2014 FIFA World Cup Group G

Group G of the 2014 FIFA World Cup consisted of Germany, Portugal, Ghana and United States. Play began on 16 June and ended on 26 June 2014. The eventual champions, Germany, came from this group.

Teams

Draw position Team Confederation Method of
qualification
Date of
qualification
Finals
appearance
Last
appearance
Previous best
performance
FIFA Rankings
October 2013[nb 1] June 2014
G1 (seed)  Germany UEFA UEFA Group C winners 11 October 2013 18th 2010 Winners (1954, 1974, 1990) 2 2
G2  Portugal UEFA UEFA play-off winners 19 November 2013 6th 2010 Third place (1966) 14 4
G3  Ghana CAF CAF Third Round winners 19 November 2013 3rd 2010 Quarter-finals (2010) 23 37
G4  United States CONCACAF CONCACAF Fourth Round winners 10 September 2013 10th 2010 Third place (1930) 13 13
Notes
  1. The rankings of October 2013 were used for seeding for the final draw.

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Germany 3 2 1 0 7 2 +5 7 Advance to knockout stage
2  United States 3 1 1 1 4 4 0 4
3  Portugal 3 1 1 1 4 7 3 4
4  Ghana 3 0 1 2 4 6 2 1
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tie-breaking criteria

Matches

Germany vs Portugal

The two teams had met in 17 previous matches, including in the 2006 FIFA World Cup third place match, won by Germany 3–1.[1] Their most recent meeting was in the UEFA Euro 2012 group stage, won by Germany 1–0.

Germany took the lead with a Thomas Müller penalty kick, shooting low and hard into the bottom left-hand corner, awarded after a foul on Mario Götze by João Pereira. Mats Hummels doubled the advantage for Germany by heading in a corner kick from Toni Kroos.[2] Shortly before halftime Müller and Pepe were involved in an altercation, in which Pepe headbutted Müller and was sent off. In first half stoppage time, Müller intercepted a clearance from Bruno Alves to slot home. Müller completed his hat-trick in the second half, as he scored from close range after Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patrício stopped André Schürrle's cross from the right.[3]

The match was Germany's 100th in the World Cup, the first team to reach the milestone. Müller's hat-trick was the seventh by a German player in the World Cup, the most of any nation.[4] This was Portugal's worst loss in their World Cup history.[5]

16 June 2014
13:00 UTC−3
Germany  4–0  Portugal
Müller  12' (pen.), 45+1', 78'
Hummels  32'
Report
Germany
Portugal
GK 1 Manuel Neuer
RB 20Jérôme Boateng
CB 17Per Mertesacker
CB 5 Mats Hummels  73'
LB 4 Benedikt Höwedes
DM 16Philipp Lahm (c)
CM 6 Sami Khedira
CM 18Toni Kroos
RW 13Thomas Müller  82'
LW 19Mario Götze
CF 8 Mesut Özil  63'
Substitutions:
MF 9 André Schürrle  63'
DF 21Shkodran Mustafi  73'
FW 10Lukas Podolski  82'
Manager:
Joachim Löw
GK 12Rui Patrício
RB 21João Pereira  11'
CB 2 Bruno Alves
CB 3 Pepe Red card 37'
LB 5 Fábio Coentrão  65'
DM 4 Miguel Veloso  46'
CM 8 João Moutinho
CM 16Raul Meireles
RW 17Nani
LW 7 Cristiano Ronaldo (c)
CF 9 Hugo Almeida  28'
Substitutions:
FW 11Éder  28'
DF 13Ricardo Costa  46'
DF 19André Almeida  65'
Manager:
Paulo Bento

Man of the Match:
Thomas Müller (Germany)

Assistant referees:
Milovan Ristić (Serbia)
Dalibor Đurđević (Serbia)
Fourth official:
Néant Alioum (Cameroon)
Fifth official:
Djibril Camara (Senegal)

Ghana vs United States

The two teams had met in two previous matches, both in the FIFA World Cup where Ghana eliminated the United States for two consecutive tournaments. In the 2006 group stage, Ghana won 2–1, and in the 2010 round of 16, Ghana again won 2–1 after extra time.[6]

Clint Dempsey opened the scoring for the United States within 29 seconds (the fifth fastest goal in the history of the World Cup[7][8][9]), as he received the ball from Jermaine Jones, dribbled past John Boye and shot into the far corner. The lead lasted until the 82nd minute, when Asamoah Gyan's back-heel set up André Ayew to score. However, the United States scored the game-winning goal four minutes later, when half-time substitute John Brooks headed in Graham Zusi's corner.[10] The American victory was marred by an injury to Jozy Altidore, leaving the match in the 21st minute with a strained left hamstring.[11]

Dempsey's goal was officially timed by FIFA at 30 seconds after kick-off, the fifth fastest in World Cup history, and the fastest by an American player. He also became the first American player to score in three World Cups.[12] DaMarcus Beasley became the first American to play in four World Cups.[13] Brooks became the first American substitute ever to score in a World Cup.

