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 top two teams, Germany and the United States, advanced to the round of 16. 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 August 2014 October 2019
G1 (seed) GermanyUEFAUEFA Group C winners11 October 201318th2010Winners (1954, 1974, 1990)22116
G2 PortugalUEFAUEFA play-off winners19 November 20136th2010Third place (1966)144116
G3 GhanaCAFCAF Third Round winners19 November 20133rd2010Quarter-finals (2010)23373651
G4 United StatesCONCACAFCONCACAF Fourth Round 1st winners10 September 201310th2010Third place (1930)13131823
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
Further information: List of 2014 FIFA World Cup controversies § 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]

Germany 4–0 Portugal
 Report
Attendance: 51,081
Germany
Portugal
GK1Manuel Neuer
RB20Jérôme Boateng
CB17Per Mertesacker
CB5Mats Hummels 73'
LB4Benedikt Höwedes
DM16Philipp Lahm (c)
CM6Sami Khedira
CM18Toni Kroos
RW13Thomas Müller 82'
LW19Mario Götze
CF8Mesut Özil 63'
Substitutions:
MF9André Schürrle 63'
DF21Shkodran Mustafi 73'
FW10Lukas Podolski 82'
Manager:
Joachim Löw
GK12Rui Patrício
RB21João Pereira 11'
CB2Bruno Alves
CB3Pepe 37'
LB5Fábio Coentrão 65'
DM4Miguel Veloso 46'
CM8João Moutinho
CM16Raul Meireles
RW17Nani
LW7Cristiano Ronaldo (c)
CF9Hugo Almeida 28'
Substitutions:
FW11Eder 28'
DF13Ricardo Costa 46'
DF19André 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 three previous matches, including twice in World Cup in 2006 and 2010, where both times Ghana beat United States 2–1. The 2006 FIFA World Cup encounter was in their last group stage match, and the 2010 FIFA World Cup encounter was in the round of 16 final where Ghana won again, which in both occasions, eliminated United States from those previous World Cups.[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]), 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.[9] The American victory was marred by an injury to Jozy Altidore, leaving the match in the 21st minute with a strained left hamstring.[10]

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.[11] DaMarcus Beasley became the first American to play in four World Cups.[12] Brooks became the first American substitute ever to score in a World Cup.

Ghana 1–2 United States
 Report
Attendance: 39,760
Ghana
United States
GK12Adam Kwarasey
RB4Daniel Opare
CB19Jonathan Mensah
CB21John Boye
LB20Kwadwo Asamoah
CM17Mohammed Rabiu 30' 71'
CM11Sulley Muntari 90+2'
AM10André Ayew
RF13Jordan Ayew 59'
CF3Asamoah Gyan (c)
LF7Christian Atsu 78'
Substitutions:
FW9Kevin-Prince Boateng 59'
MF5Michael Essien 71'
MF14Albert Adomah 78'
Manager:
James Kwesi Appiah
GK1Tim Howard
RB23Fabian Johnson
CB20Geoff Cameron
CB5Matt Besler 46'
LB7DaMarcus Beasley
DM15Kyle Beckerman
CM11Alejandro Bedoya 77'
CM13Jermaine Jones
AM4Michael Bradley
CF17Jozy Altidore 23'
CF8Clint Dempsey (c)
Substitutions:
FW9Aron Jóhannsson 23'
DF6John Brooks 46'
MF19Graham Zusi 77'
Manager:
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 three previous matches, including in the 2010 FIFA World Cup group stage, won by Germany 1–0.[13]

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.[14] 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.[15]

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.[16] 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.[17] 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.[18]

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.[19] It was also quite surprising that no police were seen on the pitch in pursuit of the invader.[20]

