Superpower Germany Stands in USA’s Way of Knockout Round At World Cup
by Bovada Sportsbook Staff | June 23, 2014
This is the final week of what has been an incredibly exciting 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Group H, featuring Germany, Portugal, the United States and Ghana was called the "Group of Death." The Germans ranked No. 2 in the world, and the Portuguese were fourth. Yet, it’s possible that neither will advance to the knockout round.
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Team USA suffered a crushing 2-2 loss against Portugal on Sunday. Yes, a 2-2 loss. It felt like a defeat because the Americans outplayed their European opponents and appeared to have the win in hand with just a few seconds left. Portugal scored on literally the final kick of the game. The tally at 90 minutes +5 was the latest regulation time goal in World Cup history. It would have been a huge loss for the book with nearly 69% of the action on the USA (+280). Only about 13% bet a draw (+310).
Had the Americans won, they would have advanced to the knockout round regardless of their result Thursday against Germany (-2500). Team USA is +1000 to win the group. A win or draw by the Americans or Germans secures advancement to the knockout round. They are both atop the group with four points. A draw in the Portugal-Ghana match, which will be staged simultaneously Thursday, also advances both the USA and Germany.
The USA, which will likely be without injured star striker Jozy Altidore on Thursday, can still advance with a loss but would be playing with fire. For example, if the Americans lose, Ghana (which has one point and a minus-1 goal differential) could advance with a win over Portugal. Portugal (one point, minus-4) would advance with a USA loss and a win over Ghana that makes up the 5-goal differential it trails the USA by.
Germany is -125 to win the match with the Americans (+600), and the over/under is at 2.5 goals, with the under a favorite at -120. The Germans do have the advantage of
one extra day of rest. The USA also played Sunday in the stifling heat and humidity of Manaus, which is on the edge of the Amazon rainforest. It was so humid the referee stopped play at one point for the first water break in World Cup history. That intensity could take something out of the players. The Germans are 7/2 to win the World Cup, behind host Brazil (10/3).
Portugal, with world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo, is +125 to win against Ghana (+190). A draw is +275, and the over/under at 3 goals (both -110). The USA is -500 to qualify for the knockout round and +325 to miss out. The Americans opened the tournament at 100/1 to win and are now 66/1.
Winning Group G, which is possible for Germany if they tie or win against the USA, could be very important because that means a matchup with Group H’s second-place team, which would likely be either Algeria or Russia. The second-place Group G team is expected to face rising power Belgium.
As an added storyline to the USA-Germany match, the Americans are coached by Jurgen Klinsmann, a former star player and manager for the Germans. He played on the 1990 West German team, and they won the World Cup. He also played on the 1996 German team and won the European Championships and managed get Germany to a third-place finish in the 2006 World Cup. Klinsmann now calls California home.
