This is the agreed upon World Cup Group of Death.
Group G
Germany
Portugal
Ghana
United States
You must pick 2 teams to advance to the World Cup 2014 Sweet 16.
Germany, the second ranked team in the world and a World Cup 2014 champion favorite is expected to advance as the group winner. Who will be the second team? 3rd ranked in the world Portugal? 13th ranked United States? Or African darling Ghana?
This group is all about the schedule of matches. The United States faces Ghana on Jun 16 2014 in their opening game and the Americans hope for advancing rest on a convincing win, which I believe will come 3-1. Portugal opens against Germany and I believe the strong German team will leave the Portuguese demoralized heading into their second game against the United States. Assuming a convincing American win against Ghana, there will be tremendous pressure on Portugal who will have already lost in the group and facing a significant goal differential. Perhaps the Americans escape with a tie and precious group point. The Americans will then face Germany in the third game of group place and the only hope for the Yanks is not to lose by so many goals as to ruin goal differential, perhaps the deciding factor in Group G.
The Germans advance as the group winner while the Americans slide into the Sweet 16 as a surprise #2.
This is the best American squad to play in any World Cup. And, the tournament is still 2 months away and every nation can be hopeful for World Cup 2014, including the Americans.