Final thoughts: This is a result the USA might have accepted if it was offered before the game, but the manner of the late equalizer was brutal for them. Portugal deeply relieved of course, but Bento, on the sideline, barely broke a smile. He knows his side still have a lot of problems going into the Ghana game.
Portugal were gifted the start and had the luxury of sitting back for much of the game, but never looked in control in defense, and Ghana will be very interested in their struggles to control Johnson down the right flank in particular.
Klinsmann:
"It's unfortunate. but I think it was an amazing game. Amazing performance by our guys...Nothing more you could ask for...it was us controlling the game, setting the tempo and coming back and enough chances to score three or four goals...we were just that close. Didn't make it quite yet, but we've got to do so now against Germany...We've got to do it the tough way."
He also has some interesting remarks about "everything being done for the favorites" logistics-wise, with the Germans having a day extra rest and limited travel after their second game. Clearly he's already turned his mind to that game. As it stands a draw would take Germany and the USA through by the way.
So everyone's still alive, just, in the group of death. It's been quite a night. Thanks for joining me and for your emails and tweets all evening. See you next time.
USA players looks stunned. As well they might be after that finish. Ronaldo did nothing for 94 minutes then his cross was just perfect for the equalizer from Varela, who ran in front of Cameron. The USA missed the second round by seconds, Portugal missed elimination by the same margin. What a World Cup this is.
That'll be his touch then. Bradley gives the ball away in midfield, Ronaldo floats the ball into the box perfectly and Varela barrels into the box to head a bullet past Howard!
US goalkeeper Tim Howard reacts after Portugal's forward Silvestre Varela scores in the last minute of injury time. Photograph: FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images
90 mins +3: Careless ball by Jones but the USA get men back behind the ball as Portugal try to pick the lock. Ronaldo's ball from the left of the box floats out for a goal kick though. His touch has been off tonight for sure.
90 mins: This is tense. All the play on the edge of the USA box, but Nani fails to control the ball and the USA will have a throw they're in no rush to take.
@kidweil Rest assured every US football fan is heavy a mini heart attack every time Portugal gets the ball.
Long ball to the back post from the left and Alves, who's been pushed up front somehow hooks his foot round the ball to get the ball goalwards but into the sdie netting. And now Zusi comes off for Gonzalez as Klinsmann tries to shut up shop. Four minutes to be added on.
88 mins: Dempsey off, Wondolowski on by the way. Moutinho floats a dangerous looking cross to the back post, and Howard can only punch for a corner. it's well defended but every white shirt is in the box, and Portugal regain possession. Another little dinked cross from the right by Moutinho, but Ronaldo's header, as he falls backward, drifts past the post.
86 mins: ...It's touched to Ronaldo and he elects not to shoot. For a moment the USA look tentative clearing their lines again, but at last they step up and Ronaldo, who thinks he's free on goal when the ball comes back in, is in fact offside. Typical of his night so far.
84 mins: In the wake of that goal Beasley went down and is being treated in the sideline. Portugal look shattered by the way, and now they have to chase Dempsey all the way back into their own corner as he runs down the clock. Beasley back on. Portugal on the brink...but now they have a free kick wide left, 30 yards out, with Ronaldo over it...
This World Cup is rather good isn't it? Yedlin surges to the byline and cuts the ball back across goal. Bradley looks to have fumbled his control on the edge of the box, but gets the ball touched wide to Zusi in space. He pulls the ball across goal where the lurking Dempsey is there to improvise a move to bundle the ball into the net off his chest!
80 mins: Besler claiming he wants to get back on but Klinsmann has told Brooks to get warmed up. Meanwhile Portugal resume their attempts to break down the US, who need to decide how to manage the remainder of the game, while Klinsmann works out his substitution tactics.
Nani cuts in from the left on the edge of the box, and Beckerman is slow to try and block his shot, but it's wide right. USA 1-1 Portugal
78 mins: It's going to be a tense final few minutes now. This result not really good enough for Portugal. And now there's a real problem for Besler, as he stretches awkwardly but necessarily for a weighted through ball behind him. He gets it, but immediately he's grabbing his leg. He carried a hamstring injury into the game of course. He walks off for treatment...