16 June 2014
19:00 UTC−3
Ghana  1–2  United States
A. Ayew  82' Report Dempsey  1'
Brooks  86'
Arena das Dunas, Natal
Attendance: 39,760
Referee: Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)
Ghana
United States
GK 12Adam Kwarasey
RB 4 Daniel Opare
CB 19Jonathan Mensah
CB 21John Boye
LB 20Kwadwo Asamoah
CM 17Mohammed Rabiu  30'  71'
CM 11Sulley Muntari  90+2'
AM 10André Ayew
RF 13Jordan Ayew  59'
CF 3 Asamoah Gyan (c)
LF 7 Christian Atsu  78'
Substitutions:
FW 9 Kevin-Prince Boateng  59'
MF 5 Michael Essien  71'
MF 14Albert Adomah  78'
Manager:
James Kwesi Appiah
GK 1 Tim Howard
RB 23Fabian Johnson
CB 20Geoff Cameron
CB 5 Matt Besler  46'
LB 7 DaMarcus Beasley
DM 15Kyle Beckerman
CM 11Alejandro Bedoya  77'
CM 13Jermaine Jones
AM 4 Michael Bradley
CF 17Jozy Altidore  23'
CF 8 Clint Dempsey (c)
Substitutions:
FW 9 Aron Jóhannsson  23'
DF 6 John Brooks  46'
MF 19Graham Zusi  77'
Manager:
Germany Jürgen Klinsmann

Man of the Match:
Clint Dempsey (United States)

Assistant referees:
Mathias Klasenius (Sweden)
Daniel Wärnmark (Sweden)
Fourth official:
Norbert Hauata (Tahiti)
Fifth official:
Aden Marwa (Kenya)

Germany vs Ghana

The two teams had met in two previous matches, including in the 2010 FIFA World Cup group stage, won by Germany 1–0.[14]

After a goalless first half, Germany took the lead when Thomas Müller crossed from the right for Mario Götze, whose header went in off his thigh. Ghana equalised three minutes later, when André Ayew headed in Harrison Afful's cross from the right. Ghana then took the lead when Sulley Muntari intercepted the ball from Philipp Lahm, then slipped a through ball for Asamoah Gyan to score with his right foot.[15] Just two minutes after coming on as a substitute, Miroslav Klose once again tied up the match, with a close-range finish after Benedikt Höwedes flicked on a corner from Toni Kroos.[16]

Klose's goal took his World Cup total to 15, equalling the record mark held by Brazil's Ronaldo. He also joined Pelé and Uwe Seeler as the only players to have scored in four World Cups.[17] Gyan became the joint top African scorer in the World Cup (tied with Cameroon's Roger Milla) with five goals, and also the first African player to score in three World Cups.[18] Just as in the 2010 meeting, Jérôme Boateng (Germany) and Kevin-Prince Boateng (Ghana) faced each other, the second time two brothers faced each other in a World Cup game.[19]

In the 52nd minute, a man with a Polish passport, identified as Leszek Ludomir, invaded the pitch shirtless, with letters and numbers painted on his chest and back. FIFA's official TV feed cut out the images. The man was approached in a calm and friendly manner by Ghana midfielder Sulley Muntari, who quickly escorted him off the pitch, and he was then taken into custody by the stadium security.[20] It was also quite surprising that no police were seen on the pitch in pursuit of the invader.[21]

21 June 2014
16:00 UTC−3
Germany  2–2  Ghana
Götze  51'
Klose  71'
Report A. Ayew  54'
Gyan  63'
Estádio Castelão, Fortaleza
Attendance: 59,621
Referee: Sandro Ricci (Brazil)
Germany
Ghana
GK 1 Manuel Neuer
RB 20Jérôme Boateng  46'
CB 17Per Mertesacker
CB 5 Mats Hummels
LB 4 Benedikt Höwedes
DM 16Philipp Lahm (c)
CM 6 Sami Khedira  70'
CM 18Toni Kroos
RW 8 Mesut Özil
LW 19Mario Götze  69'
CF 13Thomas Müller
Substitutions:
DF 21Shkodran Mustafi  46'
FW 11Miroslav Klose  69'
MF 7 Bastian Schweinsteiger  70'
Manager:
Joachim Löw
GK 16Fatau Dauda
RB 23Harrison Afful
CB 21John Boye
CB 19Jonathan Mensah
LB 20Kwadwo Asamoah
CM 11Sulley Muntari  90+4'
CM 17Mohammed Rabiu  78'
RW 7 Christian Atsu  72'
AM 9 Kevin-Prince Boateng  52'
LW 10André Ayew
CF 3 Asamoah Gyan (c)
Substitutions:
FW 13Jordan Ayew  52'
MF 22Wakaso Mubarak  72'
MF 8 Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu  78'
Manager:
James Kwesi Appiah

