portuguese Third: Portugal without 2 starters and their goalkeeper. Bruno Alves is also rumored to be less than fit. It's a Portuguese back line that is a mess. However the U.S. are not necessarily in a great position to take advantage. Jozy Altidore is out of this game and Michael Bradley is coming off one of his worst showings in recent memory. Still the U.S. front 3 which should feature Aron Johannsson can get chances against this group. Look for them to exploit the right flank to take advantage of Coentrao's absence and Ronaldo's lack of defending. Advantage: USA, slightly.

Goalkeeping: Eduardo is expected to play for Portugal and should adequately fill in for Rui Patricio. Will be a slight step down though from Tim Howard in the opposing goal. Advantage: USA

USA will win if:

Protect their flanks defensively and work the right side of the field against Portugal. Portugal are most dangerous with Ronaldo and Nani on the wings. Ronaldo is not fit and less dangerous offensively but still must be focused on. DaMarcus Beasley had all kinds of problems against Christian Atsu last game and Portugal will look for Nani to have the same success against the U.S. Shut down Nani and the U.S. will limit the offensive damage Portugal can cause. Standard formula offensively against Portugal is work the right wing since Ronaldo doesn't defend. This will be especially true today as Fabio Coentrao is missing from the defensive line.

Portugal will win if:

They aren't mentally defeated and can get sustained pressure on the U.S. penalty area. Portugal were embarrassed by Germany, both on the scoreboard and in terms of effort. Not known as a mentally strong team, Portugal have to get over that result and their injury woes to be successful in this game. Ghana were one-dimensional in their attack against the U.S. which helped the Americans defend so well. Portugal can stretch the field wide or attack up the middle and need to put heavy pressure on the American back line to try and open up holes to shot through.

Prediction

Losing Altidore hurts their offence but the U.S. can work the makeshift Portuguese defensive line for at least 1 goal. Keeping them away from their own penalty area a tough ask though, even with all of Portugal's problems up front.

USA 1-1 Portugal

Standings Update: Group G

After the surprise draw today between Germany and Ghana, I wanted to take a look at this group closer. There are 3 games remaining in the group: USA-POR, POR-GHA and USA-GER. Of those 3 games, I believe there's only one game with a high probability result. Sorry to my American readership, but I don't see the U.S. taking points from Germany. This exercise is based on the assumption Germany will beat the U.S.

That would mean Germany finish the group with 7 points and take the top spot. Second place is wide open though and I wanted to look at the potential finishes from those remaining 2 games. See below for a breakdown of the potential scenarios as I see them:

The top bar are potential scenarios for the USA/POR contest. The left bar are for POR-GHA.

Right off the top, if the U.S. wins tomorrow against Portugal they will clinch advancement and eliminate Portugal in the process. It would be a likely death sentence for Ghana as well although mathematically they would have a shot to catch Germany.

Ghana needs a win in their final against Portugal. Portugal need to get at least 4 points in their least 2 games. Both need help.

The scenarios highlighted in red are the interesting ones that will require tiebreakers to figure out. All assume the U.S. tie Portugal tomorrow and the U.S. finish on 4 points. A 4-point American squad means both Ghana and Portugal can catch the U.S. depending on their result in their final match against each other. Here are the 4 potential scenarios for that GHA-POR game.

1) Ghana defeats Portugal by 2+ goals. Ghana would advance with the goal differential tiebreaker against the U.S.

2) Ghana defeats Portugal by 1 goal. This gets dicey. Ghana are 2 goals behind the U.S. right now in goal differential. At the very minimum, if this scenario occurs, Ghana and the U.S. would be tied on goal differential. This is assuming Germany beats the U.S. by 1 goal. The tiebreaker would then become goals for. Ghana holds the current advantage but the U.S. has a game in hand. U.S. fans should want as many goals as possible in their 2 remaining games as this is a likely scenario.

3) Ghana ties Portugal and the U.S. advances on points.

4) Portugal defeats Ghana and ties the U.S. on 4 points. Goal differential and goals for potentially come in to play again. There's a 5-goal swing that needs to occur though so Portugal need a blowout win and a big German win.

My Prediction:

U.S. fans seem pretty optimistic about tomorrow against Portugal. Portugal are without Hugo Almeida and Fabio Coentrao to injury, Pepe to suspension, and Cristiano Ronaldo is on a bad knee. Rui Patricio is also questionable in goal. There is never going to be a better time to defeat this Portugal team. It's a mistake though to underestimate this Portugal team. They were embarrassed by Germany and will be out for blood. They are still very dangerous to the U.S. squad.