76 mins: Jones picks up his first yellow card in 12 games as he races back to cover for a poor touch by Johnson that gave the ball away to Moutinho. Resulting free kick just inside US half is floated deep into the box by Veloso, but Besler heads clear.
74 mins: Agonizing moment for both sets of fans as Velosa floats a cross that's just shy of Ronaldo, then the US can't clear their lines as Portugal look for an opening before the attack ends with a terribly poor dive by Nani. The referee looks embarrassed for him as he waves him to his feet.
72 mins: Yedlin coming on for Bedoya. The fast but raw Seattle defender will combine with Johnson down that flank — may be an attacking as much as a defensive move, and indeed he tucks in in front of Johnson.
Meanwhile Ronaldo pops up in space again to try and find space behind the US defense on a through ball, but his timing's off and he's offside.
70 mins:Gianlucca de Paoli has an opinion on the departing Meireles:
"Is it just me or is William Carvalho not the best Portuguese midfielder by miles? Why persist with Meireles' brand of mohawked mediocrity when Carvalho is on the bench?"
William's closed down some of the space Bradley had in the first half for sure.
USA come forward through Bedoya wide right now, but his tired cross floats high and out of play. Yedlin warming up for the USA by the way. USA 1-1 Portugal
68 mins: Nani has woken up a little now, given the urgency of the situation, but so far Beasley's dealt with him well. But now he finds a lovely ball to the back post from wide right and the USA are relieved to see an offside flag as Meireles slides in. That's the latter's final action as he's subbed out for Varela. Portugal have no subs left.
66 mins: Now then, we have a game. And the US fans in Manaus are in full voice. But they're soon wincing as Howard has to get down sharply to save from Meireles after Nani's floating cross finds him at the back post after an initially poor touch by the keeper. Now Portugal have to go for it. Do they have another gear in this heat?
Another corner for the USA, and it's only headed clear as far as Jones on the lefts side of the box. He cuts inside to the edge of the D and unleashes a beautiful right foot shot into the far corner through a crowd of players. What a goal! Vicious strike!
Jermaine Jones celebrates scoring the equaliser. Photograph: JEON HEON-KYUN/EPA Photograph: JEON HEON-KYUN/EPA
62 mins: He's not right is he? USA are stretched on the counter again, and Ronaldo races forward down the right in acres of space, only to get into the box and send his shot flying horribly high and wide. Meanwhile David Hill (see half time), possibly a first time reader, has informed us that he's got to a tv now, and that these updates are neither "Funny or informative". Right on the sweet spot then...
60 mins: Another attack down the right by the USA, and Again Badley is in the box looking to get a head on it this time. He can't, but Jones picks up the clearance and has a shot charged down.
Immediate danger though as Portugal break and Besler has to come up big with a recovering tackle as Ronaldo looks to be off and running. Still USA 0-1 Portugal
58 mins: The USA are getting a lot of encouragement down the right flank with the runs of Johnson and a combination of Ronaldo's disinclination to defend and Veloso's lack of pace as makeshift full back. Game getting a little scrappy for a moment now.
56 mins: HOW DID BRADLEY NOT SCORE! That could be hugeZusi peels off his marker perfectly and finds Johnson wide right. He pushes the ball to the byline and cuts the ball back perfectly for the arriving Bradley, but his shot bounces off the knee of Costa on the line!
Michael Bradley has a shot cleared off the goalline. Photograph: ANDRES STAPFF/REUTERS Photograph: ANDRES STAPFF/REUTERS
54 mins: Johnson heads clear well from the corner, and suddenly the US break in numbers. Bradley tries to flick the ball cutely to Dempsey outside him, but it's just behind him and Portugal get away with it. Now they have the ball again and are trying to settle into possession and make the USA work to retrieve it in the heat. Tempo has slowed markedly. How the coaches use their remaining subs could be crucial.