Man of the Match:
Mario Götze (Germany)

Assistant referees:
Emerson De Carvalho (Brazil)
Marcelo Van Gasse (Brazil)
Fourth official:
Víctor Hugo Carrillo (Peru)
Fifth official:
Rodney Aquino (Paraguay)

United States vs Portugal

The two teams had met in five previous matches, including in the 2002 FIFA World Cup group stage, won by the United States 3–2.[22] Portugal defender Pepe was suspended for the match after his red card against Germany.[23]

Portugal took the lead within five minutes, when Geoff Cameron's mis-hit clearance fell to Nani and he scored from close range. Near the end of the first half, Nani's long-range shot hit the post, and American goalkeeper Tim Howard saved Éder's follow-up. In the second half, Michael Bradley had a shot cleared off the line by Ricardo Costa, but the United States eventually equalised through Jermaine Jones, as he curled in a right-foot shot in after a corner was cleared to him.[24] The United States then took the lead, as Graham Zusi crossed for Clint Dempsey to score with his midriff. Had the United States held on for the win, they would have clinched a place in the knockout stage while eliminating Portugal at the same time, but in the fifth minute of injury time, Cristiano Ronaldo crossed for substitute Silvestre Varela to head in the equaliser and keep Portugal's qualification hopes alive.[25]

Varela's goal (94:33) was the latest World Cup goal scored in regulation time.[26] In the 39th minute, the players took a short water break during an injury stoppage,[27] but this was not considered an official "cooling break" as introduced by FIFA for this tournament.[28]

22 June 2014
18:00 UTC−4
United States  2–2  Portugal
Jones  64'
Dempsey  81'
Report Nani  5'
Varela  90+5'
Arena da Amazônia, Manaus
Attendance: 40,123
Referee: Néstor Pitana (Argentina)
United States
Portugal
GK 1 Tim Howard
RB 23Fabian Johnson
CB 20Geoff Cameron
CB 5 Matt Besler
LB 7 DaMarcus Beasley
CM 15Kyle Beckerman
CM 13Jermaine Jones  75'
RW 11Alejandro Bedoya  72'
AM 4 Michael Bradley
LW 19Graham Zusi  90+1'
CF 8 Clint Dempsey (c)  87'
Substitutions:
DF 2 DeAndre Yedlin  72'
FW 18Chris Wondolowski  87'
DF 3 Omar Gonzalez  90+1'
Manager:
Germany Jürgen Klinsmann
GK 22Beto
RB 21João Pereira
CB 13Ricardo Costa
CB 2 Bruno Alves
LB 19André Almeida  46'
DM 4 Miguel Veloso
CM 8 João Moutinho
CM 16Raul Meireles  69'
RW 17Nani
LW 7 Cristiano Ronaldo (c)
CF 23Hélder Postiga  16'
Substitutions:
FW 11Éder  16'
MF 6 William Carvalho  46'
MF 18Silvestre Varela  69'
Manager:
Paulo Bento

Man of the Match:
Tim Howard (United States)

Assistant referees:
Hernán Maidana (Argentina)
Juan Pablo Belatti (Argentina)
Fourth official:
Wálter López (Guatemala)
Fifth official:
Leonel Leal (Costa Rica)

United States vs Germany

The two teams had met in nine previous matches, including twice in the FIFA World Cup, both won by Germany (1998, group stage: 2–0; 2002, quarter-finals: 1–0).[29] The match featured two German coaches, Jürgen Klinsmann and Joachim Löw, facing each other. United States coach Klinsmann played in three World Cups for Germany (he scored the second goal in the 1998 match against the United States), and also managed them in 2006 with Löw as his assistant, who succeeded him after the World Cup.[30]

Both teams came into this match needing only one point to qualify for the knockout stage. The only goal of the match was scored by Thomas Müller in the 55th minute, who slotted in the rebound with his right foot from the edge of the penalty area after American goalkeeper Tim Howard parried out Per Mertesacker's header.[31] With the win, Germany qualified as group winners, while the United States also qualified despite the loss as Portugal's 2–1 win over Ghana at the same time ensured that the Americans finished as group runners-up above the Portuguese on goal difference,[32] meaning that they reached the knockout stage of consecutive World Cups for the first time.[33] This was the first match of the tournament where Bastian Schweinsteiger was included in the starting lineup and the last match where Lukas Podolski saw any time on the pitch.