My guess is a draw for the U.S. and Portugal. The U.S. isn't overly potent up front (especially with Altidore) out and are not the type of team to take advantage of all the absences in the back for Portugal. 

That makes the Ghana-Portugal game the decider. I may reevaluate this choice based on tomorrow's performance but I would tip Ghana to beat Portugal, likely by 1 goal. Goals may be hard to come by for the U.S. in their remaining games. Based on everything if you put a gun to my head right now, I think Ghana would be the second team to advance in this group.

Just my two cents. The U.S. can make all of this irrelevant if they win tomorrow. I wouldn't call that outcome likely, but it wouldn't be shocking either.

Standings Update: June 16th

As promised, updated Standings for Groups E-G:

Group E

Team	W	L	T	GF	GA	+/-	Pts
France	1	0	0	3	0	3	3
Switzerland	1	0	0	2	1	1	3
Ecuador	0	1	0	1	2	-1	0
Honduras	0	1	0	0	3	-3	0

About exactly as anyone could have predicted to this point. France look to be the class of the group and with a win against Honduras all the Swiss should need to get through, they will feel good about their chances. Golden opportunity squandered by Ecuador in their loss to gain a footing in this group. Would be stunning if France and Switzerland don't advance, just a question of order at this point.

Group F

Team	W	L	T	GF	GA	+/-	Pts
Argentina	1	0	0	2	1	1	3
Iran	0	0	1	0	0	0	1
Nigeria	0	0	1	0	0	0	1
Bosnia	0	1	0	1	2	-1	0

 Argentina were always expected to be the top of the group and handled Bosnia well. Iran and Nigeria gave us a dreary contest and both look to be inept in the offensive end. 3-way race for second and despite the loss, Bosnia should be tipped to recover and pick up second place.

Group G

Team	W	L	T	GF	GA	+/-	Pts
Germany	1	0	0	4	0	4	3
USA	1	0	0	2	1	1	3
Ghana	0	1	0	1	2	-1	0
Portugal	0	1	0	0	4	-4	0

The U.S. is the big winner today in the fight for second in this group. Germany were tipped as group favourites and their thrashing of Portugal only cemented that. The margin of defeat for Portugal though will bring joy to U.S. fans. With Germany and Portugal remaining, Ghana are likely in a spoiler role after losing to the U.S. That makes the U.S.-Portugal game on June 22nd the critical one for the group. A Portugal win and they'll be the likely second place team to advance. A U.S. win should have them clinched in the knockout round. A draw could make things dicey but the 5 goal difference in +/- right now is a huge boon to the U.S. chances.
 

Game 12 Recap: Germany 4-0 Portugal

GERMANY 4-0 PORTUGAL

No one tell Portugal, but if they somehow manage to get back and claim second in this group, they'll have to return to Salvador for their Round of 16 match. The Arena Fonte Nova has been a nightmare for the Iberian peninsula as Portugal lost 4-0 to Germany, just 3 days after Spain fell 5-1 to Netherlands.

You could not have asked for a worse day for Portugal. Not only was it a humiliating scoreline and effort, but they lost central defender Pepe to a red card and likely Fabio Coentrao to a leg injury.

Portugal came out of the gate strong and it appeared the game could be an even contest. That didn't last long. A poor back pass and clearance by Rui Patricio gifted Sami Khedira with a chance at an open Portuguese goal. Far more time then he probably knew, Khedira's one-timer ended up curling just wide. 

Minutes later, Germany picked up the first of their many goals. An obvious penalty as Mario Gotze was hauled down by Joao Pereira, Thomas Muller made no mistake in scoring the ensuing kick.

Nani nearly found an equalizer for Portugal when his outswinging shot curled just over the crossbar. It wouldn't be long until Germany doubled their lead as Mats Hummels rose above everyone on a corner kick to bury a header.

Play turned both weird and ugly for the remainder of the half. Germany failed to set an offside trap but fooled everyone and only Coentrao continued playing. His cross couldn't find Ronaldo who had stopped playing but was nearly an own goal from an equally confused Hummels. Down in the other end, Thomas Muller went down on an exaggerated foul by Pepe. Taking exception to the embellishment, Pepe headbutted Muller lightly on the ground and drew the straight red card and ejection.

