World Cup 2014: Will the United States advance?

Oh my goodness…the big day is less than 24 hours away! Will the US advance to the 16-team knockout round of the World Cup or won’t we? Up until about 36 seconds left in the last (harrowing) game against Portugal, the answer was yes. Solid yes. Now it’s maybe? We hope? Run away and hide? I can’t take this! So pretty much everyone I know’s been talking about all the scenarios possible in this Group C “Group of Death” michigas. It’s getting a little confusing so let me break it down for you:

World Cup Math 101:

There are 3 possible scenarios in which the US advances (without getting into the nitty gritty of goals scored): Scenario A: The United States can either win or draw against Germany tomorrow. A win would mean the US would win its group (which would be pretty badass I must say). Scenario B: The United States loses to Germany but Portugal and Ghana draw. Scenario C: 1. The U.S. loses by one goal to Germany and by the EXACT same result as Ghana beats Portugal, the U.S. is through, due to the direct comparison with Ghana. (They beat them in game one of the group stage 2–1); OR

2. If the U.S. loses by one goal to Germany and Ghana beats Portugal by the same margin, the U.S. only advances if they score at least as many goals in their loss as the Ghanaians score in their victory; OR

3. The U.S. loses to Germany but Portugal beats Ghana by 4 or fewer goals.

4. The U.S. loses to Germany by five or more goals and Portugal and Ghana tie.

5. The U.S. loses by 3 goals or less to Germany but Portugal beats Ghana by one goal.

6. The U.S. loses to Germany by as many as four goals and Portugal beats Ghana 1–0 (exactly).

— lots of help from Yahoo Sports