2010 FIFA World Cup: Team USA Can Win It All After Avoiding Germany

After the emotional win by the USA yesterday, they secured their group for the first time since 1930.

By winning the group, the get to play the second team from Group D, which is Ghana.

This will be a rematch of the US-Ghana game from the 2006 FIFA World Cup. In that game, Ghana came out 2-1 winners and progressed, while the United States were knocked out.

Although controversy surrounded that game, because of a penalty, Ghana still dominated and pressed the United States.

That was four years ago; this is now.

Anyone who saw Landon Donovan's post-game interview will know he was right to be emotional, with such a late goal and so many lessons learned, such as never give up on yourselves and your teammates, a lesson France failed to learn.

On the other hand, Ghana are a bit different without the drive of Michael Essien, playing long balls to the wings and then working the ball to lone striker Asamoah Gyan, who is a predator.

He has two goals to his name, both from the spot, and will be looking to add to his tally.

The United States have clearly looked better that Ghana in every aspect, but US will  have to tighten up their defense to make sure no spot-kicks or early goals are given away, so they can control tempo.

Ghana will look to use the counter attacks, but hey isn't that where USA thrive and Donovan's late goal is a testimony.

Here is where Nostradamus comes in.

If the United States beat Ghana, they face Uruguay or South Korea.

The United States are better than all the aforementioned teams and might just need to watch out for Luis Suarez and Diego Forlan of Uruguay.

The next matchup in the semi-finals brings the winner of Netherlands-Italy, where Netherlands have looked stronger so far.

Supposing that Portugal beat Brazil, they take on the second in Group F which might be Spain or Chile—let's use Chile.

So then there's Netherlands-Portugal, with Portugal winning (also a 2006 rematch).

I strongly believe that USA can get to the finals on these terms, provided that they don't face Brazil in the semi-finals.

In 2006, USA lost to Germany under yet another controversial game, but I believe its always good to avoid the power houses after winning a group.

I know its a long shot, but let us be at least grateful that the team won their group and then avoided an early meeting with Germany.