I'd like to see the defense put up a clean sheet, or get more goals. We need +2 or +3 vs. Ghana if we're thinking to advance with a 1-1-1 group record.
I did a little bit of research as to those speaking about having a 1-1-1 record in the group stage. 4 points to advance.
For the heck of it, I went through the last 4 World Cups back to 1998. A bit of a task of labor.
It looks like where a group is strong such as in the USA's group this year, 4 points can get one through while if the group is more average or weak, the teams do not advance.
2010 World Cup
Group A, Mexico and South Africa both had 4 points but only Mexico advanced.
Group B, South Korea advanced with 4 points.
Group C., Slovenia with 4 points does not advance.
Group D., Ghana with 4 points advances, Australia with 4 points does not.
Group E., N/A.
Group F., Slovakia advances with 4 points.
Group G., Ivory Coast with 4 points does not advance.
Group H., Switzerland with 4 points does not advance.
2006 World Cup
Group D, Mexico with 4 points advances.
Group F, Australia with 4 points advances.
Group G, South Korea with 4 points does not advance.
2002 World Cup
Group B., Paraguay advances with 4 points, South Africa with 4 does not.
Group C. Turkey with 4 points advances, Costa Rica with 4 does not. Whipping boy in the group was China with no wins.
Group D. USA advances with 4 points in 2002, basically our best World Cup ever.
Group E. Cameroon with 4 points does not advance.
Group F. Argentina with 4 points does not advance.
Group G. Italy with 4 points advances.
1998 World Cup
Teams advancing with 4 points. Denmark
Teams not advancing with 4 points, Morocco, Spain
Chile advances with 3 draws and 3 points.
It really looks like half the teams with 4 points advance and the other half doesn't. Interesting stats.