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Germany-Ghana draw increases USA’s odds of winning group

By Mike Dyce

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Coming into the 2014 World Cup, the United States men’s national team was in the group of death and the odds looked stacked against them. Out of the United States, Germany, Portugal and Ghana, only two teams could advance to the round of 16.

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The German’s came in as favorites to win the tournament, the European team with the best odds to do so actually. Portugal is a tough team that boasts world class talent including 2013 FIFA Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, who just lead Real Madrid to their 10th Champions League final breaking the single season record for scoring in that tournament. Ghana had eliminated the United States from the last two World Cups and have been a thorn in the sides of the Americans.

In their American’s opening game against Ghana, they escaped with a win after a late scare from Ghana. It put them in control for one of the top two spots, but it was widely assumed that the German’s would steam roll Ghana in their second game after steam rolling Portugal in the first to win the group.

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Then on Saturday, Ghana did the American’s a favor by holding Germany to a draw. With a win on Sunday over Portugal, who will be without defenders Pepe and Fábio Coentrão and Ronaldo is reportedly dealing with knee issues, the Americans will move into first place in the group.

The odds for the American’s advancing took a bit of a dip for some reason, but oddly their odds of winning the group increased. The dip in odds to advance is probably because Germany didn’t eliminate Ghana, and all four teams are still in play to advance.

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