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You are here: Home / Sports / Germany v Ghana Open Thread

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218Comments

  2. 2.

    Origuy

    The announcer on ESPN just said that US should want “a hefty German win”. Is that because of the goal differential? Why wouldn’t the US want the Germans to lose?

  9. 9.

    SP

    No, they can’t seal the group with a win, unless you’re taking their win over the US as a given.

  11. 11.

    CumbucoTrader

    @Origuy: I think because a Ghana loss will eliminate them, whereas if they win they would remain in competition with the US to proceed.

  12. 12.

    morfydd

    Saturday night, a beautiful evening in Berlin on the bank of the Spree, in an open-air bar surrounded by hundreds of crazed fans… :)

  13. 13.

    SRW1

    @Origuy:
    Because if Germany win they are through and might slack off in the last game against the US. Germany has a tendency, though, to loose the second game at tournaments.

  17. 17.

    Amir Khalid

    Tsk, tsk. Mannschaft is a feminine noun. It’s die Mannschaft, not der.

    Did Ghana’s most influential witch doctor, Nana Kwaku Bonsam, “Devil of Wednesday”, remember to hex his country’s opponents today? It seems he forgot to work on the Americans …

  21. 21.

    Corner Stone

    Why are all the uniforms so boring this WC? I was hoping the Neddy Nederlanders would whip out the Big Orange but that was a weaksauce blue thingie.
    Do they change them for knockout rounds, or is that against superstition?

    These white abominations the Germans are wearing make me wonder if they even care about ever getting laid again.

  24. 24.

    SRW1

    @Corner Stone:

    Maybe if the Germans score a quick goal we ould talk about something Blitz….

    I don’t think the Germany/Ghana combination itself lends itself easily to WW puns.

  26. 26.

    Amir Khalid

    @Origuy:
    Or the strange second stanza about German women, wine, fidelity and song. Since 1952, they only sing the final stanza: Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit …

  28. 28.

    SRW1

    @Corner Stone:

    Each team has two kits, one ‘home’ and one ‘away’ kit (teams are actually assigned these roles). So, there ain’t different kits in the knock-out round.

  31. 31.

    Amir Khalid

    Slow first half, I expect. Neither team will want to tire itself out in the heat.

  32. 32.

    HumboldtBlue

    We can talk about how the German attack will be a Blitzkrieg against the Ghana defense and the Afrikans will have to be better than the Afrika Corps (Boateng) and how they have the Krupp steel firepower to blast their way through the first line of defense to catch the Ghanaians stretched on the flanks while an air assault is also a key for the Wermacht who have the size in the box and the bombers on the wing to do serious damage while on the offensive

  35. 35.

    SRW1

    @scav:

    In that case we could go with ‘All Quiet on the Football Front’.

    Maybe there’s more ptential than I thought, but that was my last one anyway.

  39. 39.

    morfydd

    I am at a pirate themed bar in stumbling distance to my room in a floating hostel.

    Schland is being… Unimpressive thus far.

  42. 42.

    Amir Khalid

    Per Mertesacker gets his 100th cap today. This is the only match between teams each of which has one player with a brother in the other team: Ghana has Kevin-Prince Boateng, and Germany has Jerome Boateng.

  51. 51.

    Morzer

    @raven:

    Traditionally, players were presented with a cap in the team’s colors before their first starting game.

  53. 53.

    HumboldtBlue

    Not sure which group of African fans I’d rather hang with, Ghana or Ivory Coast

  55. 55.

    Amir Khalid

    @SRW1:
    My understanding is each team has three sets of kit: the home strip (traditional colours), the away strip (alternative colours), and a “change” strip (second set of alternative colours, in case the away strip clashes with the opponents’).

  57. 57.

    Schlemizel

    @Origuy:
    The original intent of the song was that all the various Principalities should set aside their petty grievances against their neighbors and put Germany above them. It was a song of unification. Sadly that sort of got lost when the 1930’s 1%ers turned their version of the tea party loose.

    My grandfather (grossvater – that needs umlauts!) was Prussian & was a stickler on the der/die bit. He was funny about it but he would wince & cover his ears “OCH! My ears, my poor ears!”

  60. 60.

    Morzer

    @raven:

    Alas, no. A round cap with a little peak. I don’t know whether they actually present caps to soccer players any more. I have the impression they don’t.

