Photo: Clint Dempsey and Cristiano Ronaldo (Getty Images)
The World Cup in Brazil has not gone to script. The upsets during the first ten days are numerous with the defending champions Spain already being bounced out of the tournament with one game left to play. Another favourite, Portugal, face a possible elimination game today when they meet the USA .
Portugal is at the bottom of Group G, without a point and a goal difference of minus 4, after being thrashed by Germany in their World Cup opener. The heavy defeat was accompanied by the loss of central defender Pepe to a straight red card and Fabio Coentrao to a groin injury, while doubts continue to swirl about the main man and world footballer of the year Crisitiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo came into the tournament with leg and knee injuries and they have not fully gone away despite major attempts to get him healed. The Real Madrid man has skipped training sessions to aid his recovery but is still said to be struggling. Bruno Alves is also a major doubt due to injury concerns.
The USA also has injury worries to cope with. Centre forward Jozy Altidore was stretchered off in the game against Ghana. Clint Dempsey, who scored the fastest goal of the tournament so far in the 2-1 win over Ghana suffered a broken nose in the match after being kicked in the face but has been cleared to play. Defender Matt Besler who also left the Ghana game with an injury is fit enough to start today.
For head coach Paulo Bento, today’s game against the USA is a make or break for the tournament. Anything other than three points and Portugal’s world cup dream is over. The fact that they played for more than a half of the game against the ruthless Germans with only ten men may have led to the wide margin of defeat, but excuses will not be accepted today. It is hard to see him keeping his job if Portugal does not remain in contention in this tournament.
Despite not being fully fit Ronaldo has to deliver today after seeing nemesis Lionel Messi deliver twice for Argentina in the tournament thus far. Portugal seems short of ideas when the game isn’t being played through their star man, and Manchester United winger, Nani who was woeful against Germany. Other players will need to step up their game and provide support for the man who gunned down Sweden in the play-offs that got them to the World Cup proper.
German born USA head coach Jurgen Klinsmann is a world cup winner and will be preparing his men psychologically for what may be the biggest game in the careers of most of his squad. Dempsey is expected to carry the team on his back again today and the former Fulham and Tottenham Hotspurs player will surely not back down from the challenge.
The USA will not be overawed as history shows that the game can go either way. In the five previous games between the two countries they both recorded two wins apiece while the other game was drawn. Portugal has had their struggles in the tournament historically with one win in their last eight matches. That win was against the lowly North Koreans in 2010.
Already with three points in the bag the USA can afford a draw, Portugal simply cannot. Expect another fast paced blockbuster, as most of the games have been so far in Brazil 2014.
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