World Cup Day 15: This Is It, America

What's This?

The U.S. team huddle together prior to the Group G World Cup soccer match between the USA and Portugal at the Arena da Amazonia in Manaus, Brazil on June 22.

Image: Themba Hadebe/Associated Press

By Alex Magdaleno2014-06-26 11:22:04 UTC

Your feelings of overwhelming anticipation mixed with imminent sadness and a yearning to start all over again are completely normal.

That's because Thursday is the last day of the World Cup group round. Soon, the brackets will be complete and all the mathematical fun that goes with them will be in the past.

The knockout rounds are all business; show up or go home and thus far, only a few teams have truly proven their mettle in the group stages. Yet, four spots in the round of 16 remain. Let's take a look at what you should expect on the last — and arguably most dramatic — day of the group stages.

See also: What the World Cup Looked Like 70 Years Ago

Group G Final Matches:

USA vs. Germany, 12 p.m. ET

For an in-depth breakdown of what USA fans can expect for this match, check out our ultimate preview of what's at stake for the USMNT going into their final match against Germany on Friday.

See also: USA vs. Germany: The Ultimate Preview for Thursday's World Cup Battle

From left to right, Germany's Mesut Ozil, Toni Kroos, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thomas Mueller stand over a free kick during the Group G World Cup soccer match between Germany and Ghana at the Arena Castelao in Fortaleza, Brazil on June 21.

Image: Frank Augstein/Associated Press

That being said, Germany and the USA are likely picks to advance out of the group. In particular, Germany's chances at exiting the tournament in the group stages are pretty low. It would take a loss to the USA, a Ghana win over Portugal and a combination of 6 goals between the USA and Ghana without conceding any for Germany to be knocked out due to goal differential. In a Portugal win over Ghana, it would take a staggering 9 goals between USA and Portugal to knock Germany out.

What remains to be seen is the seeding: the USA can take the no. 1 seed with a win on Friday and Germany can clinch it with a win or draw.

Second seed from this group will likely go on to face Belgium and first seed will probably face off against Algeria. Both the USA and Germany look capable of beating both, and could very likely move onto the quarterfinals. Which is where it really gets dicey. On the second seed side of the bracket, the biggest threats are Argentina and the Netherlands. On the first seed side, if all goes according to predictions, Brazil would be waiting in the semi-finals.

Brazil in Brazil is deadly, but the Netherlands backed by arguably the hungriest player on the pitch, Arjen Robben, is almost as frightening. Then you have the consistently godlike plays by Argentina's Lionel Messi. Though Germany stands a better chance at disarming these threats — a favorite to win themselves — the USA would truly be the dark horse moving through either side of the bracket.

Portugal vs. Ghana, 12 p.m. ET

If USA loses to Germany on Friday, this match has a lot of implications. Because both teams drew in their second group stage matches, they are both still alive in the tournament and have a shot at advancing over the USA.

So while every USA fan will be watching their team's last match, they'll be listening for the results of this one.

The biggest threat to USA's potential playoff berth will be Ghana. If Ghana wins by 2 goals and the U.S. loses by at least 1, Ghana knocks out the USA from the World Cup for the third time (as it did in 2006 and in 2010).

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the Group G World Cup soccer match between the USA and Portugal at the Arena da Amazonia in Manaus, Brazil on June 22.

How possible is this outcome? It could go either way. Though Ghana played excellent soccer on Saturday agains the Germans — creatively moving the ball and using their speed to rush the counter attack against a slower German defense —they will be without key player Sulley Muntari after he drew his second yellow card. Additionally, Kevin-Prince Boateng was reportedly dismissed from training for arguing with Ghana's coach.

But it might not matter against a weak Portugal. Though they were able to find crucial goals against the USA, Portugal took advantage of Team USA's lackluster defense, which made suspect coverage errors. Cristiano Ronaldo's last minute cross to Silvestre Varela was beautiful soccer, but largely aided by Team USA's defense not being goal side in the last 30 seconds of the match.

Ultimately, USA fans will want a Portugal win (but not by more than 5 goals to insure the goal differential tiebreaker), or a draw.

Group H Final Matches:

Algeria vs. Russia, 4 p.m. ET

Members of the Algerian soccer team join hands as they celebrate on the pitch after winning 4-2 in the Group H World Cup soccer match between South Korea and Algeria at the Estadio Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre, Brazil on June 22.

Image: Michael Sohn/Associated Press

The battle for second place of Group H will be the penultimate match of the group stages.

Though Russia was favored to take second in the group and advance out with Belgium, Algeria has shown way more life and is favored to win on Thursday.

Though ll it takes is one win for Russia and they're through — despite their lackluster performance in the World Cup thus far. It all depends on which Russia comes out to play on the pitch: a defeated team disappointed in their tournament performance or one hungry to win and advance. With the favorable position to advance, you can be sure Algeria won't be messing around.

Republic of Korea vs. Belgium, 4 p.m. ET

Belgian players celebrate with their supporters after the Group H World Cup soccer match between Belgium and Russia at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on June 22. Belgium won the match 1-0.

Image: Ivan Sekretarev/Associated Press

Belgium has already secured a spot in the round of 16, but if they lose here and Algeria wins in their match, they'll take the second seed. A Belgium loss here would be quite unexpected, however.

If the Korea does manage to drive home a win against Belgium, their current -2 goal differential would be hard to overcome whatever the result of the Algeria vs. Russia game, which takes place at the same time.

Expect Belgium to win here and take the first seed of Group H. In the knockout round, they'll likely face either the USA or Germany, depending on Friday's match results.

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Topics: world cup, Entertainment, germany, soccer, Sports, USA soccer, usmnt