MATCH 32 – American Drama

MATCH 32  – GROUP G

USA        2-2          PORTUGAL

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Goals

USA: Jones 64′, Dempsey 81′;

POR: Nani 5′, Varela 90’+4;

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Venue : Arena Amazonia, Manaus

Referee : Nestor Pitana (Argentina)

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TEAM LINE-UPS

USA: Howard, Bradley, Besler, Beasley, Dempsey (Wondolowski 86), Bedoya (Yedlin 72), Jones, Beckerman, Zusi (Gonzalez 90), Cameron, Johnson.
(Manager: Jurgen Klinsmann)

Portugal: Beto, Bruno Alves, Veloso, Ronaldo, Moutinho, Costa, Meireles (Varela 68), Nani, A Almeida (Carvalho 46), Pereira, Postiga (Eder 16).
(Manager: Paulo Bento)

THE MATCH

Nani – Early Joy.
USA 0-1 Portugal.

Jones – Screamer!
USA 1-1 Portugal.

Dempsey – Its Always Him!
USA 2-1 Portugal.

Varela – In the dying seconds.
USA 2-2 Portugal.

MATCH 12 – German Blitzkrieg!

MATCH 12  – GROUP G

GERMANY          4-0          PORTUGAL

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Goals-

GER: Müller 12′(P), 45′, 78′, Hummels 32,;

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Venue : Arena Fonte Nova,Salvador

Referee : Milorad Mažić (Serbia)

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The battle of the giants. One of the most awaited matches for the fans. It’s extremely rare for a contest between two top-class international sides to be so familiar, but Germany and Portugal have met in three of the last four major tournaments – at World Cup 2006, Euro 2008 and Euro 2012 – and Germany have won all three meetings. The Selecção das Quinas were determined to break the jinx and win 3 valuable points. But it was not to be. Germany trounced over the Portuguese as their hero was nowhere to be! Let us see how one of the most unanticipated score-line came to be, creating shock waves which resonated with the earlier game of Netherlands vs Spain.

TEAM LINE-UP:

Germany (4-3-3): Neuer, Höwedes, Hummels (Mustafi 73’), Mertesacker, Boateng, Lahm, Kroos, Khedira, Götze, Ozil (Shürrle 63′), Müller (Podolski ’82).

Portugal (4-3-3): Patricio , Coentrão (A. Almeida 65′), Alves, Pepe (Red Card 37’), Pereira, Moutinho, Meireles, Veloso (Costa 45′), Ronaldo, Nani, H. Almeida (Eder 28′)

Germany played an orthodox 4-3-3 formation with Lahm in the center, as he played for his club Bayern Munich with Khedira and club-mate Kroos on his right and left. The attack with Thomas Müller in the center and not Klose surprised many. He was supported by Götze on the left and Ozil to the right to put in those wonderful through-balls. Germans played it safe with the experienced defending pair of Mertsacker and Hummels at the center, while  Höwedes and Boateng took the fullback positions.

Portugal has had one of the most consistent lineups. Their team was built around their wingers, Nani and Cristiano both who loved to drift inside as well as cross as and when required to Hugo Almeida. The mid-field line of Moutinho, Meireles and Veloso was considered to be the weak point of the side, all though they were not half  as bad. Their mean defense line of Coentrão,Pepe,Alves and Pereira sure packed a punch, with Pepe’s aggression and Coentrao’s brilliant runs. The stage was set to witness a great match.

THE MATCH:

The match started quite evenly as the Portuguese set up the first chance of the game at 5′ , a Ronaldo cross to Hugo Almeida, who found himself open. But his weak shot was easily blocked by Matt Hummels. Another Portuguese attempt came soon afterwards when Veloso took the ball from Lahm to put in a good ball for Ronaldo, which was cleared just in time. The closest chance, though came when a sloppy clearance by Patricio found Khedira and his shot just missed the goal. The goal came soon afterwards, when Gotze was brought down inside the box by Periera. Muller slotted it well to the bottom right, Rui Patricio unable to win it.

Müller – Starting the rout.
Germany 1-0 Portugal.

Nani cut in to fire narrowly, midway through the first half, before Almeida signalled he could not continue after taking a knock in a tackle by Hummels. Replaced by Eder. The Portugese were very well falling short of ideas after a good start, shaky after the early first goal. Ronaldo and team seemed to lack that spearheaded approach they usually have.

