The United States and Portugal meet up tonight in their second game of the 2014 World Cup. This is the third and final match of the night and the 2014 World Cup Odds have Portugal as a favorite in this contest.
This could be a historic day for United States soccer. The Americans just need to find a way to pick up a victory and three points in this match and they will advance to the knockout stage. They probably won't be playing tonight with Jozy Altidore, who suffered a hamstring problem in the team's win over Ghana to open the World Cup. While Altidore might not see the pitch tonight, he has been seen walking around and looking like the leg isn't bothering him.
So where does that leave the United States? If they lose this match outright, it will be a devastating result for the Americans. With the big win over Ghana, the worst thing they could do is show up and lay an egg tonight. And it's not like Portugal isn't a great team — they are ranked inside the Top 10 in the world and have a wealth of talent on the pitch.
With the way each of these teams play, the United States could find themselves in a good position tonight. The Americans beat Portugal the last time they met in World Cup action back in 2002. Portugal coach Paulo Bento said his team will have to take calculated risks tonight in order to take advantage of the United States when they find a chance.
Pepe will not play in this game based off the red card disaster against Germany.
Jurgen Klinsmann hasn't announced who will take Altidore's spot in the striker position, and there's a growing rumor that he could see the field tonight. But the United States will probably rest him tonight and play a substitute. That puts a lot of pressure on Clint Dempsey, broken nose and all, to perform at a high level tonight.
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best players in the world, but he is banged up as well for Portugal. If he plays tonight and isn't close to maximum effort, he can still be a major factor. Whichever American player has to mark him throughout the game will play a huge role for the Americans.
This has the makings of a draw tonight. The United States would stay level with Germany if they are able to draw with Portugal, but an outright victory would help them reach the Round of 16. However, we don't think the Americans can win tonight without Altidore on the pitch. Look for a draw.
Free Pick: United States 1, Portugal 1
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