  62. 62.

    scav

    Guard live blog has some of those “scarcely comprehensible arrows” Zony maps that somehow here pointed me towards yesterday. Personally, I rather like them. What can you do with a mapfiend, can’t take them anywhere.

  64. 64.

    Schlemizel

    @Corner Stone:
    Ghana raised 5 battalions to fight against Germany in WWI. They fought the East Africa campaign. But I doubt many people even knew there was an East Africa campaign in I

  65. 65.

    HumboldtBlue

    Ghana were so shocked they actually had some possession in German third they just gave it back

  66. 66.

    morfydd

    It’s a little disconcerting every time i re-notice the Wall five feet behind the screen. Honecker would be so horrified.

    Come on Deutschland, pick it up…

  68. 68.

    scav

    @Schlemizel: That would explain why he’s worried about it getting shredded. Getting pickled while waiting is a common response to similar kinds of pressure.

  75. 75.

    Schlemizel

    @SRW1:
    A very interesting guy. Considering his time, his place and his occupation he seems to have been very enlightened. Many broken stereotypes there.

    @Davis X. Machina:
    I had to click, I never heard of the book. Is it a good read? The summary sounded sort of cheesy but I like the idea.

  77. 77.

    Alex S.

    Ghana looks a little more dangerous. But then they also did so during their first game, and it took them ages to score.

    Germany is a bit too predictable, though they occasionally try to lull their opponent into a false sense of security.

  79. 79.

    dmsilev

    @Alex S.:

    Germany is a bit too predictable, though they occasionally try to lull their opponent into a false sense of security.

    Since they’re the favorite, by a long shot, in this group, is that really all that fruitful a strategy? Who the hell is going to feel secure playing against them, especially since the score is still tied?

  82. 82.

    Amir Khalid

    We just saw how Iran came at Argentina all day only to lose to an injury-time strike from Leo Messi. The same could happen to Ghana.

  84. 84.

    HumboldtBlue

    A reminder folks, that the final games of the group stages will be played simultaneously to guard against any hanky-panky with the final results

  85. 85.

    Alex S.

    @dmsilev:

    It’s true, Ghana must score. Germany however doesn’t have to. They can do their tiki-taka for a while and then suddenly change pace whenever there’s a chance. Ghana will not forget how dangerous Germany is, but they might miss the precise second when the danger is highest.

  87. 87.

    Davis X. Machina

    @Schlemizel: Vy good book IMHO — the blurb is poor. Try this review from the book’s release.. Boyd earlier A Good Man in Africa is also well worth a read. Boyd was worried early on about being pigeon-holed as an African specialist of some sort. His short story collection On the Yankee Station is one of my favorites, although hard to find now.

  88. 88.

    mali muso

    According to the Guardian liveblog folks, at least a few of them were not offsides when looking at the replay.

    Watching on Univision again since we don’t pay for cable. Gotta love the Spanish announcers enthusiasm…even though I only understand about half do the commentary.

  89. 89.

    Mr Stagger Lee

    @HumboldtBlue: I saw a Ghana fan in a professor’s gown with the cap, and they speak English so I would hang with them. Oh look a Spanish version of Breaking Bad called Metastasis.

  91. 91.

    CumbucoTrader

    Although Germany and Holland dominated their first games, this week is showing how this World Cup is wide open in terms of a favorite.

    Sitting right now just outside of Fortaleza, where the game is being played. So happy how things have gone so far for the event as a whole, despite the dire predictions.

  93. 93.

    Morzer

    Hope Solo has apparently gotten into quite a bit of trouble:

    http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/21/goalkeeper-hope-solo-charged-domestic-violence-assault

    Hope Solo, goalkeeper for the US women’s soccer team, was arrested early on Saturday morning for striking her sister and teenage nephew during a dispute at her home in a Seattle suburb, police said.

    …

    Police who responded to a 911 call at Solo’s house in Kirkland a little after midnight could hear noise from the “disturbance” from the street, according to a police statement.

    Solo, 32, appeared “intoxicated and upset”, police said, and her 17-year-old nephew and adult sister were visibly injured.

    A news release from Kirkland police said officers arrested Solo after speaking to those present and determining that Solo was the aggressor.

  96. 96.

    mali muso

    I’m pulling for another Boateng vs. Boateng moment in this half. And maybe some goals.

