If you missed the USA Germany game and would like to know what happened, here is Thomas match report :-) (Hed like a career in sports journalism, so if you know anyone who knows anyone who would be a great contact and thinks he shows potential, please let me know!! :-) ) USA 0-1 Germany Fifa World Cup 2014, Brazil Arena Pernambuco, Recife 17:00 Kick Off USA and Germany both knew that a draw in their final group game would guarantee them safe passage into the last 16 of the 2014 Fifa World Cup, when they met in soaking conditions in Recife. Both teams also knew that failure to achieve this result would put their place in the knockout stage in jeopardy, leaving the door wide open for the winner of Portugal v Ghana, which also kicked off at 17:00 in Brasilia. In addition to the potential of such drama - ‘The Klinsmann Sub-Plot’; USA manager Jurgen Klinsmann faced the nation of which he hails from and accumulated 108 caps for, scoring 47 goals in the process. Fears that both sides would play out the result that saw them comfortably through were dispelled as early as the 2nd minute when Thomas Muller attempted to connect with a Jerome Boateng cross from the right with an overly extravagant bicycle kick, only succeeding in deflecting it into the path of Lukas Podolski, who lashed wildly over the bar with his weaker right foot. The opening stages of the match saw the Germans dominate possession without creating any clear-cut chances. This was due in part to a number of crucial last-ditch challenges and blocks from La Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez, cutting out another Boateng cross before sliding in to deny Muller a shot on Tim Howard’s goal. This provided USA with a platform to build on, and they gradually gained a foothold in the match. A driving run down the left wing from DeMarcus Beasley promised much but ended in disappointment as he tamely dragged his right-footed shot wide of the near post. Manuel Neuer was never going to be troubled in the German goal. In the 22nd minute, Neuer was a little more concerned as Sporting Kansas City midfielder Graham Zusi cut in from the left and whipped a vicious, curling effort narrowly over. After a fast-pace start, the game fell into a largely uneventful lull. Meanwhile in Brasilia however, Portugal had taken the lead through a comically sliced own goal from Ghana defender John Boye. Because Portugal had suffered a 4-0 thumping in their opener at the hands of the Germans, though, they needed a big swing in goal difference in addition to an American or German defeat in order to progress. Mesut Ozil saw his left foot shot parried unconvincingly by Howard before the break, but it remained 0-0 at half time. Podolski made way for 15-world cup-goal man Miroslav Klose during the interval; Joachim Low attempting to give his side more impetus in the attacking third. And he almost made an instant impact, rising in the 6-yard box, but heading wide after a mis-timed leap. The Germans would not have to wait long for the breakthrough, though, as Ozil worked a short corner with Bastian Schweinsteiger; the former crossing onto the head of Per Mertesacker, whose effort was pushed away well by Howard, only for the rebound to be slammed home by the right instep of Muller; the ball nestling in the bottom-right corner of the net. Things got worse for the USA as seconds later, Ghana equalised in Brasilia through Asamoah Gyan, complete with numerically bleached hairstyle; the 3 matching the same number as on the back of his shirt. This meant that just one more Ghanaian goal would see them through at the expense of the Americans. Back in Recife, the USA side lacked any real signs of threatening an equaliser against a typically efficient German outfit. Their tournament hopes appeared to in the hands of Portugal and Ghana. Minutes of anxiety for American players and fans alike came to an end when who else but Portugal’s main man Cristiano Ronaldo put them 2-1 up; hammering the ball home from 8 yards out after an unassured flap from Fatau Dauda in the Ghanaian goal. This secured a last 16 place for both the Americans and the Germans.
Posted on: Thu, 26 Jun 2014 21:13:24 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015