FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014 46

FAN FERVOR Germany, US cruise into knockout stage

RECIFE: Thomas Mueller’s sec- ond-half goal saw Germany sail to a 1-0 victory over the United States in World Cup Group G yes- terday, a result that saw both teams progress to the knockout stage of the tournament. Germany top the group and will face the runner-up in Group H while the United States finish sec- ond and will face Group H’s win- ner. Portugal who beat Ghana 2-1 are eliminated with the Africans. The Germans dominated the game with Juergen Klinsmann’s team, with their backs against the wall, creating very few chances. The breakthrough came after 55 minutes when Tim Howard par- ried out a Per Mertesacker header but Mueller collected the loose ball on the edge of the area and superbly side-footed into the bottom corner. “For once I scored a beautiful goal. If I don’t watch out I’ll become a legend? OK, I won’t watch out,” Mueller told ZDF Television after being told he had outscored Diego Maradona in World Cups. “We are ready for the knockout stage. We keep working hard and we are full of team spirit.” The game had been threat- ened by a torrential downpour in the north-eastern city of Recife yesterday morning but the heavy rain that hampered the prepara- tions of fans and players alike eased to a drizzle as kickoff approached. Despite the fact that RECIFE: US forward Clint Dempsey (center) vies for the ball with both sides only needed a draw to Germany’s defender Per Mertesacker (left) and Germany’s defender qualify there was no shortage of during a Group G football match between US and Germany attacking intent in the lively yesterday. — AFP opening exchanges, with Mueller going close early on from Lukas Sanchez key weapon for Podolski’s low cross. Both sides flew into challenges in the battle CURITIBA: Alexis Sanchez will be a versations in which he said ‘give the for supremacy in midfield, and US key weapon for Chile when they tack- ball to Alexis with his back to goal, he coach Juergen Klinsmann and his le Brazil in the World Cup second protects it well, look for Alexis in German counterpart Joachim round in Belo Horizonte tomorrow. space’. “This made me feel important, Loew will be glad the referee did- And when the Barcelona forward I felt like a beautiful Ferrari.” n’t wave the yellow card more takes to the field he, like many of his For , it was often as they head for the knock- teammates, will be putting into prac- his passage through Germany and out stages. tice skills learnt during his footballing Bayer Leverkusen, before heading to Content to concede posses- travels the world over. Following Juventus, that taught him a lot. sion for long periods, the stop-overs in Argentina with River “Before I arrived at Juventus I’d Americans put in a blue-collar Plate and Italy at Udinese, it is his changed and improved,” said the 27- defensive performance, breaking time at Barcelona which has really year-old. “(At Juve) I learnt a lot from forward when the opportunity turned the speedy Sanchez into one everyone, especially from people like arose, but with their superior of the world’s most dangerous strik- (Andrea) Pirlo and (Gianluigi) Buffon, technique and ball movement, ers. “At Barcelona I learnt how to play who have won everything in their the Germans were always a football all over again,” the 25-year- careers.” Defensive midfielder Gary threat. The Americans had sev- old told El Pais. Medel, 26, plays for Cardiff City in the eral chances of their own but “What I did in Italy I couldn’t do in English having joined lacked the pace and guile nec- Spain. Before getting a one-on-one I from Spaniards Sevilla. But he says it essary to unduly worry German need to open up the pitch, find space. was in Argentina with Boca Juniors goalkeeper . “Before, I always waited for (the ball) that he learnt the hard way. “They “Everyone said we had no chance, but we took the chance into feet, I dribbled three (players), I gave me a rollicking if I took more and we move on and now we was the one who gave a pass into than two touches,” he said, using lan- really want to prove a point,” US space because the other players guage that was rather more colorful. coach Klinsmann said. “The opened it up. “From (Anders) Iniesta I Several other players in the Chile commitment was great, I wish learnt how to accelerate, from Xavi squad have at some time or another we had more possession and (Hernandez) how to move, from Leo plied their trade in Argentina, Italy or created more chances but () to think ahead, how to Spain such as full-back , maybe we are saving that for shoot like Pedro (Rodriguez), on top , Carlos the next one. “It is huge, huge of that the faith (Pep) Guardiola had Carmona and Charles Aranguiz, and step and now we can’t wait for in me helped a lot. “He was very nice forwards , Eduardo the round of 16.” — to me and trusted me. We had con- Vargas and Fabian Orellana.—AFP