52 mins: Poor ball from Jones and Ronaldo picks up the ball wide left, but his low ball is cleared comfortably enough by Besler. It's still deep in US territory though and Eder gets turned on the corner of the box and hits a low shot just wide of Howard's near post.
50 mins: USA have a corner after Johnson's cross is deflected by Velose, forcing Beto into a save at his near post. USA waste it with a ong corner clearing everyone, but now Zusi does well to battle and retrieve the ball and find Johnson on the overlap, but this cross is way too close to Beto. USA 0-1 Portugal
48 mins: Portugal knock the ball around a little to start the half. Making the USA work. Suddenly Ronaldo skips into a pocket of space outside the box, but his shot isn't hit cleanly and bounces clear of Besler.
@KidWeil lets see ajo in for bedoya...where was he on attack...
Portugal take a quick free kick and the USA can't get the ball clear properly, with another shaky attempt at clearing their lines. Snap shot for Eder flies over.
More demands: David Hill has emailed in to point out, not unreasonably, that we might want to give some more details about the goal. This being an MBM and all. Happy to oblige David:
The sad man skewed his clearance to the happy shaved man and he shot past the falling bald man.
Meanwhile we're going to see William (Carvalho) come on for Almeida for the second half. Which will be underway in a minute.
"As an expat Brit who lived in Canada for two years and now lives in California really don't think that the comment by Mr James Ferguson, a neutral party (?) (See 12 mins), was really necessary. Canadians are better than that."
Even the English are joining in. Here's Benjamin Hurley:
"Watching the game as an Englishman living in Phoenix Arizona, I'm encouraged by how many people are out watching the game, you have to think that with a country this size and the fighting spirit they have displayed in the last couple of performances it wont be long until they are a serious contender. If only the England team had a 3rd of the energy and spirit they are displaying!"
In other news Vic Arcus is trembling from New Zealand:
"Watching min-by-min while my son takes his driving test. Just like this game, all possible outcomes are scary."
Meanwhile the Beckerman Meireles incident rumbles on - here's Ewan Brewer:
"My first though on watching the Beckerman/Meireles exchange was that it was a red, but upon further viewing it could well have been unintentional. Meireles was definitely holding him down, and it looks like he may have just pushed his arm back as he attempted to get up.
But it’s really one of those Rorschach test-type events. I’m an American so perhaps that explains the above."
Half-time thoughts: Great start against Ghana, awful start against Portugal. Once again we're getting a USA game whose pattern was set very early on - this team by an awful mistake by Geoff Cameron.
After that, and an opening ten minutes of struggle, the US looked the more aggressive team, though with needing a goal they were now on shaky ground against the Portugal counter attack. Jones and Bradley have been strong driving forward, Johnson has got forward repeatedly from right back, while Dempsey has done his best to be a different kind of outlet up top. The US have had chances.
But so too have Portugal, and they're the team that's gone closer to scoring again. Nani had faded after his goal only to pop up on the right again and crash a shot off the post, while Howard recovered brilliantly to deny the follow up.
It's set up for an intriguing second half though. I'm off for my mandatory water break.
45 mins +2: Howard just kept his team in the game. Meanwhile Cameron steams in on Ronaldo and barges him off the ball near the halfway line. He's lucky not to pick up a yellow. That lucked very clumsy. Not as clumsy as...never mind, you know.
45 min +1: Nani hits the post! Brilliant save by Howard! Into stoppage time and a couple of signs of life from Portugal. Nani's initial shot totally beats Howard and clatters back off the post, than an off balance Howard somehow manages to scoop Eder's follow up away as he falls the other way.
Two minutes to be added on.
Tim Howard makes a spectacular save just before the break. Photograph: Elsa/Getty Images Photograph: Elsa/Getty Images
42 mins: ...the attack ends in the ball pushed wide for Nani, whose shot is only parried by Howard. The USA struggle to clear and Nani is fouled, centrally, in the Cristiano Ronaldo memorial free kick quadrant...
@KidWeil I'm not sure I've ever seen a worse performance immediately after scoring than nani tonight. He can't control a pass.
