The second USA match isn’t until tomorrow, but play from the Yanks’ Group of Death returns today with Germany vs. Ghana. Germany whipped Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal by four goals, two injuries and a red card on Sunday, and they’ll certainly hope to continue their success against the Ghanaians, who lost to the US Monday despite enjoying almost uninterrupted possession of the ball. Not having the ball today might suit the Africans, though, so Germany must be careful against a side that will pose more counterattacking threat than ten-man Portugal.
What’s At Stake
Ghana are playing for their lives and Germany are tuning up for the next round. If the Africans lose, an American victory or draw tomorrow would knock them out. If they draw, an American victory still essentially knocks them out next week (since they could tie Germany on points, but the Germans have a +4 goal difference already).
Germany played 4-3-3 last week, with Philipp Lahm in the deep midfield role he’s grown accustomed to playing under Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich. That was a bit surprising, considering the Portuguese counterattackers’ speed and Lahm’s lack of it. Germany’s two traditional deep midfielders (Bastian Schweinsteiger/Sami Khedira and Toni Kroos, the “2” in 4-2-3-1) could have been used to stymie Ronaldo and co., but instead played in front of Lahm. There’s no arguing with 4-0 over the #4 side in the world, and Lahm’s brilliance as the director of Germany’s attack means 4-3-3 will probably be preserved today.
Marco Reus’s injury in Germany’s final warm-up match also contributed to the likelihood that Germany would play 4-3-3 in this World Cup. 4-3-3 allows Germany to put its best eleven players on the pitch instead of removing Kroos or Khedira in favor of someone like Chelsea’s Andre Schurrle. The front three of Mesut Özil, Thomas Müller (pictured above), and Mario Götze interchange so fluently, and the three midfielders join the attack so willingly, that nominally removing an attacker for an extra midfielder doesn’t dull the German attack, anyway.
Ghana will be put under much more pressure than they were against the USA, who withdrew deep after scoring an early goal. That’ll suit them. In Asamoah Gyan and the Ayew brothers, they have a team that is excellent on the counterattack but less dangerous in possession.
Players to Watch
Germany: Thomas Müller. His movement makes Germany’s attack tick, he scored a hat trick in the first match, and his wiry frame and short socks make him look like a tennis player from the seventies.
Ghana: Jordan Ayew, the Black Stars’ right winger/central attacking midfielder. He’s less famous than his older brother Andre, but he’ll be the man making the final pass today when Ghana break forward.
Jon Champion and Stewart Robson. Steady, conservative, even (in Robson’s case) boring. You’ll have to watch what’s actually happening on the pitch for your entertainment today.
Match-specific Drinking Games
Metronomic: Take a shot whenever Germany pass the ball fifteen times without losing it. How drunk? Just right. This is a fun one. Count out loud with friends!
Pet Peeve: Drink whenever Stewart Robson complains about diving or compliments foul play. How drunk? A bit buzzed.
Know Your Audience: Have a sip whenever a commentator mentions the United States. How drunk? Wasted, if you’re watching the ESPN broadcast.
Germany: Lager. Should be a bit easier to find than…
Ghana: Akpeteshie. I asked a friend of mine who has lived in Ghana about this stuff. “Strong,” he said. “Sweet.” I couldn’t get another word out of him. I think he was suppressing some terrible memories.
For more:
– Read my general World Cup watching guide.
– Check out Zonal Marking, my favorite tactics website.
– See a commentary schedule or a review of each commentator.
– See where I’m getting my national drink recommendations.
– Check out other match previews from this group: USA vs. Ghana, Germany vs. Portugal
Picture credit: ibtimes.co.uk
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