clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

World Cup Open Thread: Do or Die for USA

We're into the 3rd and final games of the group stage, as teams fight for advancement into the round of 16. After a heartbreaking draw against Portugal, the USA can advance on Thursday with a win or draw against Germany.

Can Deuce do it again?
Can Deuce do it again?
Elsa

Before we begin, let's win some prizes from Aggieland Outfitters.

Greetings, football fans! No, not that football. The round ball football that we call soccer. The group stage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup is coming to an end, and the final 2 days bring plenty of drama. Teams are fighting for the right to move on into the Round of 16, so the stakes are certainly high. The USA has to bounce back from a last-minute heartbreaker in a 2-2 draw against Portugal, and the opponent - Germany - could not be more challenging. The USA needs just a draw to move on, but can they earn one? Let's chat.

Wednesday

The Teams

Nigeria| FIFA Ranking: 44; Goal Differential: +1

Argentina| FIFA Ranking: 5; Goal Differential: +2

The Game

11 AM (Central) Kickoff | ESPN/ESPN3.com

Arena Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, Brazil

Announcers - Derek Rae, Efan Ekoku

Advancement Scenarios

Nigeria - Win OR draw OR Iran loss/draw OR Iran win + goal differential

Argentina - Clinched advancement; win/draw clinches 1st in group

The Teams

Bosnia & Herzegovina| FIFA Ranking: 21; Goal Differential: -2

Iran| FIFA Ranking: 43; Goal Differential: -1

The Game

11 AM (Central) Kickoff | ESPN2/ESPN3.com

Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, Brazil

Announcers - Daniel Mann, Craig Burley

Advancement Scenarios

Bosnia & Herzegovina - Eliminated

Iran - Win AND Nigeria loss + goal differential

The Teams

Honduras| FIFA Ranking: 33; Goal Differential: -4

Switzerland| FIFA Ranking: 6; Goal Differential: -2

The Game

3 PM (Central) Kickoff | ESPN/ESPN3.com

Arena Amazonia, Manaus, Brazil

Announcers - Fernando Palomo, Kasey Keller

Advancement Scenarios

Honduras - Win AND Ecuador loss + goal differential

Switzerland - Win AND Ecuador loss/draw OR draw AND Ecuador loss OR loss/draw AND Ecuador loss/draw + goal differential

The Teams

Ecuador| FIFA Ranking: 26; Goal Differential: 0

France| FIFA Ranking: 17; Goal Differential: 6

The Game

3 PM (Central) Kickoff | ESPN/ESPN3.com

Estadio de Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Announcers - Adrian Healey, Alejandro Moreno

Advancement Scenarios

Ecuador - Win/draw AND Switzerland loss OR draw/loss AND Switzerland draw/loss + goal differential

France - Clinched advancement; win/draw clinches 1st in group

Thursday

The Teams

Portugal| FIFA Ranking: 4; Goal Differential: -4

Ghana| FIFA Ranking: 37; Goal Differential: -1

The Game

11 AM (Central) Kickoff | ESPN2/ESPN3.com

Estadio Nacional, Brasilia, Brazil

Announcers - Jon Champion, Stewart Robson

Advancement Scenarios

Portugal - Win AND US/GER loss + goal differential

Ghana - Win AND US/GER loss + goal differential

The Teams

United States of America| FIFA Ranking: 13; Goal Differential: 1

Germany| FIFA Ranking: 2; Goal Differential: 4

The Game

11 AM (Central) Kickoff | ESPN/ESPN3.com

Arena Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil

Announcers - Ian Darke, Taylor Twellman

Advancement Scenarios

USA - win/draw OR loss AND GHA/POR draw OR loss + goal differential

Germany - win/draw OR loss AND GHA/POR draw OR loss + goal differential

The Teams

South Korea| FIFA Ranking: 57; Goal Differential: -2

Belgium| FIFA Ranking: 11; Goal Differential: -1

The Game

3 PM (Central) Kickoff | ESPN/ESPN3.com

Arena de Sao Paolo, Sao Paolo, Brazil

Announcers - Adrian Healey, Alejandro Moreno

Advancement Scenarios

South Korea - Win AND Algeria loss + goal differential

Belgium - Clinched advancement; win/draw clinches 1st in group

The Teams

Algeria| FIFA Ranking: 22; Goal Differential: 1

Russia| FIFA Ranking: 19; Goal Differential: 2

The Game

3 PM (Central) Kickoff | ESPN2/ESPN3.com

Arena de Baixada, Curitiba, Brazil

Announcers - Derek Rae, Efan Ekoku

Advancement Scenarios

Algeria - Win OR draw AND South Korea loss/draw OR draw + goal differential

Russia - Win

Helpful links

Complete US National Team World Cup Preview

USA/Germany Preview

What's it like on the ground in Brazil?

SB Nation's World Cup Preview