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The final match for the United States in the group stage comes against Germany, considered one of the pre-tournament favorites. This match will be played at the same time as the Ghana-Portugal match, so no team in the group will get the advantage of knowing how the other match played out before it takes the pitch. The stakes of the match for the United States are fairly straight forward: if they can defeat or draw the Germans, their World Cup will continue. While they could still theoretically advance even if they lose, it will then depend on what happens in the Ghana-Portugal match. (We provide an overview of the potential outcomes that have the USA advancing here.)
The United States previously played Germany during the Yanks’ magical run in the 2002 World Cup. Germany won the quarterfinal match 1-0, but long-time U.S. soccer fans will remember German midfielder Torsten Fring’s handball on the line that denied the U.S. a clear goal, which went un-called in the 50th minute. Even with the defeat, the U.S.’s performance in that match garnered the Yanks a new level of respect around the world.
Germany (including its time as West Germany) is one of the most successful footballing nations on the planet, having won three World Cups and been runner-up on four other occasions. It is the most populous nation in the European Union and one of the world’s leading economies. Technically, its head of state is the President, but the office of Chancellor is the head of government and it is current Chancellor Angela Merkel that represents Germany on the international stage (she has also been at this World Cup). The Germans are known for their luxurious automobiles, as well as their delicious beer (if you’re ever in Munich, check out the Andechs Brewery just outside the city…you’ll thank us). They also have one of the most beautiful national anthems in the world, which means even if the Germans don’t win the group, they’ll win over people’s hearts and minds through the majesty of their music before each match. If you close your eyes while listening to the anthem, your imagination will transport you to the Bavarian Alps, where you can taste the cold, golden beer while rocking a brand new pair of lederhosen and taking in the polka music. Ok maybe that’s just us. Either way, if there was a Pandora station based on the German National Anthem, we would sign up for it.
The German National Anthem in all its glory
Germany qualified by winning its group during UEFA's World Cup Qualifying. Currently #2 in the FIFA World Rankings, the Germans have had several close calls in international tournaments in recent years, placing 3rd in the 2006 World Cup, runner-up at the 2008 European Championships, 3rd at the 2010 World Cup, and then reaching the semifinals in the 2012 Euros. This generation of "Die Mannschaft" (as the German National team is known, translating as “the team” in typical, pragmatic German fashion) may not have a better opportunity than this one to finally secure that international trophy they have been so close to winning, as many of its core players will be nearing the end or even past their primes when the next cycle of international tournaments begins.
So far in this tournament, the Germans annihilated Portugal 4-0 behind three goals from Thomas Müller. Müller, who was a breakout star for the Germans at the 2010 World Cup has been playing in a "false 9" role for the Germans so far at this World Cup. He also garnered an assist in the hard-fought 2-2 draw with Ghana, which was considered by many to be one of the best matches of the tournament. At the conclusion of the match, as the Germans were chasing a winner, Müller's head collided with Ghana defender John Boye's shoulder, which left Müller on the ground with blood pouring from above his right eye. He received five stitches and is expected to start against the United States.
Muller shows off his cut while Schweinsteiger photo bombs his selfie. (Photo: @esmuellert_ | Twitter)
Germany is led by manager Joachim “Jogi” Löw, who was one of U.S. manager Jürgen Klinsmann’s top lieutenants when Klinsmann managed the Germans during the 2006 World Cup. The dapperly dressed gentleman has led the squad since Klinsmann resigned in 2006, making him one of the longest-serving managers in international football. During the 2010 World Cup, Löw wore a v-neck sweater and cardigan during every match as a lucky charm, which led to a massive spike in sales of the apparel in the home country throughout Germany’s run to the semifinals. It is hard to imagine him continuing on after this tournament, so just like for a number of his players, this likely will be Löw’s swan song with the national team.
The two managers confer about an important issue of the day. Possbily the quality of Jogi's scar. (Photo: @soccergods | Twitter)
Deutschland is led by captain Phillip Lahm, who was unsure before the opener against Portugal whether he’d be playing his traditional right back or the defensive midfielder position that he excelled at while playing for Bundesliga champion Bayern Munich this season. During the first two matches, Lahm has played in the midfield role, helping to cope with the limited fitness of vice-captain Bastian Schweinsteiger (which translates as "pig farmer"), who has been struggling with knee issues. Star goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, considered by many to be the best goalkeeper in the world, appears to have recovered from his shoulder injury suffered before the World Cup and has performed well against Portugal and Ghana. The Bayern Munich trio forms the core of the squad and their importance to the team cannot be underestimated. There has been no word on whether Schweinsteiger or Neuer were targeted by the Devil of Wednesday.
Captain of the German squad, Phillip Lahm will look to have a big game against the US. (Photo: @FASfootball | Twitter)
Because Jürgen Klinsmann is on the sidelines for the United States against his homeland, it would have been an emotional match regardless of the stakes - let alone when so much is on the line as is the case on Thursday. Klinsmann starred as a striker for the German national team during three World Cup campaigns, including the victorious 1990 side (back when they were still West Germany), where he scored three goals. Klinsmann also became the first player (at the time) to score at least three goals in three consecutive World Cups (1990, 1994, 1998). Although lauded for his performance as national team coach in 2006, Klinsmann’s underwhelming turn at the helm of superpower Bayern Munich, where he was sacked after less than a year on the job, left his reputation in his homeland a bit checkered. Of all that he did while a member of the German national team, however, perhaps his most important contribution to the world is this gem from 1994 (The Village People‘s "Far Away in America" - see if you can pick out Herr Jürgen.)
Without question, the Germans are the most talented team that the United States will face in Group G. The two teams played a friendly in June 2013 at RFK Stadium in Washington DC. The Yanks won that match 4-3, though admittedly the Germans had trotted out their “B” squad as they were lacking the players from Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund that had recently played in the UEFA Champions League Final and form the vast majority of the starting 11.
The Germans are not without weaknesses, however. They have only brought one true striker to Brazil, Miroslav Klose, who while he has tied Brazilian legend Ronaldo’s all-time tournament scoring record (I’m sure THAT went over well in the host nation), is also 36 years old. In addition to the injuries sustained by Schweinsteiger and Neuer, key midfielder Sami Khedira is coming back from a torn ACL in the fall, and the spritely Mesut Özil had an up-and-down campaign for Arsenal after moving to the Premier League. Additionally, the Germans were given all they could handle by Ghana, who the United States has already defeated.
In any event, the United States will need some kind of result against the Germans in order to ensure their place in the knockout round. While both sides could play for a "gentlemen's draw" to ensure that both sides advance, the importance of winning the group likely will mean that both sides will be going for the win, at least at first. The United States will have to overcome its devastating last-second draw against Portugal, which had to emotionally and physically drain the squad after 95+ minutes of intense play in the jungle of Manaus. There are already indications of just what the "Manaus Effect" has done to the squads that played there, which will affect the U.S. not only in its match, but Portugal's against Ghana. With so much to overcome, can the United States rebound and get the result that it needs against one of the best teams in the world? There’s no way to tell, but we at The18 know what we think:
The U.S. plays Germany on Thursday June 26, 2014 at 12:00 p.m. EST on ESPN. Schedule your lunch break accordingly.
