JOHANNESBURG — There are two ways for Team USA to advance to the knockout stage of the World Cup.
After two games, Slovenia leads Group C with four points. It has one win and one tie, following a 1-0 victory over Algeria and a 2-2 draw against the United States on Friday.
The United States and England are tied for second with two points. The two teams tied 1-1 against each other and England drew Algeria 0-0 in Friday’s late game. Algeria is last with one point.
The group ends Wednesday with two matches played simultaneously, the United States against Algeria in Pretoria, and England against Slovenia in Port Elizabeth.
Here is how the Americans could still advance:
1) The United States would advance with a victory over Algeria, which would give it five points. Because England plays Slovenia, one of those teams can’t finish with five.
2) The United States would advance with a draw against Algeria, which would give it three points, as long as England loses to Slovenia OR England-Slovenia ends in a draw AND the United States maintains a goal advantage over England. Currently, the United States has three goals and England has one.
One scenario could lead to lots being drawn for who advances.
If the United States draws with Algeria and England draws with Slovenia, but England scores two more goals than the United States does in its last game, the United States and England would be even on all tiebreakers for second place.