[attach id=346499 size="medium"]Paulo Bento – Portugal.[/attach]
Portugal are hanging on to a World Cup last-16 berth by their fingernails but will head into the final Group G match with Ghana certain that the US and Germany will not play for the draw that would send both sides through, coach Paolo Bento said.
The Portuguese retained slim chances of progressing after scoring a late equaliser in a pulsating 2-2 draw against the Americans in the Amazonia arena on Sunday night.
Having taken an early lead through Nani, Portugal were on the back foot after the interval as a fitter US team turned the match on its head through Jermaine Jones and Clint Dempsey.
Substitute Silvestre Varela levelled at the death after a subdued Ronaldo delivered a cross into the penalty area.
Bento refused to criticise either a weary-looking Cristiano Ronaldo or any of the other players for a lacklustre second-half performance.
“Ronaldo was fit, he played the full 90 minutes and he didn’t seem to have any problem,” Bento said.
“This is a delicate moment for all our players. They are all a bit sad now and this is not the moment to criticise individuals.
“Criticise me as a coach if you will, we had a chance to get a result here, we didn’t but we have to move on and try to beat Ghana.”
Bento was asked if he believed United States coach Juergen Klinsmann’s vow to play all out for a win against his native Germany even though a draw would send both sides through at the expense of Portugal and Ghana.
“In my entire career as a player and coach, I have never been suspicious about my colleagues playing for a draw,” he said.
“Our obligation is to beat Ghana and although our chances are slim even if we do, we will maintain our professional standards until the very last minute.”
All four teams are still in the reckoning with a myriad of potential scenarios, but Portugal can only advance if they beat the Ghanaians and hope the United States v Germany result goes their way.
Group G result
United States 2 Portugal 2.
Scorers: Nani (P) 5; Jones (US) 64, Dempsey (US) 81; Varela (P) 90+.
Referee: Nestor Pitana (Argentina).