USA - Germany clash
June 26, 2014
Germany enter the final group-stage game against the United States in Recife in pole position to qualify for the Round of 16.
Löw's men have four points, having beaten Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal on the first match day by four goals, but then drawing 2-2 with Ghana. A draw would be enough for both USA and Germany to progress, and even defeat would likely see the latter qualify.
The weather hasn't impacted either Germany or the USA just yet, but the extra 26 hours rest for the Germans may prove pivotal. In any case, the German camp is displaying no signs of weakness and coach Joachim Löw thinks the Americans may even have a slight advantage.
"They are very well-prepared and very fit and might have an advantage in that their (season) doesn't last for 11 months," Löw said. "Jürgen (Klinsmann) has the advantage that he has had his team together since January."
The Americans have been forced to travel more than 9,000 miles (14,480 kilometers) to complete their opening three group matches in Natal, Manaus and Recife, respectively. The strain of intense matches, preparation and travel haven't impacted the US team who sit joint-top with four points from two matches.
"It [talk of over-travel] is not really bothering us now," USA defender Kyle Beckerman said. "This is the biggest game of our lives and any fatigue in our legs will be erased."
Klinsi and Löw
Most of the pre-match narrative has been focused around those off-the-pitch, however. Three former German national team coaches will be present in the dugouts and two of those, Löw and Klinsmann, still hold a strong bond.
Löw was Klinsmann's assistant for two years when the latter coached Germany from 2004 to 2006. Klinsmann is now aided by the experience of his special advisor, Berti Vogts, who as coach of Germany's national team won the 1996 European Championship.
"I think the relationship between Jürgen and me is very interesting for the press," said Löw. "Personally I think it's a match against another country, same as usual. It's decisive for qualification.
"That's not got much to do with the coaches. At work we have a relationship of perfect trust. We've stayed in contact, we eat together, we talk about football, we talk about Germany, the United States. It's a friendship and it won't suffer from this match."
Split loyalties
Five American players also hold German citizenship. Julian Green, of Bayern Munich, was born in Tampa, Florida, while the other four - Fabian Johnson, Jermaine Jones, Timothy Chandler, John Anthony Brooks - were born in Germany with roots across the Atlantic.
"I always say that I'm proud of both countries, " Schalke's Frankfurt-born midfielder Jones said. "I grew up in Germany and they gave me a lot. I took my first steps there and I played my first games and first leagues there.
"I'm not going to say bad things about Germany, I have a lot of friends in Germany," added Jones. "Everything is good and everything happens for a reason."
Algeria aim for "historical" feat
Ghana, meanwhile, take on Portugal in Brasilia and have an outside chance of becoming the second African team to qualify. The Ghanaian authorities have sent a flight with $3 million of bonus payments following a divide in the camp. Kwesi Appiah, the team's head coach, admitted he was having "sleepless nights" as a result.
In Group H, Belgium have already secured their spot in the Last 16 with two wins from two matches, and they could be joined by Algeria. The desert foxes can still mathematically finish on top spot, if Belgium lose to South Korea, and they defeat Russia. A point, however, would be enough for the North Africans to progress.
"When I see the great champions being eliminated already and the Algeria team who is now looking forward to the second round, it's a historical match," said the team's Bosnian-born head coach, Vahid Halilhodzic.
Rd/pfd (AFP, dpa, RTRE)