Michael Bradley covers most distance of any player in World Cup group play

SAO PAULO (AP) -- Michael Bradley is just shy of a marathon in this World Cup. He has run more than any other player in Brazil and might be right up there with

SAO PAULO (AP) -- Michael Bradley is just shy of a marathon in this World Cup.

He has run more than any other player in Brazil and might be right up there with Luis Suarez among the most scrutinized.

USA's chaotic group stretch ends with win-feeling loss and knockout berth

The U.S. midfielder is taking the heat from fans and soccer pundits for his lack of offensive production through the three Group G matches. Yet the Americans reached the knockout rounds in consecutive World Cups for the first time with the help of his defense. And Bradley has coach Jurgen Klinsmann's utmost respect.

The American Outlaws even chanted ''Michael Bradley! Michael Bradley!'' after he was admonished by the referee for a studs-up tackle on Thomas Mueller in the 45th minute of Thursday's 1-0 loss to Germany in Recife.

''I am very, very satisfied with Michael in this tournament so far,'' Klinsmann said. ''I know that he has another gear in him.''

Bradley has covered a World Cup-leading 23.6 miles, or 38 kilometers. Chilean midfielder Marcelo Diaz is the only other player to go more than 36 kilometers, with three others having covered slightly more than 35.

Klinsmann challenged all his players Friday once the team returned to its training base and held a session under sunny skies at Sao Paulo Futebol Clube in preparation for Tuesday's knockout game against Belgium.

''I believe that in our team so far nobody can claim that he reached his 100 percent yet, so this is a very important message to the players that now prove it,'' he said. ''This is what you worked for so long, so hard for it. Now take it one game at a time with total focus just to this one game, and after that game is done to the next game and make it happen. Is it doable? Absolutely.''

The 26-year-old Bradley, who plays for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer, is starved for a goal this year on soccer's biggest stage. Some of his touches have been heavy. His most memorable moment so far might be when he gave up the ball to Eder late in stoppage time, starting the sequence that led to Portugal's equalizer in a 2-2 draw last Sunday in Manaus.

Not that it seems to have Klinsmann concerned. The Americans know they must find ways to generate more shots to put themselves in position to keep this special Brazilian run going beyond Tuesday in Salvador. Bradley is expected to connect better with captain Clint Dempsey, who in the last two matches has been the Americans' lone forward.

USA set to 'really get started' after reaching World Cup knockout stage

''If he already plays on this level right now, we came through this group because of his influence on the field,'' Klinsmann said, ''then if he steps it up another notch, it gives us with other players as well ... a big hope now getting ready for the knockout stage. Because we know that players have not reached their highest spot yet. He is one of them, but overall I am very, very happy with him. The leadership is, I mean he has covered so much ground, he is all over the place. The defensive work that Michael puts in is absolutely outstanding.''

And Klinsmann credits Bradley's efforts in the back as a big reason Germany was unable to get many opportunities.

Bradley is his own toughest critic.

''I'm certainly honest enough and hard enough with myself to know that it wasn't my sharpest night, but unfortunately they're not all going to be,'' he said after the Ghana game, a 2-1 victory. ''And on those days it's still about finding every possible way to help your team.''

Klinsmann has called on players at all positions to consciously think about moving upfield. The Americans realize full well it's going to take everybody, not just Bradley behind Dempsey, pushing the attack to give them the best opportunity to reach the quarterfinals for the first time in 12 years.

''We needed to do a better job at the beginning of the game of not letting them have the `German effect.' A lot of times teams will just sit back and allow them to come at you,'' midfielder Graham Zusi said. ''We didn't really want them to do that. It took about 15-20 minutes for us to realize that we can knock the ball around as well.

''The first minutes of the game, impose yourself, step on their toes a bit, get in their face. I think that once we realized that we could play, we saw it turn around. We know that we can now. It's just a matter of doing it early on.''

GALLERY: U.S. Memorable Group Stage Moments

Memorable U.S. Moments of the 2014 World Cup

U.S. 2, Ghana 1

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Clint Dempsey scored 34 seconds into the match against Ghana, the fastest ever scored by an American in the tournament and the sixth-fastest in World Cup history.

U.S. 2, Ghana 1

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Dempsey used a nifty move to split John Boye and Sulley Muntari, then sent the left-footed shot past goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey, where the ball bounced off the post and in.

U.S. 2, Ghana 1

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Jozy Altidore suffered a left hamstring injury when he tried to control a long ball in the 21st minute against Ghana. He missed the next two games.

U.S. 2, Portugal 2

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In the first half against Ghana, Clint Dempsey suffered a broken nose after being kicked in the face by the high leg of defender John Boye.

U.S. 2, Portugal 2

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Dempsey stayed on the ground for a couple of minutes but never lost consciousness.

U.S. 2, Ghana 1

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John Brooks game winner on a header in the 86th minute of a 2-1 victory over Ghana will go down as one of the most memorable in U.S. World Cup history. It enabled the U.S. to defeat the team that had knocked it out of the previous two World Cups.

U.S. 2, Ghana 1

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Brooks' goal put the U.S. atop Group G with Germany, with Ghana and Portugal at the bottom, which is the way things would end up after the round-robin group stage play concluded.

U.S. 2, Portugal 2

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Jermaine Jones made his presence known against Portugal, tying the game at 1-1 with his curling shot after a cross from Graham Zusi made its way through the Portugal defense.

U.S. 2, Portugal 2

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Tim Howard got off the ground to make this finger-tip save in the first half against Portugal.

U.S. 2, Portugal 2

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Michael Bradley’s shot was excruciatingly saved off the line by Ricardo Costa in the 55th minute against Portugal.

U.S. 2, Portugal 2

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Clint Dempsey's second goal of the 2014 World Cup came in the 81st minute against Portugal and gave the U.S. a brief 2-1 lead. Dempsey used his stomach to direct the ball into the net from a cross by Graham Zusi.

U.S. 2, Portugal 2

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Tim Howard reacts after Silvestre Varela of Portugal scored the tying goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time. The 2-2 tie prevented the U.S. from clinching a spot in the Round of 16.

U.S. 2, Portugal 2

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U.S. fans across the nation and abroad had a similar reaction to the late goal by Portugal that denied the U.S. a chance of sealing an early knockout berth.

Germany 1, U.S. 0

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Jermaine Jones (front) and teammate Alejandro Bedoya collided violently in the match against Germany.

Germany 1, U.S. 0

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Neither Alejandro Bedoya is tended to after his collison with Jones. Neither was out of the game for long.

Germany 1, U.S. 0

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This header by Clint Dempsey was one of the few times the U.S. came close to scoring against Germany.

Germany 1, U.S. 0

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Tim Howard acknowledges the fans after the U.S. qualified for the knockout stage following a narrow loss to Germany and a Portugal victory over Ghana.