GERMANY vs. GHANA
Date: June 21, 2014
Time: 3:00 p.m. EDT
Venue: Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza
Overall Head-to-Head Record (W-L-T): 2-0-0 Germany
Last Match: 2010 World Cup (Group Stage). Germany def. Ghana 1-0.
Line: Germany -400
Group G Preview here.
Starting Lineups posted separately once they're announced.
Team Profiles
World Ranking: Germany (2nd), Ghana (37th)
Managers: Joachim Low (GER), James Kwesi Appiah (GHA)
Captains: Philipp Lahm (GER), Asamoah Gyan (GHA)
World Cup Appearances: 18 (GER), 3 (GHA)
Best Finish: Germany (3x Champions, Last in 1990), Ghana (Quarterfinals, 2010)
Qualifying Records: Germany (9-0-1, GF: 36, GA: 10), Ghana (6-2-0, GF: 25, GA: 6)
Previous Game Results
Germany
Ghana
June 16th - USA def. Ghana 2-1
Rosters
Injuries/Discipline
Germany: Mats Hummels (Questionable - Thigh)
Ghana: Sulley Muntari (Yellow Card), Mohammed Rabiu (Yellow Card)
Overview
The Group of Death continues today at 3 although a surprise U.S. win against Ghana and Portugal's collapse in their first game have drawn some of the luster out of Group G. It should still be a fascinating contest though as Germany and Ghana meet in the group stage for the second straight World Cup, Germany having won 1-0 in South Africa.
That contest was decided on a lone second-half goal by Mesut Ozil, but today's contest figures to be more of a goal-scoring fest then that encounter was.
The questions coming in to this game will be about the respective defences. Ghana made some key errors defensively against the U.S. which ultimately cost them the game. They'll face a German squad that turns defensive errors in to goals in no time at all. Ghana however had tremendous success on the wings against the U.S. and will try to exploit that against Germany. Philipp Lahm's move to defensive midfield means Germany are weakest on the field at the full back position and it will be interesting to see if Ghana can find success out wide.
Germany figure to go with a false nine formation again with Thomas Muller up top and Mesut Ozil playing behind him. Muller's 8 goals in 7 World Cup games have him on track to potentially challenge Ronaldo's scoring record later in his career. That record is still being pursued by teammate Miroslav Klose in this tournament. Ghana should again play a 4-3-3 attacking formation with plenty of speed out wide.
It's also a battle of the Boateng's. Jerome Boateng should line up at right back for Germany, to face his half-brother Kevin-Prince Boateng who will play for Ghana in the attacking midfield. It is not known of Kevin-Prince will start the game or not.
Personnel
In the German Third: Will be a curious matchup tactically to say the least. Boateng/Howedes are both naturally centre backs playing on the flanks of this German line. Boateng in particular has plenty of speed but how will they handle the Ghana wingers and their speed? May also have to deal with Asamoah Gyan up front without Mats Hummels due to injury. Ghana attack was too one-dimensional in their first game so edge to Germany but this could be a problem for the Germans. Advantage: Germany ever so slightly.
In the Midfield: Ghana offered almost nothing in the form of midfield play against the U.S., largely because they didn't need to. Germany are the best in the world at controlling flow of play in midfield, controlling possession and counter-attacking off turnovers. Advantage: Germany
In the Ghanaian Third: Potential for a horror show if you're Ghana. Missed assignments, break downs in shape and organization are a constant problem for this team. They're facing an opponent with a massive aerial threat off set pieces and a front 6 that can all score goals on attack. Advantage: Germany.
Goalkeeping: Kwarasey had little work to do for Ghana in their first match and didn't look strong in doing it. Neuer is a rock at the back for Germany and Bayern Munich. Advantage: Germany.
That contest was decided on a lone second-half goal by Mesut Ozil, but today's contest figures to be more of a goal-scoring fest then that encounter was.
The questions coming in to this game will be about the respective defences. Ghana made some key errors defensively against the U.S. which ultimately cost them the game. They'll face a German squad that turns defensive errors in to goals in no time at all. Ghana however had tremendous success on the wings against the U.S. and will try to exploit that against Germany. Philipp Lahm's move to defensive midfield means Germany are weakest on the field at the full back position and it will be interesting to see if Ghana can find success out wide.
Germany figure to go with a false nine formation again with Thomas Muller up top and Mesut Ozil playing behind him. Muller's 8 goals in 7 World Cup games have him on track to potentially challenge Ronaldo's scoring record later in his career. That record is still being pursued by teammate Miroslav Klose in this tournament. Ghana should again play a 4-3-3 attacking formation with plenty of speed out wide.
It's also a battle of the Boateng's. Jerome Boateng should line up at right back for Germany, to face his half-brother Kevin-Prince Boateng who will play for Ghana in the attacking midfield. It is not known of Kevin-Prince will start the game or not.
Personnel
In the German Third: Will be a curious matchup tactically to say the least. Boateng/Howedes are both naturally centre backs playing on the flanks of this German line. Boateng in particular has plenty of speed but how will they handle the Ghana wingers and their speed? May also have to deal with Asamoah Gyan up front without Mats Hummels due to injury. Ghana attack was too one-dimensional in their first game so edge to Germany but this could be a problem for the Germans. Advantage: Germany ever so slightly.
In the Midfield: Ghana offered almost nothing in the form of midfield play against the U.S., largely because they didn't need to. Germany are the best in the world at controlling flow of play in midfield, controlling possession and counter-attacking off turnovers. Advantage: Germany
In the Ghanaian Third: Potential for a horror show if you're Ghana. Missed assignments, break downs in shape and organization are a constant problem for this team. They're facing an opponent with a massive aerial threat off set pieces and a front 6 that can all score goals on attack. Advantage: Germany.
Goalkeeping: Kwarasey had little work to do for Ghana in their first match and didn't look strong in doing it. Neuer is a rock at the back for Germany and Bayern Munich. Advantage: Germany.
Germany will win if:
Defend your flanks defensively and put a clamp on Gyan in your penalty area. Ghana's offence is predictable and even more so in this game as they'll want to keep the ball from Lahm and Schweinsteiger in the middle of the field at all costs. If Atsu and Ayew can get behind defenders then Germany will struggle defensively with both their ability to cut to the area or find Gyan in the centre. Protect your flanks, keep the ball in front of you and limit the crossing opportunities.
Ghana will win if:
Absolutely must prevent turnovers when they're committed offensively. Ghana is an attacking team and has to be in this game to have a chance at winning. But they can be careless with the ball and Germany will explode up field in possession if they have numbers. Ghana have to be incredibly careful with possession in this game, and if the play is dead, they have to push back on defence, they can't try to pressure Germany in their own end as Germany as too many ways to beat a pressing defence.
Germany struggles to deal with Atsu and Ayew outside but that's nowhere close to how much Ghana struggles with just about everything Germany does in this game. Ghana finds a goal with their speed but spends the day on the back foot under German pressure.
Germany 3-1 Ghana
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