Last Gasp Portugal Striker Denies USA Important World Cup Victory

The 2014 World Cup was supposed to be extremely difficult for USA, and so far it's been relatively easy for them, meaning something was always likely to catch them off guard sooner or later. They entered their all important group clash against Portugal, knowing that 3 points would send them through to the next round of the World Cup. They so nearly had their wish, but a last second Cristiano Ronaldo cross was headed home by Silvestre Varela, ensuring the US would have to settle for a 2-2 draw instead.

USA started in a shaky manner, with Portugal's Nani scoring the opener. However, the USA came back with a quick double from Jermaine Jones and Clint Dempsey, and with a 2-1 lead, the USA looked set to shock the world by winning their second straight World Cup group match. Ronaldo, who had a game of good and bad moments, grabbed the ball and launched it pin-point perfect in to the USA box, where several defenders stood, but Varela ensured he made no mistake, netting the goal that saved Portugal's tournament.

Dempsey was feeling mixed emotions, he explained "Obviously, we're disappointed, but you've got to look at the positives," Coach Jurgen Klinsmann was in a similar frame of mind, saying "They did an amazing job, we were just that close. Didn't make it quite yet. So we've got to make it against Germany."

Can USA get the right result against Germany, and how far can they progress at the 2014 World Cup?