— Game Of Throw-ins (@AGameOfThrowins) June 22, 2014
If it stays like this, he'll happily concede throw-ins from the center circle all night.
There's a pause in play now and Jones is limping off for some attention after an awkward landing on a header. And now the referee calls for the discretionary water break. So we can regroup for a moment.
36 mins: Portugal still standing off in defense, and another USA long shot, this one from Jones, has to be saved by Beto. At the other end Ronaldo has a long shot of his own, but Howard was always behind it.
Cameron tries a ball over the top now. It's headed clear by Almeida but Johnson, who's marauding forward in every attack, is offside anyway.
34 mins: Johnson has been strong going forward tonight, but now he's caught upfield with a poor pass and Portugal come forward. Meireles lofts a tempting ball into the box, but Beasley heads clear, then Ronaldo is caught offside as the ball comes back in from Veloso.
More on Beckerman from Mark Grassick:
"Nobody on the telly nor on here seems to have remarked at all about Beckerman's elbow on Meireles. Surely that was a blatant red card? Or am I just biased because he looks like the awful kind of American who might play hackesack and listen to the Dave Matthews Band?
32 mins: A very civil email about the Beckerman/Meireles clash.
"I am reading your min-by-min blog of the USA-Portugal game and, while I understand you are catering to an American audience, I cannot believe you did not spot Beckerman elbowing Raúl Meireles. It was a malicious hit and he should have been shown the red card.
Sincerely yours,
Margarida Martins"
Didn't see the replay yet. Margarida, but doubtless we'll see more of that at half time.
Johnson cuts in from the right and fires a fierce shot from distance that Beto watches wide.
30 mins: Lovely little backheel from Dempsey tees up Bradley outside the box, and his low daisycutter rolls past the fingertips of a sprawling Beto , but past the post as well. But moves like that might force this slow Portugal central defense to step up more.
Ronaldo's been quiet, but as the half hour comes up we get to see him show his disgust at an offside call. USA 0-1 Portugal
28 mins: Oooh...great work from Zusi on the right of the box finds Dempsey on the 18 yard line and he drops his shoulder and gets a shot off. It looks to be heading to the far corner, but Costa stayed with him really well to blockk the ball for a corner, which the US can't make anything of.
USA head coach Jurgen Klinsmann crouches on the sidelines. Photograph: Dennis Grombkowski - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images Photograph: Dennis Grombkowski - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
26 mins: Zusi crowded out near the Portugal box as he tries to wriggle his way through, but Portugal certainly not looking comfortable in defense. But nobody looked more uncomfortable than Geoff Cameron on that goal — he was facing away from goal and had a clear sight of the ball from out wide. Even an air shot might have been preferable. As it was he swung, the ball spun off his boot and dropped perfectly for Nani.
24 mins: Jones tries to thread a ball forward to Zusi then retrieves the ball well when it's cut out. Now he's in action again in the Portugal half as he touches the ball to his left for Bradley, 30 yards out. Bradley shapes for the shot and fizzes one just over. He's been much better than the Ghana game so far tonight.
22 mins: Another floated ball forward by Bradley forces Beto to sprint out of his goal and clear in advance of Dempsey's run forward. He rather slices it, but gets away with it. Meanwhile James Ferguson (12 mins) is feeling the wrath of his neighbors:
@kidweil, awww, what a nice little note from our little bros to the north! But really, better arrogant innovators than frozen mediocrities.
20 mins: So USA coming into the game a little but still making sloppy giveaways. Zusi makes one now in hs own half, and Portugal take the moment to dampen the tempo a little before trying to spring Ronaldo. He's muscled off the ball by Jones and wants a free kick. He won't get one though. Still USA 0-1 Portugal
18 mins: Better from the US. Bradley finds his touch for the first time in this World Cup to float a perfect ball down the channel for Demspey to run onto, And the forward forces Beto into a save with his legs from a narrow angle. Then Zusi's corner evades everyone to find Dempsey at the back post. He chests it down and improvises a little dink that goes just over. He's looked lively, broken nose or not.