Down a man, Portugal surrendered a 2nd to Muller before half and the game was effectively over at that point. Muller would pick up the hat trick on a tap-in in the second half.

Injuries will be a story going forward though. Hummels went down to a knee injury as did Hugo Almeida for Portugal. Coentrao's appeared the worse though. Stretchered off after lunging for a ball, Coentrao picked up what looked like a hamstring injury and his tournament may be in doubt.

Goals

Germany: Thomas Muller (12', 45+1', 78'), Mats Hummels (32')

Portugal: N/A

Discipline

Germany: N/A

Portugal: Joao Pereira (Yellow 11'), Pepe (Red 37')

Man of the Match

Something about the World Cup just clicks for Thomas Muller. The Golden Ball winner from 2010 added 3 more in this match and was the easy choice for MOTM. Strong conversion of the penalty for his first, and found himself in the right place on the 3rd one. The second was his best though to knock down the Bruno Alves clearance and one-time the next touch past Rui Patricio.

Key Moment

Already down 2-0, Pepe's red card was the end for Portugal. It was an ugly foul and while you understand Pepe's frustration, you can't headbutt a guy on the ground. Down to 10 men, and having already had to sub Almeida out to injury, Portugal had no hope of coming back from this.

What we learned from Germany

Beating a top-ranked team in the world should never look so easy. All Germany from start to finish, this was a perfect opening for them. Looked calm and composed in defence even with Lahm playing in the midfield, had free movement of the ball throughout the pitch and no concerns about scoring even without a true striker. Germany should have things relatively easy through the rest of the group stage at least.

What we learned from Portugal

Like Spain, we won't know if this was an aberration or not until their next game against the USA. They looked bad though and the lack of effort was probably most concerning. Players were giving up on balls, throwing up their hands in frustration and screaming at the ref while German players were running past them. When Portugal wants to play well they can but they have to find some heart and intensity before their next match or they'll get buried in this group.

Going Forward

All smiles for German fans. Tough group but they made this one look easy and shouldn't face a much stiffer test against US or Ghana.

For Portugal who knows? They're without Pepe (and maybe Almeida/Coentrao) for the US but they can turn it on at any given point. Only time will tell how damaging this blowout was for them.

Game 12 Starting Lineups (Germany vs. Portugal)

Game Preview here.
Starting Lineups below:

No Schweinsteiger for Germany who was questionable. False nine with no striker on the field as well as Lahm in the midfield and Howedes starting in the defence. Portugal opting for Hugo Almeida instead of Postiga up top.

Germany

 

Substitutes:

Goalkeepers: Roman Weidenfeller (#22), Ron-Robert Zieler (#12)

Defenders: Erik Durm (#15), Matthias Ginter (#3), Kevin Grosskreutz (#2), Shkodran Mustafi (#21)

Midfielders: Julian Draxler (#14), Christoph Kramer (#23), Andre Schurrle (#9), Bastian Schweinsteiger (#7)

Forwards: Miroslav Klose (#11), Lukas Podolski (#10).

Portugal

 

Substitutes:

Goalkeepers: Beto (#22), Eduardo (#1)

Defenders: Andre Almeida (#19), Ricardo Costa (#13), Luis Neto (#14)

Midfielders: Ruben Amorim (#20), William Carvalho (#6), Rafa Silva (#15), Silvestre Varela (#18), Vieirinha (#10)

Forwards: Eder (#11), Helder Postiga (#23)

Game 12 Preview: Germany vs. Portugal

GERMANY vs. PORTUGAL

 

 Date: June 16, 2014

Time: 12:00 p.m. EDT

Venue: Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador

Overall Head-to-Head Record (W-L-T): 9-3-5 Germany

Last Match: Euro 2012 (Group Stage). Germany def. Portugal 1-0.

Line: Germany EVEN

Group G Preview here.

Starting Lineups posted separately once they're announced.

