[jdl22]

[ QUOTE ]

You are correct, this was an oversight on my part. The US-Ghana match is simply listed ahead of the other match (DOH!).

However, the scenario still remains, where it is likely one of those teams will have already secured a spot. But, they will likely also be bidding to secure the top seed and avoid Brazil so there should be a fair match.

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't worry about it, in a thread awhile ago I said Brazil won the world cup in France '98, it happens.

The problem for the US will come if they need someone to win in the other match. It could turn into what in Spain they sometimes refer to as 'el partido de la X' or the 'X match' This refers to a type of soccer lottery game they have where you make predictions on the outcome of some or all of the games and it gets paid based on how many you get right. In that game you mark 1 for the home team winning, 2 for the away team and X if you think it will be a draw. In these matches both teams gain a lot from a draw and nothing more from winning than drawing.

Unfortunaly for the US that may be the case. Suppose the US loses to the Czech Republic and draws Italy, and both those teams beat Ghana. The US will have 1 point, Italy 4 and the Czech Republic 6. A draw puts Italy through and the Czechs avoid Brazil. Italy would obviously gain by not playing Brazil next but would obviously not be too keen on throwing everything forward to get a win. The Czech Republic would probably be playing like a team that won the first leg 1-0 in a home and home match - vaguely trying for a goal but making damn sure to not get caught on a counterattack.

Playing Australia, Croatia, or Japan instead of Brazil might be a big enough carrot. Hopefully so.