Dempsey grimaces. Photograph: Paulo Duarte/AP Photograph: Paulo Duarte/AP
16 mins: Brief break as Postiga and Meireles are both down injured. Looks like Postiga, who was clutching his hamstring, will have to come off for Eder. Meireles got the worst of a clash with Beckerman.
14 mins: Dempsey takes the free kick, and it's a decent enough one — just over the bar though, and Beto looked like he had it covered. Now a half chance on the counter as USA muscle the ball in midfield, but Jones overhits his ball over the top with the US having numbers up.
12 mins: Corner doesn't get beyond the first man, but that little cameo was the USA's first hint of a toehold in the game. USA 0-1 Portugal.
Meanwhile, James Ferguson, a neutral party, writes:
"This match is a real dilemma for me: the world's most egotistical footballer against the world's most arrogant country. However, since I'm conditioned to root against the USA (I'm Canadian), that goal is the best result - Portugal scores without any help from Ronaldo."
As I type that Johnson, who's been one of the few bright spots for USA so far, earns a dangerous free kick outside the Portugal box, just to the right of the D...
10 mins: Klinsmann gives the briefest of eye rolls on the sidelines. His side have barely had a kick so far, in one of their traditional (ghan notwithstanding) slow starts.
— Grand Rapids - Brad (@GodParticle777) June 22, 2014
US trying to get some passing going and now Johnson gets to scamper free down the right in attack. He gets to the byline, cuts back and his shot at a narrow angle is blocked for a corner...
8 mins: Portugal have won 11 out of 11 World Cup games they've led in. USA are all at sea at the moment, but they've only themselves to blame. That was a simple clearance, and these moments are crucial now. They can't keep the ball right now.
Free hair cut for Nani! USA have a simple clearance in the box and they make an absolute hash of it as Cameron's swipe at a low ball into the box merely loops into the path of Nani, who steadies himself at point blank range and fires into the roof of the net past Howard.
Nani of Portugal scores his team's first goal . Photograph: Christopher Lee/Getty Images Photograph: Christopher Lee/Getty Images
Nani celebrates his goal. Photograph: Christopher Lee/Getty Images Photograph: Christopher Lee/Getty Images
4 mins: Final stats breakdown coming in to the game, by the way:
Many of those who didn’t write in about sexual euphemisms the other night, did write in about Tim Booth’s comments on the “Star Spangled Banner”. So many that I asked the Guardian stat team to break the emails from the Ghana game down. Here they are:
You don’t know what “La Petite Morte” means 37%
Tim Booth should read the lyrics more carefully 23%
It’s “murder” of crows, not “murmur” 4%
USA is screwed without Altidore 15%
The wisdom of Pepe 7%
This is killing me 14%
The zeitgeist. Only in the Guardian.
Back at the game. Portugal have a little possession now, and early on it looks as if Ronaldo is roaming around the middle to confound the US markers early on.
2 mins: USA knock the ball around the back a little then a long ball is hoisted forward for Demspey but it's well beyond him and there'll be no first minute goal here.
Portugal take their turn to get a few touches, and now Ronaldo pops up on the right, only to overrun his nudge wide for the overlapping Pereira.
"What a contrast in captains tonight: The arrogant, preening, self-centered, and self-serving boy called Ronaldo against the steeley-eyed, hard-nosed (literally) team man that is Clint Dempsey. Don't mess with the Texan—he doesn't even need a face mask. I hope he unmasks Ronaldo tonight."
Right. We're nearly off. USA in white about to kick off.
This is a game that Portugal, for all their difficulties against Germany, and their personnel issues, have to be considered firm favorites for, but in many ways the USA will feel that the Portuguese are a better fit for them than Ghana were, in that the Portuguese struggle to break teams down when they sit deep and counter.
In defense the condition of Alves is one to monitor. Not always the quickest player at the best of times, Alves was pulled out of position repeatedly by Muller’s deep lying play in the opening game, creating ample space behind for Ozil and Gotze to run and pass into, especially after Pepe had gone. If he’s hampered by injury or the conditions tonight there may be space for Dempsey (though bear in mind he can currently only breathe through one nostril himself after picking up his broken nose against Ghana).
