Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
40 seconds.
The USMNT were 40 seconds away from this game being meaningless, and this article being meaningless, but a turnover and a deathly cross from a great player late and here we are, praying for a win (or tie) against World Cup favorites, Germany. The blueprint to BEATING Germany and not tying Germany because it’s America, you don’t settle for a tie and call yourself American.
If the USMNT was just okay with tying, than Mexico wouldn’t be in the World Cup, and we wouldn’t have amazing images of Mexico manager Miguel Herrera freaking out on the sideline. Jurgen Klinsmann himself said that the USMNT aren’t going to go for a tie, and you know that the Germans are going to try to kick the USA’s teeth in, but the USMNT can do it. This is how.
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Step 1: Pray. This is higher on the list than the Portugal blueprint because well, it’s Germany. Just the pronunciation of the word Germany is enough to give you nightmares. It’s going to take a lot of effort, guts, determination, and sheer utter luck to beat the Germans, and it could be done.
Step 2: Exploit the slow defenders. The Germans aren’t really known for their speed and there is no better example of that then in the defenders. Imagine Fabian Johnson and DeMarcus Beasley overlapping and attacking the wings on a counter attack, that alone can create a lot of chances, throw in speedster DeAndre Yedlin, and speed could kill.
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Step 3: Watch out for the corners. The Germans are huge, they excel at winning the ball over the top and controlling the game. They’ll hold possession, wait for the cross, drill the cross and a gigantic defender or midfielder buries it. Also if/when the USMNT concedes a corner, it’s time to hunker down and mark all the defenders because the will beat the USA over the top.
Step 4: Find the real Michael Bradley. There is a different player playing in the USMNT in the World Cup under the name and likeness of Michael Bradley, because the one that showed up in qualifying and friendlies is nowhere to be found in this World Cup. He loses possession almost every time the ball is at his feet, he makes the wrong decisions, and turned the ball over inexplicably, leading to Portugal’s equalizer. If Bradley just boots the ball forward for a goal kick, this game is for nothing. Michael Bradley MUST show up, MUST control the game, and MUST play the soccer we know he can play.
Step 5: Play smart. One elementary clearance later and the USMNT was down 1-0 5 minutes into the Portugal game. Things like that happen against Germany and it will be 4-0 at the half. The USA need to be smart, motivated, and ready to go if they want to slay a giant, and if they can even have a shot, then they have to play smart.
The USMNT will be throwing all the chips on the table on Thursday when they face the Germans, and the USA can shock the world and beat Germany, take first place in the group, and advance in the group of death. If you’re a USMNT supporter and you don’t believe the USMNT can slay a giant, then please show yourselves out the door. I believe that we will win.