Following the euphoria that led to dismay after Portugal’s last minute tying goal on Sunday, Group G is left with an interesting dynamic to see who advances to the knockout stage.

With a win or draw against Germany, our boys go through. But with a loss, the situation gets a little more complex. Hopefully this explanation below will shed a little more light on the tiebreakers:

WIN AGAINST GERMANY:

U.S.A. tops the groups and plays second place finisher of Group H (Belgium, Algeria, Russia and South Korea).

TIE AGAINST GERMANY:

U.S.A. goes through in second place behind Germany, and play the winner of Group H (Belgium, Algeria, Russia and South Korea).

LOSE AGAINST GERMANY

U.S.A. goes through in second place behind Germany IF:

· Portugal and Ghana Tie

Or, if the U.S.A. loses by:

1 Goal and:

· Ghana beat Portugal and score more than two goals.

OR

· Portugal beat Ghana by 4 or more goals (anything is possible with Cristiano Ronaldo…).

2 Goals and:

· Ghana wins against Portugal.

OR

· Portugal beat Ghana by 3 or more goals.

3 Goals and:

· Ghana wins against Portugal.

OR

· Portugal beat Ghana by 2 or more goals.

4 Goals and:

· Ghana wins against Portugal

OR

· Portugal win

AND (the US get highly embarrassed)

Despite these complex circumstances, if Captain America Clint Dempsey leads our men in red, white and blue to a win or tie against Germany, the USA advance regardless. It would be fourth time the USMNT have advanced past the group stage since hosting the tournament in 1994.

Head Coach Jürgen Klinsmann and 5 other players in the US 23-man roster have German roots (Brooks, Chandler, Johnson, Jones, Green), which also adds a little extra spice to the already flaming hot tie on Thursday.

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