The United States got off to a good start in winning their first friendly against Korea Republic, but then they did not look good in their next two matches.
World Cup Betting: What are the odds United States Is ready For Brazil?
Team USA is the long shot in World Cup betting for Group G and their recent play has done nothing to sway the opinion of odds makers.
Christian Petersen
They lost to Ukraine 2-0 in Cyprus and, in their last friendly, they played to a 2-2 draw against Mexico.
Nothing happened in those matches to change the opinion of oddsmakers who put Team USA at the bottom of the World Cup betting odds for the Group G winner.
The Americans are at +1200 with Germany the betting favorite at -200, Portugal at +275, and Ghana at +1100.
Their toughest match may have come against Ukraine, who narrowly missed out on the World Cup after losing a European playoff tie against France.
The last two matches have shown the defensive weaknesses of the American squad, especially giving up a two-goal lead in the draw facing Mexico.
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While there were a couple of mistakes on defense for the Americans in the Mexico draw one major bright spot was the play of Michael Bradley. The leader of the midfield, he was relentless in running down free balls, scored the first goal in the match in the 15th minute, and had an assist for the second goal in the 28th minute.
Bradley’s play will be key this summer for the Americans.
US head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has until June second to name the American roster and he may have some big decisions to make. The defense may be the issue for the Americans.
If they play like they did in the last two friendlies against Portugal and Germany in group play, they will be done early. The US is 1-1-1 in their last three friendly matches and the win and the draw came on American soil.
The team is set for training in Northern California where Klinsmann will have time to narrow down the 23-man roster.
He recently stated, “Definitely we’re going to bring in more players than 23 in our camp. Because you don’t know what happens in the preparation period until the second of June when you have to name the roster.”
The United States still has three more friendly matches and the last two will be good tune-ups. After facing Azerbaijan on May 27th Klinsmann will have his roster set for the last two matches facing a solid Turkey squad and Nigeria, who is playing this summer.
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