And while Portugal will have to make changes owing to injuries and red cards, there is at least one tactical question mark hanging over the side after Veloso’s abject performance against Germany, with many in Portugal suggesting William Carvalho should have got the nod as the defensive midfielder in his place. Bento tends to stick with what he knows though and tonight's no different.
Teams coming out of the tunnel now. Ronaldo grinning broadly. Dempsey not wearing a mask, and still sporting a bruise under his eye.
And here’s Tim Booth from James, on the USA anthem. Actually before we get to that, last time out I mentioned that James had called their most recent album “La Petite Mort” before quipping that they should have called it “The Group of La Petite Mort”. Many thanks to the millions of people who subsequently wrote in with barely suppressed giggles to explain what “La Petite Mort” was. Clearly my suave and urbane commentary had convinced everyone I couldn’t possibly have any idea. Anyway here’s Tim on “The Star Spangled Banner”:
USA anthem
"It’s a decent melody, actually quite rousing. Like most anthems it’s intended to create unity in the face of adversity, coming from a time when America was a new country trying to forge its identity. It’s certainly better than God Save the Queen, because it’s less sturgy and ploddy, but my theory is that anthems should be changed quite frequently so they reflect the times we live in, in a language we understand. “O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming” – what does it mean? It’s a martial national anthem and maybe in peacetime, or something close to it, we should be having more forward-thinking anthems, with lyrics that inspire us to be more inclusive of races and genders.
I think in Britain we’re aware that our country has seen better days, and we’re a bit more cynical about the flag-waving thing. America’s a younger country, with more naivety and innocence to it, and they believe they were born into the best country on earth. They do what humans do when they’re extremely fortunate, which is to say God gave it to them, or that they earned it in some way, when in fact there’s a lot of luck involved, and these things are always cyclical.
I find the World Cup fascinating. I’m less interested in the tribalism of soccer, but I watch Barcelona every week and when they play at their best it’s with a shoal mentality. They’re like a murmur of crows, they seem able to read where their team-mates are going with something close to telepathy. Watching it can touch you, in a way some artists can when the ego disappears into the creation. And Barcelona at their best are art, and Spain, Brazil, Holland have been, and other teams will be."
Nearly forgot the tradition that was in no way old by the second game of the tournament, let alone the second round of group games. Yes, it’s the anthem analysis.
Basically, when we’re not squinting sideways at group standings, trying to work out if a 7th Ecuador goal in their sleep might still let Spain sneak through on goodwill difference, or doing Buzzfeed quizzes to try and work out which underarm sweat patch we are (I got “benched Fernando Torres”), we’re popping on our Peeps by Howard Webb earphones on to listen to the national anthems of the World Cup nations and trying to work out what they mean (with the help of passing pop stars):
Here’s Felix Buxton of Basement Jaxx on Portugal’s effort:
Portugal anthem
“It sounds like a good bit of music and it’s rousing, but I found the lyrics - “to arms, to arms! For the fatherland, fight!” - a bit steeped in warfare and the glory of battle. Anthems often revel in that, which I find personally is not in my mindset and hopefully most people in the modern world will feel like that. Anthems are a piece of your heritage, though, like your old racist grandma – you don’t tell her to get lost just because her views are a little outdated. Melodically and as a piece of rousing hymnal music it’s great. It’s definitely the sort of thing I’d drop in a DJ set – not the whole thing, just 30 seconds or so - because you feel it’s the music of the people. I wrote with a friend something like a hymn, for the Olympics, and I played it to my dad who’s a vicar and he said it was too lofty and wouldn’t connect to the working man. Hopefully we’ll complete it at some stage, but writing a hymn that connects to people and is uplifting is hard to do. I’ll be watching the World Cup – when I was at school football supporting was about fighting and violence, but those days are gone. I’ll always watch England, and experience that groaning feeling of depression as they’re lauded and then they fail. I don’t know why they’re lauded so much, all they do is kick a ball about.”
Interesting, Felix. Though when I think of the England team the first word that comes to mind isn’t “lauded” (“laudanum” maybe?)