Germany 2–2 Ghana
 Report
Attendance: 59,621
Referee: Sandro Ricci (Brazil)
Germany
Ghana
GK1Manuel Neuer
RB20Jérôme Boateng 46'
CB17Per Mertesacker
CB5Mats Hummels
LB4Benedikt Höwedes
DM16Philipp Lahm (c)
CM6Sami Khedira 70'
CM18Toni Kroos
RW8Mesut Özil
LW19Mario Götze 69'
CF13Thomas Müller
Substitutions:
DF21Shkodran Mustafi 46'
FW11Miroslav Klose 69'
MF7Bastian Schweinsteiger 70'
Manager:
Joachim Löw
GK16Fatau Dauda
RB23Harrison Afful
CB21John Boye
CB19Jonathan Mensah
LB20Kwadwo Asamoah
CM11Sulley Muntari 90+4'
CM17Mohammed Rabiu 78'
RW7Christian Atsu 72'
AM9Kevin-Prince Boateng 52'
LW10André Ayew
CF3Asamoah Gyan (c)
Substitutions:
FW13Jordan Ayew 52'
MF22Wakaso Mubarak 72'
MF8Emmanuel 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.[21] Portugal defender Pepe was suspended for the match after his red card against Germany.[22]

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.[23] 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.[24]

Varela's goal (94:33) was the latest World Cup goal scored in regulation time.[25] In the 39th minute, the players took a short water break during an injury stoppage,[26] but this was not considered an official "cooling break" as introduced by FIFA for this tournament.[27]

United States 2–2 Portugal
 Report
Attendance: 40,123
United States
Portugal
GK1Tim Howard
RB23Fabian Johnson
CB20Geoff Cameron
CB5Matt Besler
LB7DaMarcus Beasley
CM15Kyle Beckerman
CM13Jermaine Jones 75'
RW11Alejandro Bedoya 72'
AM4Michael Bradley
LW19Graham Zusi 90+1'
CF8Clint Dempsey (c) 87'
Substitutions:
DF2DeAndre Yedlin 72'
FW18Chris Wondolowski 87'
DF3Omar Gonzalez 90+1'
Manager:
Jürgen Klinsmann
GK22Beto
RB21João Pereira
CB13Ricardo Costa
CB2Bruno Alves
LB19André Almeida 46'
DM4Miguel Veloso
CM8João Moutinho
CM16Raul Meireles 69'
RW17Nani
LW7Cristiano Ronaldo (c)
CF23Hélder Postiga 16'
Substitutions:
FW11Eder 16'
MF6William Carvalho 46'
MF18Silvestre 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).[28] 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.[29]

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.[30] 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,[31] meaning that they reached the knockout stage of consecutive World Cups for the first time.[32] 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.[33]

United States 0–1 Germany
Report
Attendance: 41,876
United States
Germany
GK1Tim Howard
RB23Fabian Johnson
CB3Omar Gonzalez 37'
CB5Matt Besler
LB7DaMarcus Beasley
CM15Kyle Beckerman 62'
CM13Jermaine Jones
RW19Graham Zusi 84'
AM4Michael Bradley
LW14Brad Davis 59'
CF8Clint Dempsey (c)
Substitutions:
MF11Alejandro Bedoya 59'
DF2DeAndre Yedlin 84'
Manager:
Jürgen Klinsmann
GK1Manuel Neuer
RB20Jérôme Boateng
CB17Per Mertesacker
CB5Mats Hummels
LB4Benedikt Höwedes 11'
DM16Philipp Lahm (c)
CM7Bastian Schweinsteiger 76'
CM18Toni Kroos
RW8Mesut Özil 89'
LW10Lukas Podolski 46'
CF13Thomas Müller
Substitutions:
FW11Miroslav Klose 46'
MF19Mario Götze 76'
MF9André 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.[34] Ghana midfielder Sulley Muntari was suspended for the match due to accumulation of yellow cards.[35] 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.[36][37]

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.[38] 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.[39]

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.[40] Ronaldo's goal made him the first Portuguese player to score in three World Cups.[41]

