But as it turns out, things aren’t so bad for the Stars and Stripes.
While the U.S. could have sealed a spot in the knockout round with a victory over Portugal, it actually increased its chances of advancing to the round of 16 by earning a draw. According to FiveThirtyEight.com, the U.S. squad now has a 76 percent chance of qualifying for the next stage, compared to a 65 percent chance before Sunday’s outcome.
Exactly how the Americans can qualify, however, is a different story, as there are a whopping 209 possible scenarios for the U.S. when they take on Germany on Thursday while Portugal battles Ghana.
One Twitter user saved us all a headache by compiling a handy chart of each scenario, with a U.S. advancement in green and an elimination in red.
[tweet https://twitter.com/KellerAndy/statuses/480886761401647105 align=’center’]
Simply put, the U.S. still has a very good chance of advancing, but it’s complicated. If the Americans can keep it close against Germany and Portugal and Ghana have a slim result, they should be back in the Round of 16 for the second straight World Cup.
Photo via USA Today Sports Images