Gotze missed a few shots as himself and Ozil along with Muller started to mount the pressure on the reds. The Germans took over the game quite conclusively when Hummels headed in a Tony Kroos corner, rising above Pepe.  The corner came of a block from a Gotze shot which should have been converted.

 

Hummels – Aerial Ace.
Germany 2-0 Portugal.

Portugal, 2-0 down within a third of the game only over, was clearly distraught and frustrated. Evident by their unnecessary tackles and reckless challenges, it looked like they were sealing their own coffin.soon enough. Pepe took up the phrase quite truly to his heart as he found himself being sent off, for a situation that was totally unnecessary. Muller had fallen down, and that too quite theatrically as Pepe’s flailing hand hit him on his face. The ball was with his goalkeeper, and Muller was sitting on the ground. Then, Pepe did something quite unnecessary- after a small banter, their head clashed. Pepe did what any experienced player wouldn’t, act on his frustration. His reaction led him to dismal path to the dugout, while his team further suffered.

Pepe – Losing his head with his head.
Red Card.

What Portugal now wanted was to somehow finish the half without any more goals. They were completely disorganized. Oh, but it was already a horror story for them. Kroos found another assist, and Muller another goal as his cross due to Bruno Alves’s inability to deal with it. Half time, a dejected and dissapointed Portugal team returned to their dugout.

Müller – Double joy.
Germany 3-0 Portugal.

 

Second half hoped for a better performance. More than Portugal playing better, it was Germany who were playing cool. The anti-climax.  Both Gotze and Ozil missed chances which they should have very well converted. They played slow, keeping the ball to themselves. The only few proper chances Portugal did get was through set pieces, when one of Cristiano’s free kick hit the wall.Sooner rather than later, Muller found his hat-trick taking his amazing tally up to 8 World Cup finals goals in 7 matches. It was an easy tap-in from a Schürrle low cross.

Müller – Finishing it off in style.
Germany 4-0 Portugal.

 

While this was like a cherry to the cake, Ronaldo was denied a consolation goal in injury time when Neuer quite acrobatically stopped the brilliant bullet shot.Nearing the end, it felt like Loew wanted them to play easy and not spend too much energy on a game they had already won, and reasonably so. The fans would have been somewhat disappointed to see such a single-sided match, but oh well.

BREIF ANALYSIS-KEY POINTS

• Germany never had a confirmed squad or a fixed tactic. And if you don’t know what’s going to come from the other side, you cant develop any specific tactics. Also, Germany is known to change their play quite regularly in-game.
• No proper no 10 or a false 9 for Portugal. This sets them back from being the top-notch team they are capable of being.
• The German wall was strong and critical. Blocking well, they attacked too. Hummels scored a goal while Boateng did a wonderful job of keeping Cristiano under check. Knowing that Ronaldo doesn’t track back, he also created problems for Coentrao. Lahm did a good job as a defensive midfielder too.
• Clearly, Ronaldo led Portugal to the world cup single-handedly by defeating Sweden. He was totally absent in the game. Not literally, but he didn’t play up to his capability. Out of the 7 shots he took, 2 were on target. He just created a chance, and had a chance. Put too much on one player, he breaks down and this happens.
• The Portuguese lacked the clarity in the play. They though individually good, weren’t really playing like a team, quite contrary to their opponents. The lack in chemistry was evident. They weren’t able to find each other at dangerous positions.

CONCLUSION

Germany would be very happy and confident to have started their World Cup amazingly like their previous 2 starts to the World Cup(8-0, 4-2). With a complete surety that they will be qualifying to the next round, they can take it down a little, preserve their tempo and run out their fitness levels. The key is to not get complacent.

Portugal on the other hand find themselves in a mud pie. Dirty. With their next game against USA, it’s a must win for them. But the mud pie situation now seems more like quicksand as Pepe finds himself out of the game and Hugo Almeida and Coentrao suffer from injuries. It would be hard, but not impossible. They have to learn from their mistakes, and pick up their morale. They, if played to their full potential can very well qualify and upset many!

 

 

GROUP G – Ronaldo vs Ze Germans

GROUP G

Germany

Portugal

Ghana

United States of America

 

 

OUTLOOK

Group G promises to be one of the most competitive groups in this years World Cup and labelled by many footballing pundits as the “Group of Death” (not IMO but these guys know much more and I just play FIFA) but having said that, will this group offer 6 matches of scintillating football or will this be another stroll in the park for heavily fancied Germany and Portugal? Well, lets have a look at the teams and see what they have got.

