2014 FIFA World Cup: USA advances despite 0-1 loss to Germany
Two wins and guaranteed advancing would have been nice, of course.
But every Team USA fan would have taken four points from the Ghana and Portugal matches with a chance to advance against Germany, and the main consequence of the United States’ last-second draw with Portugal on Sunday is that this is going to be a wild few hours of soccer that all Americans wish could have been avoided.
Heavy rains in Recife, Brazil, the location of today’s World Cup match between the U.S. and Germany, has caused extensive flooding, turning roads into rivers and making access to the stadium difficult. But FIFA says the U.S. game will be played as scheduled at noon ET.
- Omar Gonzalez of the U.S. (in white) takles Germany’s Thomas Mueller (R) during their 2014 World Cup Group G soccer match at the Pernambuco arena in Recife June 26, 2014. (Tony Gentile/Reuters)
- Jermaine Jones of the U.S. (R) fights for the ball with Germany’s Lukas Podolski during their 2014 World Cup Group G soccer match at the Pernambuco arena in Recife June 26, 2014. (Ruben Sprich/Reuters)
- Jermaine Jones (R) of the U.S. jumps for the ball with Germany’s Benedikt Hoewedes during their 2014 World Cup Group G soccer match at the Pernambuco arena in Recife June 26, 2014. (Brian Snyder/Reuters)
- Jermaine Jones (R) of the U.S. jumps for the ball with Germany’s Benedikt Hoewedes during their 2014 World Cup Group G soccer match at the Pernambuco arena in Recife June 26, 2014. (Laszlo Balogh/Reuters)
- Germany’s Thomas Mueller (L) misses a scoring opportunity against goalkeeper Tim Howard of the U.S. (R) during their 2014 World Cup Group G soccer match at the Pernambuco arena in Recife June 26, 2014. (Brian Snyder/Reuters)
- Germany’s Lukas Podolski jumps over Jermaine Jones of the U.S. during their 2014 World Cup Group G soccer match at the Pernambuco arena in Recife June 26, 2014. (Ruben Sprich/Reuters)
- American supporters stand while watching the U.S.-Germany match broadcast at FIFA Fan Fest on June 26, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The U.S. was tied with Germany 0-0 at halftime. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
- Germany’s midfielder Mesut Ozil vies for the ball during a Group G football match between US and Germany at the Pernambuco Arena in Recife during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 26, 2014. (Nelson Almeida/AFP/Getty Images)
- Germany’s forward Miroslav Klose plays the ball during a Group G football match between US and Germany at the Pernambuco Arena in Recife during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 26, 2014. (Nelson Almeida/AFP/Getty Images)
- U.S. coach Juergen Klinsmann watches his team play against Germany during their 2014 World Cup Group G soccer match at the Pernambuco arena in Recife June 26, 2014. (Ruben Sprich/Reuters)
- Jermaine Jones of the United States lies on the field and is checked on by teammates Clint Dempsey (2nd L), Graham Zusi (3rd L) and Brad Davis (R) as Bastian Schweinsteiger of Germany and referee Ravshan Irmatov look on during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil group G match between the United States and Germany at Arena Pernambuco on June 26, 2014 in Recife, Brazil. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)
- Kyle Beckerman of Team USA and Bastian Schweinsteiger, left, of Germany vie for the ball during the FIFA World Cup at Arena Pernambuco in Recife, Brazil, on June 26, 2014. (Thomas Eisenhuth/MCT)
- Thomas Mueller (Right) of Germany challenges DaMarcus Beasley of the United Statesduring the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group G match between USA and Germany at Arena Pernambuco on June 26, 2014 in Recife, Brazil. (Michael Steele/Getty Images)
- Miroslav Klose of Germany and DaMarcus Beasley of the United States go up for a header during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil group G match between the United States and Germany at Arena Pernambuco on June 26, 2014 in Recife, Brazil. (Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
- Philipp Lahm of Germany is challenged by Clint Dempsey (Left) and Alejandro Bedoya of the United States during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil group G match between the United States and Germany at Arena Pernambuco on June 26, 2014 in Recife, Brazil. (Michael Steele/Getty Images)
- Germany’s midfielder Toni Kroos (Left) and US defender Matt Besler vie for the ball during a Group G football match between US and Germany at the Pernambuco Arena in Recife during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 26, 2014. (Nelson Almeida/Getty Images)
- Bastian Schweinsteiger of Germany stands over Alejandro Bedoya of the United States during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil group G match between the United States and Germany at Arena Pernambuco on June 26, 2014 in Recife, Brazil. (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
- Jermaine Jones (front) of the United States and teammate Alejandro Bedoya lie on the field after colliding during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil group G match between the United States and Germany at Arena Pernambuco on June 26, 2014 in Recife, Brazil. (Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
