Germany vs Portugal
In a match between the 2nd and 3rd ranked teams in the world, Germany never looked troubled. It was a master class in German efficiency, and even the reigning world player of the year, Cristiano Ronaldo, looked outmatched from the get go. It only took the Germans 11 minutes to breach the Portuguese back line. Mesut Özil played in Mario Götze, who was pulled down in the box by Joao Pereira (http://gfycat.com/CornyDismalDodo). The man who won the golden boot, the award for the most goals in the tournament, at the 2010 World Cup, Thomas Muller, stepped up and slid the ball by Rui Patricio (http://gfycat.com/HonestThirstyEidolonhelvum). It only got worse from there for the Portuguese. In the 32nd minute, Mats Hummels rose up to meet a Toni Kroos corner kick, and smashed it right past Patricio (http://gfycat.com/RashMedicalAlpineroadguidetigerbeetle). 5 minutes later the game effectively ended for Portugal. Pepe was shown a red card for a headbutt on Muller (http://a.pomf.se/kujedm.gif). Already down 2-0 within 35 minutes, going down a man for the rest of the match, gave no hope for salvaging anything from this game. In first half stoppage time, Muller added a third goal. A ball played into the box by Toni Kroos, fell kindly for Muller, who rifled it towards goal. Patricio got a foot to it, but the shot was too powerful (http://gfycat.com/CavernousPlaintiveEidolonhelvum). It wasn't until the 78th minute that the Germans got a fourth goal. Substitute Andre Schurrle player a ball across the face of the goal, and Muller was the fastest to react. His tap in gave him the first hat trick of this World Cup, as well as his 8th goal in his World Cup career. The Germans looked unbeatable during this game. They were able to dominate a full strength Portugal side, and shut down Ronaldo. Once Portugal went down to 10 men, the Germans coasted to victory. They should have no trouble with Ghana or the United States if they play like they did in this match. Portugal will need results from their next 2 games in order to advance.
Iran vs Nigeria
During this match I was on my way to downtown Chicago to watch the USA vs Ghana game from Grant Park. Even if I wasn't, there was no way I was watching this game. It seemed like the worst game of the tournament before the match started, and that's how it turned out. The first tie of the tournament.
USA vs Ghana
For this game I was in Grant Park at the official US fan HQ, along with thousands of others, to watch the match. This game has been talked about for a long, long time; The rematch against the side that knocked the US out of the last 2 World Cups. Fans were still filling in when Clint Dempsey sent the crowd, and I'm assuming the rest of the country, into a frenzy. A throw in from Demarcus Beasley was flicked on by Jermaine Jones, to Dempsey. He cut inside, past a Ghanaian defender, and shot back across goal. His shot into the side netting was clocked at 29 seconds, the 5th fastest goal in World Cup history (http://gfycat.com/EmbellishedShorttermAndeancockoftherock). After such a fast start, the Americans struggled to grab hold of the match. Chances were few and far between for both teams following Dempsey's opener. In the 23rd minute the United States suffered a massive injury blow. Jozy Altidore pulled up after running down the ball. He had to be subbed off the field, and his availability is in doubt for the next match. Altidore is by far the best option the Americans have up front. His hold up play and experience are things that no other US striker has. Without the big man up front, the United States stuggled to create more clear cut chances, but luckily the defense was able to frustrate Ghana. Gyan had the best of Ghana's chances. Against another team, he may have had 2 goals of his own, but Tim Howard was absolutely magnificent. His performance in this match was the reason the United States were able to stifle Ghana. Despite absolute domination in the second half, it took 82 minutes for the Africans to finally put the ball past him. An incisive pass from Asamoah to Gyan opened up the US defense. Andre Ayew found space in the box and Gyan played him in with a brilliant back heel pass. Ayew hammered the ball in, past a sprawling Tim Howard to tie the game (http://gfycat.com/EuphoricGoldenAchillestang). The crowd at Grant Park was silent. The United States had barely created any chances in the second half, and Ghana seemed likely to score another. 4 minutes after Ayew's goal, Fabian Johnson chased down a long ball and did well to win a corner. At first look it seemed like a harmless play, but in hindsight his effort would prove to be huge. From the resulting corner 2 substitutes linked up. Graham Zusi's corner was met by John Brooks, a man who many criticized for being selected in the US 23-man roster, , and he drilled is header into the ground and past the Ghanaian keeper (http://gfycat.com/CheeryWarlikeIberianmidwifetoad). With his first goal for the national team, Brooks threw himself into American soccer folklore. The man who broke the curse against Ghana. Someone even changed his wikipedia page to say he was the "greatest American since Abraham Lincoln". Against all odds, the Americans made a goal out of nothing and gave themselves a great chance of advancing out of the group of death. What's more American than that?
Group F Standings
Group G Standings
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