You lost me at serious question Matt. Let's say, a bit of both. The high water mark of interest gets higher with each World Cup, but more telling is what interest remains after the big show.
And it basically stays this way here for the better part of three months. It's brutal.
(Don't let anyone con you into thinking that the humidity percentage they tell you on the weather means anything. It doesn't. The dew point means something.)"
So our preview has already spoken about the injuries endured by Portugal so far. Indeed since that went to press we may want to add in Bruno Alves into the mix, since the defender had to sit out the final training session and is a doubt with a muscle strain. Of course since that sentence was written, we've found out he will start, but more of that in a minute.
The conditions at Manaus are going to be very grueling for both teams. Actually, side note on that. Does anyone else think it’s unfair that neither Ghana or Germany have to play in Manaus and that they’ll be going into their final games with a day’s more rest (and presumably several hundred gallons of dehydration less)? Anyone?
OK, moving on. The US obviously have a headache in replacing Altidore, who joking aside from any English readers, really doesn’t have an obvious replacement within the system Klinsmann would like to play.
Of course Altidore was one of two players to be withdrawn with hamstring worries on the night, while other players looked to be suffering from the sort of fatigue we might normally expect to see in the knockout rounds, and not within minutes of a tournament starting.
It does make you wonder whether one of the few notional advantages the USA might have hoped to have this evening — the CONCACAF-style weather conditions — might be offset by what’s reportedly been a very tough training schedule. Klinsmann has a reputation for emphasizing fitness and working his sides very hard. Indeed it’s not always a flattering reputation if we’re to believe Philipp Lahm’s autobiography. So how his team pace themselves in tonight’s conditions will inevitably be part of the post-game analysis.
Anyway, it looks as if Klinsmann is going with a very conservative set up, with the 4-5-1, and Dempsey up top, where he tends not to do well on his own when his side needs a goal, but may help shore up that midfield when his team are on the defensive.
On that note, an email from Adrian Fusell:
"Checking in from a packed Banter bar in Williamsburg! Huge USA support and feeling nervous. I can see a high scoring game as both teams will go for it. Portugal to edge possession but the USA to nick a win 2-1!!! 4-5-1 the right call, we have to break down the Portuguese front 6."
For your consideration while we await kickoff, the Guardian have put together a tumblr of “Sad footballers”. In the spirit of viral marketing they’ve also asked me to subtly insert references to it throughout today’s live blog. To help you spot these references look out for the following handy cut and paste phrases as tonight’s game unfolds. Feel free to send me more suggestions. My game plan is to start in a frenzy of activity, then cut and past wearily for around 87 minutes.
“The sad footballer watched the happy footballer kick the ball past him.”
“The sad footballer nuzzled the crying footballer with his head.”
“The sad footballers surround the man in yellow, waving their arms in the air.”
Wondering what inspired the USA win in 2002? Well, here’s then head coach Bruce Arena delivering his final team talk before that game…
So there you have it. Jurgen Klinsmann just has to tell his players “we belong to the greatest country in the world”, perhaps while Berti Vogts pops on his stars and stripes pants. Noone’s going to want to pick a fight with those bad boys, or böser junges, if you will. Not that he will.
For a rather more serious analysis of that game, you could always read this rather nice piece from Jason Davies. And if you’re a USA newcomer Jason’s daily “American Soccer Morning” podcast is essential listening (and if you play its online archive at 1000x speed you should be nicely primed and ready for kick off).
First off kudos to Vitor Alernage for leading with the hair when assessing Nani. Conventional wisdom may suggest that this game will be decided in midfield, but it will in fact clearly be an ideological battle between hair gel and dreadlocks. If Ronaldo and Beckerman go up for a header together we may actually see a new life form.
Photograph: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images Photograph: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Meanwhile, if Nani, shaved motif and all, needed any motivation for this game he might need little more than to look at the scouting reports on Portugal. Many of these suggest that one of the potential ways to counter the threat of Ronaldo is for defending teams to concede space on their left side to invite Portugal to attack down the right side, where, er, Nani plays.