- Germany’s players celebrate after scoring their first goal during a Group G football match between US and Germany at the Pernambuco Arena in Recife during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 26, 2014. (Nelson Almeida/Getty Images)
- US midfielder Graham Zusi (Right) and Germany’s forward Lukas Podolski vie for the ball during a Group G football match between US and Germany at the Pernambuco Arena in Recife during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 26, 2014. (Nelson Almeida/Getty Images)
- Bastian Schweinsteiger of Germany controls the ball against Kyle Beckerman of the United States during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil group G match between the United States and Germany at Arena Pernambuco on June 26, 2014 in Recife, Brazil. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images)
- A US supporter cheers prior to a Group G football match between US and Germany at the Pernambuco Arena in Recife during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 26, 2014. (Nelson Almeida/AFP/Getty Images)
- Fans hold up a replica of the World Cup trophy while wearing masks of Angela Merkel and Barack Obama during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil group G match between the United States and Germany at Arena Pernambuco on June 26, 2014 in Recife, Brazil. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
- United States fans look on in the rain prior to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil group G match between the United States and Germany at Arena Pernambuco on June 26, 2014 in Recife, Brazil. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
- Rain pours ahead of the 2014 World Cup Group G soccer match between the U.S. and Germany at the Pernambuco arena in Recife June 26, 2014. (Ruben Sprich /Reuters)
- Jermaine Jones of the United States controls the ball against Toni Kroos of Germany during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil group G match between the United States and Germany at Arena Pernambuco on June 26, 2014 in Recife, Brazil. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
- Philipp Lahm of Germany leads his team to the field with their player escorts prior to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil group G match between the United States and Germany at Arena Pernambuco on June 26, 2014 in Recife, Brazil. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)
- Philipp Lahm of Germany controls the ball against Michael Bradley of the United States during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil group G match between the United States and Germany at Arena Pernambuco on June 26, 2014 in Recife, Brazil. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
- Head coach Jurgen Klinsmann of the United States looks on during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil group G match between the United States and Germany at Arena Pernambuco on June 26, 2014 in Recife, Brazil. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
- Jermaine Jones of the United States controls the ball against Philipp Lahm of Germany during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil group G match between the United States and Germany at Arena Pernambuco on June 26, 2014 in Recife, Brazil. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
- Germany’s Toni Kroos (L) fights for the ball with Michael Bradley of the U.S. during their 2014 World Cup Group G soccer match at the Pernambuco arena in Recife June 26, 2014. (Laszlo Balogh/Reuters)
- DaMarcus Beasley of the U.S. (L) fights for the ball with Germany’s Mesut Ozil during their 2014 World Cup Group G soccer match at the Pernambuco arena in Recife June 26, 2014. (Tony Gentile/Reuters)
- Lukas Podolski of Germany controls the ball during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil group G match between the United States and Germany at Arena Pernambuco on June 26, 2014 in Recife, Brazil. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
- Mats Hummels of Germany challenges Fabian Johnson of the United States during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil group G match between the United States and Germany at Arena Pernambuco on June 26, 2014 in Recife, Brazil. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images)
- Lukas Podolski of Germany is challenged by Kyle Beckerman of the United States during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil group G match between the United States and Germany at Arena Pernambuco on June 26, 2014 in Recife, Brazil. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
- Philipp Lahm of Germany reacts during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil group G match between the United States and Germany at Arena Pernambuco on June 26, 2014 in Recife, Brazil. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images)
- USA goalkeeper Tim Howard warms up in the rain prior to the game against Germany during the 2014 World Cup at Arena Pernambuco. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
- A man with an umbrella walks across the flooded streets of Recife during heavy rains prior to the match between USA against Germany during the 2014 World Cup at Arena Pernambuco. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
- Three men push a car through the flooded streets of Recife during heavy rains prior to the match between USA against Germany during the 2014 World Cup at Arena Pernambuco. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)