US v. Algeria

It’s all come down to this — the last game of group play for the United States will determine whether or not we continue on to the knockout stage or head home.

United States

With a win against Algeria on Wednesday at 10 AM ET, the United States will make it out of the group stage and into the round of sixteen for the fourth time. A loss and they’re going home; a tie and it get’s a little trickier*.

Ultimately, the big question is: which United States team will we see at kick off? The squad that gave up two goals to Slovenia in the first half of the last game? Or the fearless side that won every loose ball, made sharp passes, and scored three two goals in a remarkable comeback in the second half?

The United States will be without Robbie Findley who received his second yellow card in group play for a handball in the Slovenia game. Bradley could replace him with strikers Herculez Gomez or Edson Buddle. Another possibility is pushing up star-midfielder Clint Dempsey into the second striker spot.

The US may be favored to win this game, but this is the World Cup and anything can happen.

Algeria

Algeria — by many considered the weakest team in group C — has shown in its first two games that it’s anything but.

In their first game, Algeria outplayed Slovenia, but lost thanks to a few mental errors at an inopportune moment and a goalkeeping gaffe. In their second game, Algeria shocked England by playing Three Lions to a nil-nil draw.

Los Fennecs (The Desert Foxes) — as the Algerian team is known — is playing in its third World Cup and first since 1986. They qualified by beating a heavily favored Egyptian squad in qualifying.

The team may not have many stars playing in the elite European leagues, but makes up for that with cohesive teamwork. During the game, keep an eye on midfielder Madjid Bougherra, striker Karim Ziani, and Ryad Boudebouz all of whom excelled during the draw with England.

Who do you think Bradley will start in this final match of group play? Score prediction? Comment below!

* If the United States plays Algeria to a draw and Slovenia beats England, then the United States would advance. If a US tie is combined with a Slovenia — England draw and England doesn’t score two or more goals then the US will also advance. But, a tie combined with an England win would send the US Men’s National Team back home.