The United States and Germany can both reach the World Cup knockout stage with a draw when they meet today but will be aiming to win the match and Group G to avoid a potential second round clash with dark horses Belgium.
“Both teams go into this game and they want to win the group. So we go into this game and try to beat Germany. To put ourselves in the driving seat for the last 16. That is our goal,” US coach Juergen Klinsmann said.
Coming second likely means facing Belgium, who are three points clear and play bottom side South Korea, who have only a very slim chance of qualifying, in their final game.
The group winners will face the runners-up in Group H, which will probably be Algeria or Russia who meet in their last group match in Curitiba tonight.
Despite the friendship between the US coach and Joachim Loew, Klinsmann’s assistant when the ex-striker coached Germany at the 2006 World Cup but who is now in charge of the Germans, they will not be exchanging pleasantries before the match.
A win for either would open the door for Ghana and Portugal to slip into second place.
Should Germany win, Ghana can go through if they beat Portugal and surpass the goal difference deficit of two between them and the United States.
Portugal could also benefit from a US loss by beating Ghana, but they would have to make up a goal difference deficit of five goals if they are to progress.
If the US win, the prospects for Ghana and Portugal are much bleaker.
Having scored six and conceded only two in their games so far, Germany are four goals to the good in terms of goal difference, a gap that is highly unlikely to be bridged by Portugal or Ghana.
Klinsmann told reporters that there would be no repeat of 1982’s “non-aggression pact of Gijon”, when West Germany and Austria played out a 1-0 win for the Germans at a pedestrian pace, a result that allowed both sides to go through.
“We have that fighting spirit and energy and determination to do well in every single game,” Klinsmann said.
“I don’t think it will be a game for draws. Both teams will go into the game and want to win the group.”
Elsewhere, Cristiano Ronaldo’s hopes of continuing in the World Cup are hanging by a thread.
The Portugal winger has had a miserable tournament in Brazil and is yet to hit the target before this evening’s match against Ghana.
“We have to be humble and know our capabilities. In addition, we have had other limitations such as the cases of Pepe (sent off against Germany) and Fabio Coentrao (injured),” Ronaldo said.
“At the moment, there are better national teams than ours.”
Key statistics
• Goalless in his two outings in Brazil, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo can equal the European record of scoring in six major tournaments, held by former Germany striker and current US coach Juergen Klinsmann.
• Asamoah Gyan’s goal for Ghana against Germany took his World Cup tally to five and equalled the all-time African top scorer in the tournament, Cameroon’s Roger Milla.
• Germany have only lost one of their previous 20 group stage games at the World Cup, a 1-0 defeat by Serbia in 2010.
• Germany and the US have met twice in the World Cup (1998 and 2002), with Germany winning both games. In total the teams have met nine times, with Germany winning six and the US three.