 

 

GERMANY

 

 

Nickname : die Mannschaft (The Team)

FIFA Ranking : 2

Manager : Joachim Löw

At the helm since 2006, Joachim Low signed a new contract until 2016 earlier this year but the pressure is on to win a trophy after some agonising near-misses. His win percentage is the highest of any Germany manager.

How They Qualified

Germany breezed through their qualifying group, only dropping points in a bizarre 4-4 draw with Sweden (Ah, Zlatan) having led 4-0. They scored 36 times in 10 matches, with seven of their attacking players totalling three goals or more.

World Cup Record

Germany have reached the final seven times, winning for the third time in 1990.
Runners-up in 2002, they were third in 2006 and 2010.

Team & Tactics

Style & formation : Blessed with far more flair than many Germany sides of the past, their fluid 4-2-3-1 is underpinned by Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira anchoring the side from the base of midfield.

Ahead of them lies creative fulcrum Mesut Ozil, who is likely to be flanked by Thomas Muller plus one from a number of other options. Marco Reus, a likely starter, withdrew through injury on 7 June(very sad, my girlfriend loves that guy). Reus was set to take the World by storm, but fate decided otherwise. It is like the Ballack’s 2010 story all over again.

Strengths :

Neuer – The Best there is?

They have an incredible array of attacking midfielders that guarantee goals. Manuel Neuer can lay claim to being the world’s best goalkeeper(or can he? See : Gianluigi Buffon) and Philipp Lahm, whatever position he plays in, brings calmness and tactical nous along with his vice-captain Schweinsteiger. The free-scoring Muller has a priceless knack of being in the right place at the right time.

Weaknesses : More than you’d imagine. Left-back is an issue for coach Joachim Low, while the defence as a whole has been porous of late and was given a torrid time by Chile’s movement in a friendly in March(go Sanchez!). Khedira and Schweinsteiger have had injury-hit seasons and can Ozil shake off his Arsenal torpor?
Miroslav Klose is just one goal shy of Ronaldo’s all-time World Cup finals tally of 15, but turning 36 means his powers are surely on the wane.

Key Player

Philipp Lahm was described by Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola this season as “the most intelligent player I’ve ever coached”. The best right-back in Europe over the last decade has made a seamless transition this season under the Bayern boss into the Sechser (sixer) position in midfield and may well do the same for Germany.

AND

All of them! Seriously, take your pick. From Mesut Ozil to Thomas Muller, every single player in this German side is something quite extraordinary. They have a “player to watch” in almost every position on the pitch and if you are not entertained by this team, you do not have a footballing soul.

One To Watch

Borussia Dortmund’s Erik Durm has been transformed from a forward into a full-back over the last year, and his club manager Jurgen Klopp has called him an “extraordinary talent”. Blessed with incredible stamina and pace, 22-year-old Durm has usurped Marcel Schmelzer at left-back for club and country.

Lahm – Captain fantastic

Germany Squad In Full

Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Roman Weidenfeller (Borussia Dortmund), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover)

Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Erik Durm (Borussia Dortmund), Kevin Grosskreutz (Borussia Dortmund), Benedikt Howedes (Schalke), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal), Shkodran Mustafi (Sampdoria).

Midfielders: Julian Draxler (Schalke), Matthias Ginter (Freiburg), Mario Gotze (Bayern Munich), Christoph Kramer (Borussia Monchengladbach), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Andre Schurrle (Chelsea), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich).

Forwards: Miroslav Klose (Lazio), Lukas Podolski (Arsenal).

 

 

 

PORTUGAL

 

 

Nickname : Selecção das Quinas (National Team of the Shields)

FIFA Ranking : 4

Manager : Paulo Bento

Paulo Bento was banned for six months after he manhandled officials during a controversial Euro 2000 semi-final with France but he has matured into a top-class coach. Capped 35 times, he has the respect of his players and his greatest triumph has arguably been getting Cristiano Ronaldo, his former team-mate at Sporting Lisbon, to replicate his extraordinary club form on the international stage.
Derided in some quarters for so-called negative tactics, he recently had his contract extended to the end of Euro 2016.

How They Qualified

They progressed via the play-offs for the second successive World Cup, with Ronaldo’s hat-trick against Sweden equalling Pauleta’s national record 47-goal tally, which he has since broken. They only lost to Russia in their group but finished second after drawing with Northern Ireland and Israel, twice.

World Cup Record

Portugal are heading to their sixth World Cup. They came third on their debut in 1966 and were also semi-finalists in 2006. Three years ago, they lost to eventual champions Spain in the last 16.