Jermaine Jones was one of the USA’s best players on Monday night, operating on both sides of the ball over on the left of the field. How he supports his full back on that side (DaMarcus Beasley cut an isolated figure against Ghana as the Ghanaian attack repeatedly overloaded down that flank) and helps link up play in any gaps left behind Nani et al as they go forward down Portugal’s right, could be one of the more intriguing subplots of the evening. Especially if the USA target the converted midfielder André Almeida, in for Coentrão at right back.
Of course these two teams have World Cup history together.
In 2002, the USA were rank outsiders when facing the Portuguese golden generation in South Korea, only to stun them by running up a three goal lead before half-time:
USA goals vs Portugal 2002
Portugal struck back, but the US held on for a famous 3-2 victory en route to the knockout stages and a close run World Cup quarter final with Germany. Portugal meanwhile were on their way to being humiliatingly eliminated.
And now, they stand on the brink of elimination again. Should they lose tonight, their World Cup will be over. Even a win still leaves them with a resurgent Ghana to face in the final group game. And there’s that goal difference.
Things got both clearer and murkier in Group G yesterday, when Germany played Ghana. Both teams led in that game before it finished 2-2, with Ghana restoring some pride after the USA defeat and Germany giving us a reminder that for all their fearsome attacking movement, their defense can leave something to be desired.
It also means that, unbelievable as such a scenario might have sounded before the tournament started, the USA can qualify for the knockout stages with a win today, while after their emphatic opening game win, there's now no scenario where the Germans can qualify this evening.
And Portugal? Portugal could do with not only a win, but a handful of goals tonight, to start eating in to the -4 goal difference they racked up against the Germans.
…have finished confirming that Algeria is the greater country with more human achievements, via the age old diplomatic method of battering each other with frantic route one. A wild game just finished 4-2 to the Algerians.
So it’s time to turn our attention to events in Manaus, possibly while regretting that bacalhau (a little too salty for Manaus). I’ll have more build up and team news soon, but in the meantime why not get your thoughts, fears, and 1970’s pub rock references coming in to graham.parker@theguardian.com or @KidWeil and also catch up on our official souvenir edition preview of this game here (or just read the extract below — I get paid badly either way):
"If Ronaldo is at all fit, it’s hard to see Portugal not starting him in what is now a must-win game (a draw could leave their fate hanging by a goal-difference thread). Yet whatever Jürgen Klinsmann’s understandable wariness about Portugal as a wounded animal, the USA coach might prefer to take his chances against a less-than-100% Ronaldo in the testing, Amazonian conditions in Manaus, no matter how good he is.
If Ronaldo does play, it's worth remembering that his lack of impact on game day one was not just down to injury – Germany stifled his supply to perfection. From a US perspective it is worth noting that such an approach is far from the preserve of the elite, since Israel and Northern Ireland were also able to pressure Portuguese supply lines at times during qualifying."
Evening everyone, and welcome to live coverage of Portugal vs USA. We’ll be getting our build up under way in a moment, along with a medley of traditional Portuguese-American shanties imported from Newark, and a Manaus-themed steam bath for the full multi-media experience.
It was Portugal’s first training session after the humbling defeat against Germany and Nani showed up with a star and his squad number shaved into his hair. It was as if he had not quite grasped that this was the time to knuckle down rather than show off a new haircut.
A fresh crop does not necessarily mean a player will fail to work hard, of course – the newly shorn Luka Modric has showed plenty of application at this World Cup – but it does, perhaps, hint at a player’s priorities and, more importantly, it reinforces the feeling that Nani sometimes is more about style than substance. There is no doubt that the Manchester United midfielder is outrageously talented. He has everything you expect from a world-class footballer: quick feet, mesmerising technique and stamina. But it never quite comes together for him.
It is not for a lack of ambition, that is for sure. In 2011 he told Público: “I want to be one of the best in the world, I want to be on the top and I hope to get there as soon as possible. It will need some patience, I know. If I can get there in one year, perfect. But, if it takes two or three years, it’s also good.”
