World Cup Preview: Group G

This is definitely one of the hardest groups in this year's world cup because all four teams in the group advanced to the second round back in 2010. You have Germany, Portugal, USA, and Ghana as the teams competing for two spots. Germany may have suffered a huge loss with the ankle injury to Marco Reus during the world cup warmups. I still think Germany has an amazing shot at advancing as the group winner because they still have Mesut Özil, Bastian Schweinsteiger, and Mario Götze just to name a few. Germany has always posted a huge threat in the world cup, but it's making it to the end and winning that has been a problem for the European powerhouse. The team boasted a great record during qualifying that saw them get 9 wins and only 1 draw. Some are saying that the frontline is the weakness of Germany, but we usually find out otherwise once the tournament actually starts. I am definitely picking Germany as the winners of the group while the second place spot is a little foggy for me.

Portugal is going to need a healthy Cristiano Ronaldo if they want to go anywhere in the tournament. You have to wonder what kind of an issue is his tendinitis is going to play in the tournament when they face teams like Germany and the US (who Portugal has never beaten in five attempts). They are definitely going to need guys like Nani, João Moutinho, Fábio Coentrão to step up big time if Portugal wants to succeed in the tournament especially the latter stages. For the United States, it's going to be all about repeating history and avoiding it at the same time. For the last two tournaments, Ghana has eliminated the United States while they'll be looking to gain another win against Portugal. The United States is going to have to do it minus their most decorated player in Landon Donovan. They looked good in the warm up matches especially guys like Fabian Johnson, Graham Zusi, and Aron Jóhannsson. Ghana is one of the best African squads in the world cup in my opinion, but their defense and goalkeeping could prove to be a curse for the Black Stars. We know that Kevin-Prince Boateng, Asamoah Gyan, and Michael Essien are probably going to have good tournaments, but you have to hope their defense will be able to hold back the attacking powers of Germany and Portugal.

Germany 7 points
Portugal 5 Points
USA 2 Points
Ghana 1 Points