How do you like Jurgen Klinsmann now, U.S. World Cup fans?

The German, who took hold of the American team as critics whined about the need for an American coach, has made all the right moves in two games as the United States beat Ghana, then had Portugal beaten Sunday only to yield a last-minute, heartbreaking goal and settle for a 2-2 tie.

And then Klinsmann stepped up big for America in a postgame interview -- and blasted the World Cup schedule-makers, who, he charged, have tilted the field against the Americans and in favor of the sexier teams, like Germany, his homeland.

The U.S. will meet Germany on Thursday at noon, needing a tie to advance to the next round of the tournament. Germany played Ghana to a 2-2 draw on Saturday.

"We're already thinking about Germany," he said minutes after the game. "We have one less day [than Germany] to recover. They played yesterday. We played today. We played in the Amazon. They played in place where you don't have to travel so much. Things are set up for the big teams to move on."

Klinsmann said the Americans won't hang their head about the draw, which came on a beautiful cross by Cristiano Ronaldo and a header past goalkeeper Tim Howard by Varela in the waning seconds of extended time for desperate Portugal, which was on the brink of eloimination. It was the latest regulation goal in World Cup history.

And although the Americans were spent after roughly 100 minutes played in the sweltering heat and humidity of the Brazilian rain forest, Klinsmann said they'll be ready.

The U.S. can advance with at least a draw against Germany.

"It's going to be another [do-or-die] final, but it's what the World Cup is all about," he said. "They all went to their limit but this is what it is now. You have to show the world you're the best soccer players in the country.

"We didn't [win and move on to the next round] this game, but we have to do it against Germany."