  98. 98.

    HumboldtBlue

    @raven: Don’t tell anyone but I absolutely love to make gravy from cream of chicken soup when I have chicken and rice. Please, don’t tell the foodies, but I love it on my rice

  100. 100.

    raven

    @HumboldtBlue: Ha! I’m actually grilling chicken breast and steaming the rice to have with blackeyed peas and kale. The boss lady want to go down to Athfest even though it’s hot as shit so I want to eat before we go.

  102. 102.

    mali muso

    And there goes the goal. Hmm, hope my black stars can pull it out but feeling doubtful.

  109. 109.

    Morzer

    @raven:

    Yeah. A German goal without Thomas Muller rolling across the penalty area just doesn’t feel the same.

  119. 119.

    ⚽️ Martin

    Man, these two games should not have been this close. I wonder what tomorrow is going to look like.

  121. 121.

    dmsilev

    One of these days, Univsion is going to have an announcer rupture an artery live on air after a goal is scored.

  122. 122.

    burnspbesq

    Andre Ayew getting his Richard Sherman on.

    This is going to get very chippy now. Ghana will, as the hockey folks say, finish their checks.

  132. 132.

    Morzer

    @raven:

    I was just curious as to who this “we” might be. I thought you might have a mouse in your pocket, kemosabe.

  146. 146.

    mali muso

    Speaking only for myself, I would be delighted if Ghana and the US went through. Not that I think it will happen, but being an American who has lived in Africa (and is married to an African), that is where my loyalties lie. :)

  149. 149.

    CumbucoTrader

    From a USA perspective, we want Ghana to lose so they will be eliminated and not in contention to proceed. Statistically it’s better for the US.

    From a perspective of rooting for the underdog, and a team that is showing a lot of heart and playing great football, we might want Ghana to win.

    This is a great game so far, and have to admit I’m rooting for Ghana.

  151. 151.

    Mr Stagger Lee

    It seems to me that many of the favorites are taking their opponents too lightly like Italy against Costa Rica, Argentina may have done it against Iran and der Deutsch may be doing it here.

  160. 160.

    Amir Khalid

    If USMNT (guys, your national team needs a proper nickname, not a clumsy five-letter abbreviation) beat Portugal in their next match, they’ll be top of the group. For I am a generous deity.

  162. 162.

    Morzer

    Ghana, you have to find a way to stop Germany coming down the flanks and crossing into the box.

  163. 163.

    SRW1

    Klose catched Ronaldo (the weighty one) in the eternal WC scorer list after two minutes on the field. Reliability.

  174. 174.

    mali muso

    Yeah, Ghana have to keep it together. Oh and don’t hog the ball when your teammate is in the box and perfectly clear. Grr

  177. 177.

    CumbucoTrader

    Ghana has succeeded so far by controlling the ball. Just shooting the ball from anywhere is not the way to go here.

  178. 178.

    Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)

    @SRW1:

    Until someone scores like Just Fontaine did in the ’58 tournament (14 goals in 6 games), I’m not that impressed.

  180. 180.

    Violet

    Just got home and turned on the game. What happens to the US chances if these results stand?

  184. 184.

    Origuy

    @Violet: As I understand it, if Ghana ties, the US has to beat Portugal. If Ghana loses, they are out and the US can tie Portugal.

  185. 185.

    CumbucoTrader

    @Violet: if we beat Portugal tomorrow, a Ghana Germany tie means USA in first place in the group, and we would certainly have one of the top two places to proceed.

    If we lose to Portugal it gets more complicated.

  188. 188.

    dmsilev

    @Violet: Depends on tomorrow, really. If Germany ties today and the US beats Portugal tomorrow, we’re on top of the group with 6 points (Germany 2nd with 4) and are guaranteed to advance regardless of how badly we get hammered by Germany. If we lose to Portugal, we and Portugal both have 3 points and Germany has 4. That’s a lousy position to be in, since Portugal would probably be better against Ghana than we would against Germany. A tie tomorrow would leave the US and Germany tied with 4 points, and Ghana and Portugal with 1 each.

  195. 195.

    burnspbesq

    Boye is going for the Gold Truncheon. That could be two broken noses in two matches.

  196. 196.

    Morzer

    Ghana gave Germany a mighty scare – and suddenly the Germans look a bit less inevitable.