With Costa Rica and Mexico also reaching the knockout stage earlier, this was the first time there were three CONCACAF teams in the knockout stage of a World Cup.[34]

26 June 2014
13:00 UTC−3
United States  0–1  Germany
Report Müller  55'
United States
Germany
GK 1 Tim Howard
RB 23Fabian Johnson
CB 3 Omar Gonzalez  37'
CB 5 Matt Besler
LB 7 DaMarcus Beasley
CM 15Kyle Beckerman  62'
CM 13Jermaine Jones
RW 19Graham Zusi  84'
AM 4 Michael Bradley
LW 14Brad Davis  59'
CF 8 Clint Dempsey (c)
Substitutions:
MF 11Alejandro Bedoya  59'
DF 2 DeAndre Yedlin  84'
Manager:
Germany Jürgen Klinsmann
GK 1 Manuel Neuer
RB 20Jérôme Boateng
CB 17Per Mertesacker
CB 5 Mats Hummels
LB 4 Benedikt Höwedes  11'
DM 16Philipp Lahm (c)
CM 7 Bastian Schweinsteiger  76'
CM 18Toni Kroos
RW 8 Mesut Özil  89'
LW 10Lukas Podolski  46'
CF 13Thomas Müller
Substitutions:
FW 11Miroslav Klose  46'
MF 19Mario Götze  76'
MF 9 André Schürrle  89'
Manager:
Joachim Löw

Man of the Match:
Thomas Müller (Germany)

Assistant referees:
Abdukhamidullo Rasulov (Uzbekistan)
Bakhadyr Kochkarov (Kyrgyzstan)
Fourth official:
Néant Alioum (Cameroon)
Fifth official:
Djibril Camara (Senegal)

Portugal vs Ghana

The two teams had never met before.[35] Ghana midfielder Sulley Muntari was suspended for the match due to accumulation of yellow cards.[36] However, along with fellow midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng, Muntari was indefinitely suspended from the team for disciplinary reasons by the Ghana Football Association before the match.[37][38]

Both teams came into the match knowing that to have any chance of qualifying for the knockout stage, they had to win while hoping that the United States vs Germany match, played at the same time, did not end in a draw. Portugal took the lead in the first half, when John Boye deflected in Miguel Veloso's cross with his knee for an own goal. Asamoah Gyan equalised for Ghana in the second half, heading in Kwadwo Asamoah's outside of the foot cross from the left. Cristiano Ronaldo scored Portugal's game winner in the 80th minute, after Ghana goalkeeper Fatau Dauda palmed the ball to him in the penalty area after a cross from the left.[39] Despite the win and Germany's win over the United States, Portugal finished behind the United States on goal difference, and were eliminated together with Ghana, which failed to reach the knockout stage for the first time in their three campaigns.[40]

Gyan's goal was his sixth in the World Cup, passing the tally of Roger Milla as the top African goalscorer in the World Cup.[41] Ronaldo's goal made him the first Portuguese player to score in three World Cups.[42]

26 June 2014
13:00 UTC−3
Portugal  2–1  Ghana
Boye  31' (o.g.)
Ronaldo  80'
Report Gyan  57'
Portugal
Ghana
GK 22Beto  89'
RB 21João Pereira  61'
CB 3 Pepe
CB 2 Bruno Alves
LB 4 Miguel Veloso
DM 6 William Carvalho
CM 8 João Moutinho  90+4'
CM 20Rúben Amorim
RW 17Nani
LW 7 Cristiano Ronaldo (c)
CF 11Éder  69'
Substitutions:
MF 18Silvestre Varela  61'
MF 10Vieirinha  69'
GK 1 Eduardo  89'
Manager:
Paulo Bento
GK 16Fatau Dauda
RB 23Harrison Afful  39'
CB 21John Boye
CB 19Jonathan Mensah
LB 20Kwadwo Asamoah
CM 17Mohammed Rabiu  76'
CM 8 Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu
RW 7 Christian Atsu
LW 10André Ayew  81'
CF 18Abdul Majeed Waris  55'  71'
CF 3 Asamoah Gyan (c)
Substitutions:
FW 13Jordan Ayew  78'  71'
MF 6 Afriyie Acquah  76'
MF 22Wakaso Mubarak  81'
Manager:
James Kwesi Appiah