Team Profiles 

World Ranking: Germany (2nd), Portugal (4th)

Managers: Joachim Low (GER), Paulo Bento (POR)

Captains: Philipp Lahm (GER), Cristiano Ronaldo (POR)

World Cup Appearances: 18 (GER), 6 (POR)

Best Finish: Germany (3x Champions, Last in 1990), Portugal (Third Place, 1966)

Qualifying Records: Germany (9-0-1, GF: 36, GA: 10), Portugal (8-1-3, GF: 24, GA: 11)

Pre-Tournament Game Results

Germany

May 13th - Germany tied Poland 0-0
June 1st - Germany tied Cameroon 2-2
June 6th - Germany def. Armenia 6-1

Portugal

May 31st - Portugal tied Greece 0-0
June 6th - Portugal def. Mexico 1-0
June 10th - Portugal def. Ireland 5-1

Rosters

Injuries/Discipline

Germany: Bastian Schweinsteiger (Probable - Foot), Manuel Neuer (Probable - Shoulder)

Portugal: Cristiano Ronaldo (Probable - Knee)

Overview

The only Group Stage game that pairs two top-5 ranked teams in the world together was highlighted immediately after the draw as one of the marquee games in a group that will be full of them. It pits 2 powerhouses in Europe right now together with 2 vastly different styles of play.

Germany are a model in world soccer of team organization and unity. It's a system where the players all understand what each other is doing and where they are and they use that knowledge as well as exceptional technical ability on the ball to break down opponents and strike on goal.

Portugal bring more of a wide-open counter-attacking style and will look to use speed and long passing to catch opposing defences napping on the back end. They also have the best player in the world at linking up with long passing and creating goals whenever the ball is on his foot in Cristiano Ronaldo.

This will be a game of 2 primary battles. Can Germany's defence contain Ronaldo and keep him away from their penalty area. Ronaldo is the glue to this Portuguese attack. This version of the team lacks a lot of creativity and goal-scoring when he isn't in the lineup but become world-beaters when he is in form. Germany has to be able to minimize his impact on the game.

In the other end, it's a question of who will step up for Germany in a goal-scoring capacity. This is a team with attacking midfield talent in spades but they only brought 2 forwards to Brazil and neither is expected to start necessarily. They will get opportunities on goal through their midfield but need to have their finishing on point, especially if Klose or Podolski are not in the lineup.

This is the Group of Death and while both teams are favoured to advance, 3 points from this game would be a huge boon as both USA and Ghana will provide stiff tests going forward.

Personnel

In the German Third: It's a battle between Ronaldo on one side and Lahm and the central defence on the other. Postiga and the rest of Portugal won't scare this German side but Ronaldo is a danger whenever he's on the field. Germany should be talented enough to shade their defence towards Ronaldo without getting burned on the opposite side of the field. Advantage: Germany.

In the Midfield: Few teams in the world pass the ball better through the midfield then the Germans do. Portugal have some emerging talents in the midfield, particularly Carvalho and while they'll harass the Germans through the midfield this is Germany's bread and butter. Advantage: Germany.

In the Portuguese Third: Where the game will probably be decided. Germany are a team full of attacking midfielders but lacking a true striker unless they want to run Klose from the beginning up front. Portugal's wing backs can be beat long but Alves and Pepe are solid as they come in the centre of the field. Advantage: Even.

Goalkeeping: Manuel Neuer should start for Germany after missing almost a month to a shoulder injury. Portugal have two capable number 1's in Eduardo and Rui Patricio. Neuer is one of the best on his game but the layoff has left his form in question. Advantage: Portugal.

Germany will win if:

They can take Ronaldo out of the game defensively and use their passing to get inside the Portuguese back line. Between Schweinsteiger and their defence, Ronaldo can be made ineffective on the wing but he only needs one opening to change the game in Portugal's favour. Offensively, they'll have chances on the wings particular to attack when Pereira and Coentrao push up. Need to make sure they're attacking Alves and Pepe through the centre as well though. Both are 30+ so Germany may be able to use their on-ball speed to create holes in the penalty area.

Portugal will win if:

They can muddle the game defensively enough to frustrate the German attacking midfield. Portugal like leaving 3 high so they can spring counter-attacks quickly but they have to be in a defence first mentality against this German side. Hang back, repel the German midfielders from their area and hopefully draw the German defenders up a bit so that when they do launch the ball downfield to Ronaldo and Nani there will be more space and time on attack.

Prediction

Ronaldo will play but it's unclear how healthy he is. Sufficed to say he's not 100%. Portugal may be limited offensively if he's not fully healthy and I'm not sure their defence can withstand 90 minutes of pressure from Germany. Portugal could easily notch a goal or 2 in this game but I'll go with the German victory.

Germany 2-0 Portugal

Group G Preview

Schedule

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

Roster

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

Roster

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

Roster

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

Roster

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