  199. 199.

    mali muso

    Phew, that turned out to be an exciting second half. No one should underestimate Ghana now.

  204. 204.

    Morzer

    @Alex S.:

    I wonder how the French feel about their chances. I think it’s fair to say that no team so far looks like overwhelming all the others.

  205. 205.

    burnspbesq

    USA can clinch with a win tomorrow.

    If USA draws tomorrow, a USA-GER draw on Thursday puts both through.

  208. 208.

    mali muso

    Morzer, I am feeling good about France. They’ve looked really strong so far.

  209. 209.

    MattR

    Let’s see if I did this right

    Based on this tie, a US win vs Portugal puts them through. If the US loses to Portugal, then they would need to beat Germany unless the Portugal-Ghana game ends in a tie, in which case the US could advance with a tie (they advance if they lose to Portugal by 1, don’t advance if they lose by 3 or more, while a 2 goal loss would leave the tiebreaker coming down to total goals scored by each team). The US can also advance if they lose to Portugal by 1 and tie Germany while Ghana defeats Portugal by 1 and the US scores more in their two games than Ghana scores in their one.

    If the US ties it becomes more complicated – If they follow that tie up with another one against Germany (or a victory), they will advance. If the US loses to Germany, they would be tied in points with the Portugal-Ghana winner. If that is Portugal, the US should be OK on goal differential. If it is Ghana, Ghana currently has the tiebreaker advantage (if Ghana and Portugal tie then the US would advance).

  213. 213.

    Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)

    @SRW1:

    He scored 4 goals against West Germany, who’d won the Cup in ’54, in the third place match.

    There were 126 goals scored in that tournament, 3.6 per match. If you look at all the scores, leaving out France’s games, there were few blowouts. Only three other teams scored more than 3 goals in a match: Brazil twice (5 in the semis against France and against Sweden in the finals), Czechoslovakia and Hungary each once. France did it three times. You take France out of the mix, and the goals per match drops to something closer to the number from ’62 and ’66 (both averaged 2.78).

    And those ’62/’66 numbers are a lot closer to the modern average (2.27 goals per match in 2010) than they are to those of ’58. I don’t know how you can explain the difference from ’58 to ’62 when there weren’t any major changes to the rules or to the equipment or, really, to the competitive levels of the teams. I think it was Fontaine himself.

    (BTW, I typoed in that other comment: Fontaine scored 13 in 6 games, not 14.)

  214. 214.

    SRW1

    @Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again):

    “… to beat Sandor Kocsis’s record of 11 goals in a World Cup, set with Hungary in 1954, Fontaine needed to score three in the third-place play-off against West Germany. He hit four in a 6-3 win. The game was competitive only in name – “Fontaine only had to stay on his feet to score goals,” wrote Cris Freddi is his definitive history of the World Cup …”

    http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2012/jan/12/just-fontaine-13-goals-world-cup

    ETA: As I said different times, but I doubt his record for goals in a single WC tournament is likely to ever be broken.

  215. 215.

    Amir Khalid

    @Alex S.:
    I don’t know if you’d get away with it nowadays, after the big stink that die Schande von Gijon caused. I suspect a draw arrived at by obvious collusion would get both USA and Germany booted out of the World Cup tout de suite, with Portugal and Ghana progressing instead, and probably hefty sanctions against both national teams in future competitions.

  216. 216.

    SRW1

    @Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again):

    From the article in The Guardian:

    “Fontaine feasted on a steady stream of gorgeous passes from Kopa – man had not discovered the sweeper in those days – and their partnership, though short-lived at international level, was legendary. ”

    Catenaccio was invented in the 1960s in Italy and the game changed forever.

  217. 217.

    MattR

    @Alex S.: @Amir Khalid: The problem would be proving obvious collusion. Both teams could easily justify playing an overly defensive game since a tie guarantees they advance and a loss could eliminate them (though it would be quite improbable in Germany’s case given their 4 goal victory over Portugal, but they could still argue that a draw guarantees they win their group which should keep them from having to face Argentina until the semi finals)

  218. 218.

    Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)

    @SRW1:

    Catenaccio was invented in the 1960s in Italy and the game changed forever.

    ’50s, Padova, under Rocco. Done when Rinus Michels perfected Total Football. And then-modern defense didn’t exactly shut down Gerd Muller in Mexico (10 goals in 6 games).

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