Thomas Mueller fired an unstoppable 20 –metre shot gaining Germany 1-0 victory over United States and top spot in group G.. A slender goal German win served purpose of both the teams.
USA and Germany qualified for the group of sixteen. A 2-1 win of Portugal against Ghana was less than required for Portugal to overtake USA in goal difference as both team earning 4 points with a win and a draw and both loosing against Germany.
Thomas Muller scored the match winner taking his tally to four and equaling Neymar and Messi. The 1-0 win and Germany's domination of the game answered doubters who had suggested the two sides could be happy with a draw that would see them both through to the second round.
We saw some disturbing posts in the Facebook and twitter from possibly Portugal and CR7 fans anticipating German USA collusion for a fixed match. But knowing the nature of Germans (Germans always play to Win in whatever situation they may be) we were assured that this would not happen. The all out German attacks and free flowing match justified that two better teams from the group advanced.
Germans won but not before USA giving them a run for the money. Our Bangladeshi American friends can pride from the performance of the team. USA went down fighting. Defeated but not disgraced would be the right expression attributable for USA. We are not sure how deep USA will proceed but Jurgen Klansman’s charge will not be easy meal for any team.
Two German Coaches, two teams on 4 points from two earlier matches Germany and USA required a draw for both to qualify. A defeat of USA by a smaller margin could even see both through as neither Portugal nor Ghana scored enough in earlier matches and required to win with a big enough margins to peep either Germany or USA for the post.
The sheer amount of German-Americans in the US squad and the fact that their manager is Jurgen Klinsmann added further intrigue to the clash. "I am proud of being from both countries," midfielder Jermaine Jones told reporters, "I will take each anthem as it comes—close my eyes and let it go through me. Then after I will look at my game."
After their opening 4-0 triumph over Portugal, Germany never expected to be in a position whereby they might need something from their final game. But their performance against Ghana was poor and the Black Stars probably deserved to win; Joachim Low's men allowed them to play on the counterattack and paid the price in the second half. USA played consistently went in its earlier two matches managing to beat Black Star Ghana 2-1 and only conceding a last minute equalizer to Portugal in 2-2 draw.
Germany went on the offensive from the start and the first 20 minutes of so the ball was seldom out of US territory Mueller and his mates endeavored to create clear scoring opportunities.
Rest of the competitive first half witnessed sides sharing exchanges of forays into rival territories with not very clear scoring chances appearing though Germans enjoyed some territorial advantage. The nil-nil first half was possibly the right result of the evenly shared build ups. The breakthrough came 10 minutes into the second half when surges of German attacks created enormous pressure on US Goal Keeper. Howard punched away a header from Per Mertesacker, but Mueller was waiting on the edge of the penalty area and fired it back in giving the goalkeeper no chance 1-0.
The eagle eyed German striker can see through the eyes of the needle .Mueller now has four goals in the tournament taking him level at the top of the scorer's rankings with Argentina's Lionel Messi and Brazil's Neymar. Mueller now has 9 world cup goals to his credit and closing in with the top goal scorers.Miroslav Close was also there. But he could not add to his tally of goals to create new World Cup though he got some half chances of Scoring in the match.
The loan goal did not cause much damage to US cause as Portugal could not win with greater than 2-1 margin in the other match of the group meaning that USA finished behind Germany to the second round . USA will play group H leader Belgium in the knock out now.
Germany: Neuer; Boateng, Hummels, Mertesacker, Howedes; Lahm, Schweinsteiger (Gotze 75), Kroos; Podolski (Klose46), Ozil (Schurrle88) and Müller.
USA: Howard; Johnson, Gonzalez, Besler, Beasley; Jones (Bedoya 58), Bradley, Beckerman, Davis, Zusi (Yedlin83); Clint Dempsey.
BDST: 0800 HRS, JUNE 27, 2014