Man of the Match:
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

Assistant referees:
Yaser Tulerat (Bahrain)
Ebrahim Saleh (Bahrain)
Fourth official:
Wilmar Roldán (Colombia)
Fifth official:
Eduardo Díaz (Colombia)

References

  1. "2014 FIFA World Cup – Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA.com. p. 20.
  2. "Thomas Müller's hat-trick and Pepe's petulance sink bedraggled Portugal". Guardian. 16 June 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  3. "Germany 4 Porgual 0". BBC Sport. 16 June 2014.
  4. "WC 2014 Number Cruncher: How Germany Mullered Portugal". First Post. 17 June 2014.
  5. "Germany hands Portugal its worst ever World Cup loss". Providence Journal. 16 June 2014.
  6. "2014 FIFA World Cup – Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA.com. p. 21.
  7. "World Cup 2014: Watch Clint Dempsey score fifth fastest goal in World Cup history against Ghana". Daily Mirror. 16 June 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  8. "Team USA's Clint Dempsey Scores 5th-Fastest Goal in World Cup History". Bleacher Report. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  9. "Clint Dempsey scores fifth quickest goal in World Cup history... but gets suspected broken nose after taking boot to the face". Daily Mail. 16 June 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  10. "Ghana 1 USA 2". BBC Sport. 16 June 2014.
  11. "Victory over Ghana, agony over Altidore: America wakes up to the World Cup". Guardian. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  12. "FIFA: Dempsey goal at 30 seconds". ESPN FC. 17 June 2014.
  13. "U.S. fans show up in strength for World Cup victory over Ghana". Los Angeles Times. June 17, 2014.
  14. "2014 FIFA World Cup – Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA.com. p. 35.
  15. "Germany's fightback against Ghana in breathless draw shows true grit". Guardian. 22 June 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  16. "Germany 2 Ghana 2". BBC Sport. 21 June 2014.
  17. "Germany striker Miroslav Klose equals World Cup goal record in dramatic draw with Ghana". The Telegraph. 22 June 2014.
  18. "Asamoah Gyan: African top scorer at World Cup with Roger Milla". Africa Top Sports. 21 June 2014.
  19. "Brothers Jérôme Boateng and Kevin-Prince Boateng face off at the World Cup". USA Today. 21 June 2014.
  20. "Torcedor polonês invade campo da Arena Castelão em jogo de Copa do Mundo | Copa do Mundo". Esportes O POVO. 22 June 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  21. 22 de junho de 2014 12h43min. "Nazista invade campo entre Gana e Alemanha - Yahoo Esporte Interativo". Br.esporteinterativo.yahoo.com. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  22. "2014 FIFA World Cup – Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA.com. p. 36.
  23. "World Cup 2014: Pepe of Portugal handed one-match suspension". BBC Sport. 19 June 2014.
  24. "Portugal hang on against USA with last-ditch goal". Guardian. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  25. "United States 2 Portugal 2". BBC Sport. 22 June 2014.
  26. "FIFA World Cup: USA 2, Portugal 2". CBC. 22 June 2014.
  27. "World Cup Match So Hot Officials Call for First-Ever Water Break". ABC News. 22 June 2014.
  28. "Dutch and Mexicans get first World Cup cooling break". China Daily. 30 June 2014.
  29. "2014 FIFA World Cup – Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA.com. p. 48.
  30. "Reunion as rivals for Jurgen and Jogi". FIFA.com. 25 June 2014.
  31. "Germany's Thomas Müller secures win but beaten USA reach last 16 too". Guardian. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  32. "USA 0 Germany 1". BBC Sport. 26 June 2014.
  33. "US Advances to Knockout Stage Despite Loss". ABC News. 25 June 2014.
  34. "CONCACAF and Africa enter brave new world". FIFA.com. 27 June 2014.
  35. "2014 FIFA World Cup – Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA.com. p. 49.
  36. "Muntari suspended for Portugal game". Ghana Football Association. 21 June 2014.
  37. Hills, David (26 June 2014). "Ghana in chaos as Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng suspended". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  38. "World Cup: Ghana duo Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng kicked out of squad". Sky Sports News. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  39. "Portugal eliminated despite Cristiano Ronaldo's goal beating Ghana". Guardian. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  40. "Portugal 2 Ghana 1". BBC Sport. 26 June 2014.
  41. "Asamoah Gyan Sets Record for Most Career World Cup Goals by an African Player". Bleacher Report. 26 June 2014.
  42. "World Cup 2014: Cristiano Ronaldo off target as Portugal beat Ghana". The Sydney Morning Herald. 27 June 2014.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 12/4/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.