USA boss Jurgen Klinsmann believes the Americans are at a disadvantage because of the way the 2014 World Cup is set up. After Sunday's 2-2 draw against Portugal, the United States has several scenarios for advancing to the knockout round.
Klinsmann's squad is still alive in Brazil but hasn't yet secured a spot in the round of 16. The United States simplest way to advance to the next round is a win or a draw against Germany. Although Germany is the favorite to win, Klinsmann believes the Germans also have two other advantages: more recovery time and shorter travel distance.
"We have one day less to recover. They played (Saturday); we played (Sunday)," Klinsmann said after the match against Ghana, via ESPN. "We played in the Amazon; they played in a location where they don't have to travel much. Everything was done for the big favourites to go and move on. We're going to do it the tough way."
While Klinsmann's sentiments are understood, his allegations don't necessarily hold up: Theoretically, any team could have landed the USA's schedule since schedule was made before the draw.
There are three scenarios, according to ESPN, in which the United States can advance: 1) a win or a draw against Germany, 2) a loss to Germany and a Portugal-Ghana draw or 3) a loss to Germany and winning the tiebreaker against the winner of Portugal-Ghana.
Fivethirtyeight.com lists the Americans as having a 75.8 percent chance of advancing out of Group G, compared to Germany's 99.7 percent chance, Ghana's 19.1 percent chance and Portugal's 5.4 percent chance.
Despite only needing a draw to advance to the next round, Klinsmann insisted the United States would go into Thursday's match looking for the three points.
"We have that fighting spirit, and we give everything in every game," Klinsmann told FIFA.com. "We will go to Recife and we will give everything to beat Germany. That is our goal."
