Group G...."a bunch of cupcakes"

Group G-   Germany….Portugal….Ghana….United States

Group G has been called the group of Death. That is a stupid phrase. It is a very hard group, this is true. In fact all 4 teams qualified for the round of 16 in the last cup. The other groups have an average of less than 1.5 teams that made it that far last time. One thing is for sure…two teams who made the round of 16 last cup…will not make it this time.

 Germany had a very strong team in the last World Cup and nothing has changed in the last 4 years. They have a couple minor health issues and are missing Marco Reus, a quality goal scorer, but they have a great deal of depth, and they will not lean on excuses. The team the US beat last summer, was an out of shape B team, while the US was in prime shape from gold Cup and domestic league play. Not much should be read into that game. It will be a complete shock if the Germans do not make it out of group play #1.

   Here is my homer pick. I am selecting the US to come out of this group #2. It will not be easy, but if they can get 4 points out of the Ghana and Portugal games, which means beating one and tying the other, than I think they will get through. They have the advantage of playing Germany last, by which time the Germans might already be through and laying low. If this is the case, they might even get a tie here as well. Now do not get me wrong. It will not be easy. In fact it will be very very difficult, but it is completely within the team’s ability.  They do not need to do anything amazing; they just have to not make mistakes. That is easier said than done, but if they play the way they can, and avoid communication breakdowns on defense…than they have the ability to move on in this tournament.

    Portugal are an interesting team. They struggled through qualifying and in fact they needed a win in their last game on the road in Sweden to even make the Cup, but they got it. They got it because perhaps the most dangerous and talented goal scorer in the world plays for them.  Cristiano Ronaldo is every bit the World Footballer of the Year. He scored a hat trick in that game clincher in Sweden. He can score at any minute against any one, but he is just one player, and in addition to a few nagging injuries that have been bothering him, he has also disappeared in international matches in the past. His club record is much better than his record for his country, and while he could almost win this group on his own..he could also fade into the background and that is my prediction for this cup. Despite a few flashes..Portugal will not advance.

    Ghana has knocked the US out of the WC before. On more than one occasion. They are talented fast and deep. The style they play, gives the US fits. That is partially why Klinsmann selected Nigeria as the last tune up game for the Americans, they play a similar style. The US does not plan on letting Ghana beat them again. If that happens, then Ghana will be in trouble against Germany and Portugal, both of whom play with more discipline and experience. Ghana, if they fail against the US, will likely go 3 and out. One interesting matchup to watch when Ghana play Germany are the Boatang brothers. They are twins and one plays for Ghana and the other for Germany. This has never happened before in a World Cup.