Is the Amazon city of Manaus sucking the life out of the teams playing there in the World Cup? Based on a very small sample size: Yes.
Manaus and its white-elephant stadium in the jungle have hosted four World Cup games. The four teams that played in the first two all went on to lose their next games by a combine score of 10-3.
June 14: Italy 2, England 1
Italy next match: Lost 1-0 to Costa Rica
England next match: Lost 2-1 to Uruguay
June 18: Croatia 4, Cameroon 0
Croatia next match: Lost 3-1 to Mexico
Cameroon next match: Lost 4-1 to Brazil
The United States played Portugal to a 2-2 draw on Sunday night in Manaus and now faces Germany in its group-stage finale needing a win or a draw to ensure passage to the knockout round (though a loss also will do the trick depending on the result of Ghana-Portugal). The Americans, for their part, aren’t worried about any “Curse of Manaus.”
[Follow LIVE updates of today’s United States-Germany and Portugal-Ghana games by clicking here.]
“I don’t think it was that bad to be honest. When it got down to it at night it cooled off and the humidity wasn’t as bad. I think after about 24 hours the bodies felt great,” U.S. midfielder Graham Zusi told reporters, per the Kansas City Star.
More from the World Cup:
Here’s how the United States can advance at the World Cup
Will FIFA suspend Luis Suarez over biting incident? History says yes.
Is FIFA doing enough to treat concussions in soccer?
Jermaine Jones’s present and past will collide vs. Germany
Klinsmann says World Cup scheduling has U.S .at disadvantage
Video: How the U.S. can advance to the knockout round
CONCACAF teams are serving notice
Thousands of American soccer fans make Brazil feel like home