Portugal 2–1 Ghana
 Report
Attendance: 67,540
Portugal
Ghana
GK22Beto 89'
RB21João Pereira 61'
CB3Pepe
CB2Bruno Alves
LB4Miguel Veloso
DM6William Carvalho
CM8João Moutinho 90+4'
CM20Rúben Amorim
RW17Nani
LW7Cristiano Ronaldo (c)
CF11Eder 69'
Substitutions:
MF18Silvestre Varela 61'
MF10Vieirinha 69'
GK1Eduardo 89'
Manager:
Paulo Bento
GK16Fatau Dauda
RB23Harrison Afful 39'
CB21John Boye
CB19Jonathan Mensah
LB20Kwadwo Asamoah
CM17Mohammed Rabiu 76'
CM8Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu
RW7Christian Atsu
LW10André Ayew 81'
CF18Abdul Majeed Waris 55' 71'
CF3Asamoah Gyan (c)
Substitutions:
FW13Jordan Ayew 78' 71'
MF6Afriyie Acquah 76'
MF22Wakaso 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. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2014.
  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. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  6. "2014 FIFA World Cup – Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA.com. p. 21. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2014.
  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. "Ghana 1 USA 2". BBC Sport. 16 June 2014.
  10. "Victory over Ghana, agony over Altidore: America wakes up to the World Cup". Guardian. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  11. "FIFA: Dempsey goal at 30 seconds". ESPN FC. 17 June 2014.
  12. "U.S. fans show up in strength for World Cup victory over Ghana". Los Angeles Times. 17 June 2014.
  13. "2014 FIFA World Cup – Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA.com. p. 35. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2014.
  14. "Germany's fightback against Ghana in breathless draw shows true grit". Guardian. 22 June 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  15. "Germany 2 Ghana 2". BBC Sport. 21 June 2014.
  16. "Germany striker Miroslav Klose equals World Cup goal record in dramatic draw with Ghana". The Telegraph. 22 June 2014.
  17. "Asamoah Gyan: African top scorer at World Cup with Roger Milla". Africa Top Sports. 21 June 2014. Archived from the original on 11 July 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  18. "Brothers Jérôme Boateng and Kevin-Prince Boateng face off at the World Cup". USA Today. 21 June 2014.
  19. "Torcedor polonês invade campo da Arena Castelão em jogo de Copa do Mundo | Copa do Mundo". Esportes O POVO. 22 June 2014. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  20. 22 de junho de 2014 12h43min. "Nazista invade campo entre Gana e Alemanha - Yahoo Esporte Interativo". Br.esporteinterativo.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  21. "2014 FIFA World Cup – Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA.com. p. 36. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2014.
  22. "World Cup 2014: Pepe of Portugal handed one-match suspension". BBC Sport. 19 June 2014.
  23. "Portugal hang on against USA with last-ditch goal". Guardian. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  24. "United States 2 Portugal 2". BBC Sport. 22 June 2014.
  25. "FIFA World Cup: USA 2, Portugal 2". CBC. 22 June 2014.
  26. "World Cup Match So Hot Officials Call for First-Ever Water Break". ABC News. 22 June 2014.
  27. "Dutch and Mexicans get first World Cup cooling break". China Daily. 30 June 2014.
  28. "2014 FIFA World Cup – Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA.com. p. 48. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2014.
  29. "Reunion as rivals for Jurgen and Jogi". FIFA.com. 25 June 2014.
  30. "Germany's Thomas Müller secures win but beaten USA reach last 16 too". Guardian. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  31. "USA 0 Germany 1". BBC Sport. 26 June 2014.
  32. "US Advances to Knockout Stage Despite Loss". ABC News. 25 June 2014.
  33. "CONCACAF and Africa enter brave new world". FIFA.com. 27 June 2014.
  34. "2014 FIFA World Cup – Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA.com. p. 49. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2014.
  35. "Muntari suspended for Portugal game". Ghana Football Association. 21 June 2014.
  36. Hills, David (26 June 2014). "Ghana in chaos as Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng suspended". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  37. "World Cup: Ghana duo Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng kicked out of squad". Sky Sports News. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  38. "Portugal eliminated despite Cristiano Ronaldo's goal beating Ghana". Guardian. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  39. "Portugal 2 Ghana 1". BBC Sport. 26 June 2014.
  40. "Asamoah Gyan Sets Record for Most Career World Cup Goals by an African Player". Bleacher Report. 26 June 2014.
  41. "World Cup 2014: Cristiano Ronaldo off target as Portugal beat Ghana". The Sydney Morning Herald. 27 June 2014.
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