Klose to the rescue vs. Ghana

The second half in Fortaleza started with a bang following a goalless first 45. Mario Götze put the favorites Germany ahead, only to spark a stunning Ghanaian comeback.

Götze headed his opening goal onto his own knee in the 50th minute. He got the lucky bounce off his own appendage meeting Thomas Müller's cross from the right.

Ghana's equalizer came almost immediately, though, again from a ball in from the right. Andre Ayew rose highest at the back-post to tie the score. Ayew outjumped substitute Shkodran Mustafi, a half-time replacement for injured right-back Jerome Boateng.

After just over an hour, Asamoah Gyan broke clear down the inside-right channel following a Philipp Lahm error. He finished emphatically past Manuel Neuer to put the Black Stars ahead in a very even game.

Joachim Löw reacted, bringing both Miroslav Klose and Bastian Schweinsteiger on for Mario Götze and Sami Khedira. Soon after the switch, a German corner caused trouble for Ghana: Benedikt Höwedes flicked the delivery on at the near post, and Miroslav Klose was right where he needed to be to knock home his 15th World Cup goal.

Gyan had missed the game's first cast-iron chance at the near post, while Christian Atsu coaxed a diving save out of Manuel Neuer around 12 minutes into the match.

Sulley Muntari stung Neuer's palms from distance half an hour in with a scorching left-footer, but the Bayern goalie was equal to the shot.

For Germany, Thomas Müller's effort to reach a low Mesut Özil cross from the right fell just short, thanks to some solid defending from the Ghanaians. Another, similar effort from the left flank was also thwarted late in the first period, with Germany yet to carve out a clear-cut chance in front of goal. Toni Kroos and Sami Khedira both tried their luck from distance to no avail in the opening half.

Löw keeps winning team, Appiah brings Boateng back

Following the 4-0 demolition of Portugal, Joachim Löw elected an unchanged side to take on the Black Stars. Injury concern Mats Hummels, who scored against Portugal, was cleared to play in central defense, leaving Germany unchanged.

The hat-trick hero from the Portugal game, Thomas Müller, will again lead the German line as a so-called "false nine," supported by nominal wingers Mesut Özil and Mario Götze, with Toni Kroos directing the play in central midfield. Captain Philipp Lahm is again in defensive midfield, with the same big back four anchoring Germany. Among those four, Per Mertesacker will start his 100th game for the national team.

For Ghana, Schalke star Kevin-Prince Boateng returns to the starting 11 after taking a surprise seat on the bench in the 2-1 defeat to the US. Boateng's exclusion prompted rumors of discord in the Ghanaian camp, and when asked about it on German television, the outspoken midfielder curtly responded: "Yes, I was surprised too."

Coach Kwesi Appiah emphatically denied talk of a dressing-room rift, saying he had planned to use Boateng as an impact substitute against tiring US legs in Natal on Tuesday. Boateng will go up against his half-brother Jerome in Fortaleza, as was the case in South Africa in 2010 when the two countries faced each other in the group stages.

Germany only won 1-0 back then, in a nervy and physical game. Löw and his coaching staff will be expecting a similarly stern test on Saturday.

The game in Fortaleza kicks off at 4 p.m. local time (1900 UTC)

Starting line-ups:

Germany: Manuel Neuer; Jerome Boateng, Per Mertesacker, Mats Hummels, Benedikt Höwedes; Philipp Lahm, Sami Khedira, Toni Kroos; Mesut Özil, Thomas Müller, Mario Götze.

Ghana: Fatawu Dauda; Harrison Afful, Jonathan Mensah, John Boye, Kwadwo Asamoah; Mohammed Rabiu, Sulley Muntari, Kevin-Prince Boateng; Christian Atsu, Andre Ayew, Asamoah Gyan