The United States will play against Portugal this afternoon at 3 p.m. PT on June 22, 2014. After beating Ghana 2-1 in its first game, USA has a chance to advance on Sunday against its opponents in the "Group of Death" (Group G) - Germany, Portugal, and Ghana.
If USA wins the game today, Portugal would be eliminated, and USA would play their third game against Germany to determine seeding in Group G. If USA loses, they would have one more chance to avoid elimination and play against Germany.
If USA ties the game today and wins or ties with Germany in its third game, USA could still advance, and it could even advance with a loss to Germany. Because Germany had a 2-2 draw with Ghana and had played its second game, USA has more opportunities as today's game with Portugal will only be its second.
If United States ties Portugal, then Ghana or Portugal could finish the group with a maximum of four points. If USA loses to Germany and also finishes with four points, then United States would have to rely on goal difference, the USA Today reports. US now has +1 goal difference, Ghana has -1 and Portugal has -4. If the Americans tie the game today, the goal difference would remain the same.
If USA loses to Portugal, they could still advance with a win over Germany.
The United States is second in the group with three points. Germany leads the group with four points, but has already played twice. Ghana sits in third with one point and two games played, and Portugal has zero points from the loss against Germany.
In USA's first match of World Cup, Captain Clint Dempsey scored in just 30 seconds to give his country the best possible start to the match. Just as the US seemed a bit strained, John Brooks, a 21-year-old US defender, came on the field as a substitute to the injured Matt Besler. In a surprising heat shot, Brooks scored by deflecting Graham Zusi's corner kick past Ghana's goaltender for the win.
Brooks became the first American substitute to score a goal in World Cup.
Team USA faces Portugal in Arena Amazônia, Manaus. Those wanting to watch the game online can access ESPN's live stream by clicking here.
