Long before the United States men’s national team landed in Brazil, there was doubt they would be there for long. Many critics said this would just be a vacation after the announcement of their placement in the “Group of Death.” Would they even get a point, let alone make it out of the group? Even manager Jurgen Klinsmann said, “We cannot win this World Cup, because we are not at that level yet.”

But this team wasn’t satisfied with just being there. They wanted to prove to the world they were no longer pushovers. They wanted to win. They believed they could win. But first, they had to overcome a team with which they have many demons.

The match against Ghana opened in both the best and worst way possible. Clint Dempsey’s goal was poetic; however, the last thing this team needed was a reason to sit back and defend. The match was shaky. The national team looked uncertain; constantly on their heels in fear of letting in a goal instead of attacking. Michael Bradley was a no-show and the back line left much to be desired. Then Jozy Altidore went down with a hamstring injury and it felt like everything that could go wrong did. They were lucky to be up at the half.

Doubt started creeping in as the second half kicked off. Maybe we weren’t supposed to be here after all. The USMNT didn’t possess the ball and they were giving Ghana acres of space, which would end with shot after shot after shot after shot. The national team wasn’t playing football so much as they were surviving, trying to keep hold of three points until their dying breath. We knew Ghana’s equalizer was coming, but it didn’t soften the blow.

It felt all-too-familiar and Ghana was the perfect team to script an unsavory ending. Then it happened. After what was surely an eternity and a half, John Brooks slotted home a transcendent goal, making him the most important John since Adams and Brooks since Garth. Once the whistle blew, I let out a long sigh of relief. We did it. The three points were ours.

“Zusi to take it. OH ITS THERE! WHAT A MOMENT! ITS JOHN BROOKS. ITS JOHN BROOKS FOR THE USA. HAVE THEY STOLEN IT!?”

The national team had finally beaten Ghana. For the first time since Landon Donovan’s goal against Algeria, there was a sense of hope swirling around this team. Maybe we could advance out of the Group of Death — hell, maybe we could even win it. The “I believe that we will win” chants were beginning to sound less self-assuring and more declarative. Before us was the path: win and you move on to the round of 16; lose or draw and the road gets tougher.

The pieces were falling into place. Pepe had been sent off against Germany due to an errant headbutt. Fabio Coentrão had picked up a nasty injury to his groin in the same match. Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the two best players in the world, was operating at 60 percent fitness, maybe less. Rui Patrício took a knock to his thigh, which meant Beto would be in goal for only the eighth time. If the national team wanted to beat Portugal, this was the time to do it.

This was a much different team than the one that played Ghana. It was comprised of the same components; yet, the approach was different. Instead of giving the Portuguese acres of space and collapsing in the final third, we were pressuring and countering. It was beautiful football. Sure, Nani, of all people, scored off of a miscue at the back, but the USMNT was playing better than Portugal, dominating them, even.

There were so many moments of brilliance. Kyle Beckerman to Jermaine Jones to Graham Zusi to Bradley to Dempsey, who would fire a shot that would narrowly miss. Repeat. Each possession was full of purpose; each possession created a chance. It was majestic to watch. So, as halftime sounded, there was nothing to worry about. The United States was knocking at the door; it was just a matter of time before they were let in.

The moment finally came. 19 minutes after the kickoff of the second half, Jermaine Jones fired a bending, right-footed shot that would’ve made Messi blush into the back of the net. Then, something changed. Portugal was no longer creating opportunities at their end — they would move the ball and then stand over it as if there was nothing else they could do. The United States was swarming, cutting off potential passes and causing Portugal to self-implode.

For 94 minutes and 23 seconds, the United States held on. They were up 2-1 in what looked like a sure win. Late substitutes Chris Wondolowski and DeAndre Yedlin were magnificent at changing the pace, holding onto possession and killing time. Almost there. When the clock struck 94 minutes and 24 seconds, the unthinkable happened. Bradley, who had been playing well, bobbled a pass and conceded possession to the Portuguese.

The ball seemed to be moving in slow motion. Each second felt like an eternity. Portugal was pressing forward with purpose and the United States was scrambling to recover on defense. The ball went out wide to Ronaldo on the right and everyone watching knew what was about to happen. Ronaldo lofted a ball — one only a handful of players could pull off — into the penalty area placing it in between two U.S. defenders, onto Silvestre Varela’s head, past Tim Howard and into the back of the net.

“Here is Cristiano Ronaldo. Oh, it’s a great cross! And it is the equalizer from Varela. The USA denied right at the death.”

It’s easy to point fingers. If only Bradley had put the ball anywhere other than Ricardo Costa’s knee, we may have been up 3-1 and Varela’s goal wouldn't have mattered. Or if Zusi had walked off the pitch quicker when he was substituted, the ref wouldn't have added another minute to stoppage time. Or if Bradley had just controlled the ball instead of turning it over. Or if Geoff Cameron had properly marked his man. Or if Ronaldo wasn't so goddamn good.

None of those things matter because “what if?”s are ultimately futile methods of self-comfort. They’re just talking points that happened and harping on them won’t change the result. Sometimes football breaks your heart — that’s the beauty of it. The art lies in the mystery.

No one expected the match with Germany to go smoothly. Perhaps you tricked yourself into a false sense of comfort by saying something along the lines of: Well, we beat Ghana and they drew with Germany, so that definitely means we can, at least, draw with Germany. You would be foolish to say that, but I understand why you would. It’s nice to believe in things.

The USMNT was playing for their World Cup life against a team who is going far in this tournament. They knew what they had to do: win or draw and you’re in; lose and the soccer gods would have to look favorably upon you. Simple, right? Well, that was easier said than done.

The first 10 minutes of the match were an all-out assault on USA fans’ nerves. Germany was attacking; the United States was gasping for life. Shots were raining on poor Tim Howard like spring in Portland. It was just a matter of time before Germany put home one goal, or more.

Thankfully, the next 35 minutes were much improved. The USA was defending well and attacking even better. The shots were few and far between, but they were purposeful and came from thoughtful passing. We were competing with Germany and, better still, it was tied at halftime.

Miroslav Klose came on right at kickoff of the second half and you could almost hear the collective groans around the USA. Klose’s nickname isn’t “The Closer,” but it would be apropos. His introduction caused a noticeable shift. Germany was finding more space, capitalizing on rebounds from missed shots and, somehow, shooting even more. Their goal was inevitable.

10 minutes after Klose’s insertion to the match, Thomas Müller slotted home a beautiful, curling shot right by Tim Howard’s outstretched hands. Müller’s goal was gut-wrenching; but, the United States’ round of 16 dreams were still alive. All they needed was for Germany not to score again and for the Portugal-Ghana match — which was a draw at the time — to end in a draw or a Portugal win.

It was a nervy second half, punctuated only by Ronaldo’s goal to put Portugal up one. The villain from the previous match was now the hero. As the referee blew the whistle to end the match, a smile crept over my face. They did it. It didn't matter how they did it — a win is a win, even if it came through a loss — it only mattered that they did it. They were in the round of 16.

“They lost the battle but won the war. Having won their kryptonite, they really surprised us all.”