The Team

With Cristiano Ronaldo in your team, the sky’s the limit. However, getting out of a very tricky group will be their primary objective before they can start thinking of a potential quarter-final against Argentina. The likes of Pepe and Joao Moutinho give them a strong spine, but they remain without a world-class striker, meaning the goalscoring burden rests with Ronaldo.

Pepe – Run for your life.

They could be forgiven for thinking they are playing in Lisbon such is the expected level of support for them from the Brazilian public. There have been too many laboured team displays since they were beaten on penalties by Spain in their Euro 2012 semi-final.

Key Player

Who else but CR7? Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo scored 51 goals in 47 club appearances this season and already has a museum dedicated to him. Debate rages about who is better out of him and Lionel Messi, but in Portugal they now argue over who wins out of Ronaldo and Eusebio. However, carrying injuries into this tournament won’t help his bid to right the wrongs of two disappointing World Cups for him in 2006 and 2010.

One To Watch

Blessed with a calmness that belies his 21 years, William Carvalho made an ice-cool debut off the bench in the play-off second leg against Sweden. The Angolan-born defensive midfielder has had a superb first season in the first team at Sporting Lisbon and the likes of Manchester United have been circling. A Sporting fan, he famously turned Benfica officials away from his house when they tried to sign him as a 13 year old.

Ronaldo – Out to prove a point.

Portugal Squad In Full

Goalkeepers: Beto (Sevilla), Eduardo (Braga), Rui Patricio (Sporting).

Defenders: Andre Almeida (Benfica), Bruno Alves (Fenerbahce), Fabio Coentrao (Real Madrid), Joao Pereira (Valencia), Neto (Zenit), Pepe (Real Madrid), Ricardo Costa (Valencia).

Midfielders: Joao Moutinho (Monaco), Miguel Veloso (Dinamo Kiev), Raul Meireles (Fenerbahce), Ruben Amorim (Benfica), William Carvalho (Sporting).

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Eder (SC Braga), Helder Postiga (Lazio), Hugo Almeida (Besiktas), Nani (Manchester United), Rafa (Braga), Varela (FC Porto), Vieirinha (Wolfsburg).

 

 

 

GHANA

 

 

Nickname : The Black Stars

FIFA Ranking : 37

The Black Stars were fancied to repeat, or even improve on, their run to the quarter-finals in 2010 in Brazil. That was until the draw was made and they were pitted with the world’s second and fourth-ranked sides.

However, confidence is not an issue in the Ghana camp and why should it be? Their team, offensively at least, is packed with experience and world-class talent. Michael Essien’s return has been crucial, while Asamoah Gyan’s time in the Middle East hasn’t blunted his goalscoring touch.

They though will be desperate to prove a point after feeling cheated after Luis Suarez’s heroics ( See: Uruguayan “Hand of god”). A semi-final place was up for grabs if not for Gyan’s horrendous penalty miss.

Manager : James Kwesi Appiah

Former Ghana captain James Kwesi Appiah spent four years as assistant with the national side before his promotion. Softly spoken and unassuming, “I’m a coach who doesn’t talk that much”, the Ghana players have nicknamed him the ‘Silent Killer’ and he certainly isn’t afraid to take on the big names in his dressing room if they step out of line. He wasn’t a popular appointment originally, as he wasn’t deemed to be high profile enough. He is the first Ghanaian to lead his nation at a World Cup.

How They Qualified

Having won their group with five wins out of six, Ghana thrashed Egypt 6-1 in the home leg of their play-off to ensure a 2-1 loss in the return leg was academic.
They ended as the top scorers in African qualifying with 25 goals.

World Cup Record

In 2010, Ghana seemed certain to become the first African semi-finalists after Uruguay’s Luis Suarez was sent off for handling on the line in the dying seconds of extra-time. However, Asamoah Gyan missed the spot-kick and Ghana then lost the penalty shootout. Brazil will be their third successive finals, having first qualified in 2006 when they went on to reach the last 16.

Key Player

Michael Essien’s return from international exile came just at the right time for Ghana. ‘The Bison’, who says he sleeps for “up to 12 hours a day” was certainly wide awake during the epic play-off thrashing of Egypt where he reminded everyone just how an effective and tactically adept midfielder he is. He has a special bond with Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, who says he would play him in any position bar “goalkeeper or striker”.

