In a dramatic finish to their World Cup meeting with Portugal in the early hours of Sunday morning, USA conceded an equaliser from the last play of the match and missed out on confirming a slot in the last sixteen. FCB reserve striker Julian Green again watched from the bench as Jürgen Klinsmann’s feisty side conceded the stoppage-time leveller that produced a final score of 2–2. The 40,123 crowd in Manaus saw former Bundesliga midfielder Jermaine Jones score after 64 minutes, with Clint Dempsey seeming to have won it for the North Americans with an 81st-minute strike. Nani had handed Portugal a fifth-minute lead, but it was left to Silvestre Varela to rescue Cristiano Ronaldo and Co from an early flight home with the equaliser five minutes into stoppage time. Despite the late setback, USA need only a draw against Germany on Thursday to be sure of a place in the knockout stages. For their part, the Germans will win the group if the match ends in a stalemate.
Robben sounds the all-clear
Stand-in captain Arjen Robben will be fit to lead the Netherlands on Monday as they battle to win their World Cup group. In an eagerly-awaited showdown with Chile, a draw would be enough for the men in orange to finish top of Group B due to their superior goal difference. “We should just keep playing the way we have done so far," declared the Bayern winger, who will wear the armband in place of suspended captain Robin van Persie. Robben has been nursing a knock in the last couple of days but said he would recover full fitness in time: “I definitely want to play," he said.
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