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United States Squad Report: Game day against Portugal

Kevin C. Cox / Getty

After preparing specifically for Portugal in this week’s lead up to the critical match today, coach Jurgen Klinsmann switched focus entirely on the U.S. team on Saturday as the team trained at the Arena Amazonia. Despite the euphoria of the win last Monday, the Americans had some clear flaws against Ghana, not least a pass completion rate of 72%. Failure to hold up the ball will quickly tire out the U.S. in the heat and humidity of the tropics, and Portugal will be quick to take advantage.

Still, the coach sounded upbeat. "€œWe have very, very good players on our end as well and we have the confidence to go into that game and say, ‘We'€™re here and we want to beat you.™ We want to win this game,’” Klinsmann explained at a press conference.

Despite coming into the match as underdogs, the team will be motivated by the knowledge that a win today will secure their place in the round of 16 after yesterday’s 2-2 draw between Germany and Ghana.

Additionally, Portugal will be without defenders Pepe and Fabio Coentrao, striker Hugo Almeida, possibly goalkeeper Rui Patricio. Central defender Bruno Alves could also be a scratch, and rumours continue to swirl over the status of Cristiano Ronaldo. That’s up to six starters who could miss out.

Still, midfielder Michael Bradley sounded a wise note of caution: “œPlaying Portugal right now, there's two ways to look at it. It'd be easy to look and say, ‘This is a good time to play them.€™’ But the other side says they are in some ways a desperate team playing for their lives."

Whatever happens, after today we will know exactly what this U.S. team is capable of. We already have an idea after they defeated a good Ghanaian side which pushed Germany to the brink yesterday.

Fixtures/Results

Group G — June 16 — Ghana 1-2 United States

Group G — June 22 — United States vs Portugal

Group G — June 26 — United States vs Germany

Squad News/Rumors/Injury Report

FW Jozy Altidore’s (hamstring) will not play against Portugal.

FW Clint Dempsey (nose) will start despite lack of official word from the team over his broken nose.

Four Quick Notes

1. Despite the earlier caution urged by Klinsmann ahead of the World Cup, he seems quite bullish on Portugal here.

2. Why new USMNT fans who know nothing about soccer should be embraced.

3. Speaking of which, a “faker’s” guide to the USA-Portugal game. Though I’m not sure saying ‘I bet Klinsmann wishes he’d brought Donovan’ is a good idea.

4. Former U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena believes this is a perfect situation for the Americans in Manaus.

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