One To Watch

Kwadwo Asamoah has quietly established himself a key man for both club and country. At Juventus, where he has won two titles in two seasons, the midfielder is described as “irreplaceable” by manager Antonio Conte. He has won Ghana’s Footballer of the Year award for the last two years.

Fact

The brothers Boateng (Ghana/Germany): You probably already know this, but Kevin Boateng from Ghana will clash against his brother Jerome Boateng from Germany when the two sides meet on 21 June. They played each other in South Africa in 2010, where Germany ran out winners 1-0. Ghana has knocked the United States out of the past two FIFA World Cups, and will likely be focusing on beating Jurgen Klinsmann’s side once again.

Essien – The Bison

Ghana Squad In Full

Goalkeepers: Fatau Dauda (Orlando Pirates), Adam Kwarasey (Stromsgodset), Stephen Adams (Aduana Stars).

Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (Platanias), Daniel Opare (Standard Liege), Harrison Afful (Esperance), John Boye (Rennes), Jonathan Mensah (Evian), Rashid Sumalia (Mamelodi Sundowns).

Midfielders: Michael Essien (AC Milan), Sulley Muntari (AC Milan), Rabiu Mohammed (Kuban Krasnodar), Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus), Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Udinese), Afriyie Acquah (Parma), Christian Atsu (Vitesse), Albert Adomah (Middlesbrough), Andre Ayew (Marseille), Mubarak Wakaso (Rubin Kazan).

Forwards: Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain), Kevin-Prince Boateng (Schalke 04), Abdul Majeed Waris (Valenciennes), Jordan Ayew (Sochaux).

 

 

 

 

 

 

USA

 

Nickname : The Stars and Stripes

FIFA Ranking : 13

Head coach Jurgen Klinsmann says the minimum aim is to reach the knockout stage, and a national record 16 wins in 2013 – including against an admittedly depleted Germany – gives cause for confidence. Defence is a concern and then there’s the lack of continuity – 37 players were used in qualifying.

Manager : Jurgen Klinsmann

Since taking over three years ago former Germany player and head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has led the US to a series of notable results. These include their first victories away in Italy and in Mexico, a debut win in Jamaica in a World Cup qualifier and a victory over his native Germany. This, plus a record-breaking 12-game winning sequence in 2013, led to his contract being extended to end of the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia. His new deal, signed in December 2013, also gives him the extra title of the US Soccer Federation’s technical director.

How They Qualified

They recovered from an opening 2-1 defeat by Honduras to finish four points clear at the top of the six-team final group phase, winning all five home matches.

World Cup Record

The USA will be playing in their 10th World Cup, and seventh in succession.
They were third in 1930 and quarter-finalists in 2002, losing 1-0 to Germany.

Key Player

In order for the U.S. national team to upset the group’s heavyweights, manager Jurgen Klinsmann needs a player who can surprise the opposition. Enter teenage Bayern Munich attacking midfielder Julian Green.

He made a positive impression in a cameo showing against Mexico back in April. That was enough to earn the precocious 18-year-old a seat on the plane to Brazil.
Klinsmann will need Green to show no fear against illustrious opponents. He must use his impressive straight-line pace to torment defences. With national icon and top scorer Landon Donovan dropped much to the shock of the American fans, Klinsmann will look to his younger stars to justify the bold move.

With eight goals during the qualifying campaign, and 36 in 103 caps, captain Clint Dempsey continues to provide the attacking thrust he demonstrated so regularly in the Premier League with Fulham and Tottenham. An honourable mention, too, for Sunderland forward Jozy Altidore, who excelled during the final qualifying group phase.

One To Watch

Nicknamed ‘Zeus’, Graham Zusi has made lightning quick progression in international football. The right-sided midfielder is a gifted passer and deadball specialist, and his tremendous work ethic makes him a Klinsmann favourite. He is not just popular in America, in Mexico he is known as San Zusi (Saint Zusi) as his goal against Panama helped Mexico make it to Brazil.

Dempsey – Captain America

USA Squad In Full

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake).

Defenders: DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Nuremberg), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders).

Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jones (Besiktas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City).

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes).

 

 

PREDICTIONS

My prediction for this group has to be what the world already seems to know, Germany and Portugal to progress while Ghana and USA to act as stepping stones for the formers.

Having said that, this is the beautiful game of football and even though Germany and Portugal look very strong on paper, I would like to remind our readers that games are not won on paper.

The determination and dedication of the players on the hot and humid grounds of Brazil will prove to be the deciding factors as to who will move on to face the other table toppers.