Germany out to ace tough US test

Germany face the US on Thursday in their final Group G match. A win would see either side take first in the group, but both teams would advance with a draw - mutually beneficial circumstances similar to those that led to Germany's infamous 1-0 win over Austria in the 1982 World Cup.

Assistant coach Hansi Flick has dismissed any chance of Germany crafting another Nichtangriffspakt, or "non-aggression pact," with Klinsmann. Instead, both teams want to take advantage of their opportunity to top the group.

"We will play to win, we want to win the group," said Flick in a press conference on Monday.

Defender Mats Hummels echoed the desire for victory against the US, but indicated both teams might ease up if a draw looked imminent.

"We don't want to play to a draw, but if it's 1-1 after 90 minutes, it's clear that we won't go all-in on one-on-one duels," he said.

Klinsmann said Germany's controversial match three decades ago is just that - German - and has no connection to the US.

"I think you're talking about a game that is decades away that is only part of Germany's history and not the United States," he said after the Portugal match. "The United States is known to give everything they have in every single game."

"I think both [the USA and Germany] want to win the group," Klinsmann added. "We want to go into this game, recover fast and go at Germany, get three points and have seven points on our side and be in the driver's seat for the Round of 16. That is our goal."

Tough American test

Playing to win means Germany will face the full brunt of the US attack, a surprise success thus far at the World Cup. The Americans opened the tournament with a 2-1 victory over Ghana. Their near-victory against Portugal that ultimately ended in a draw would've seen them secure a berth in the Round of 16.

A team many in Germany pegged for worst in the group before the tournament began have now become possibly the Germans' toughest test so far.

"I think there's coming a lot of respect now from our opponents since we started this tournament," said Klinsmann.

Indeed Germany have taken notice.

"The USA have positively surprised me. I knew that they had good players, but that they play so strongly, like against Portugal - I didn't expect that," said Hummels.

When Klinsmann faces off against his former coaching protégé Joachim Low on Thursday in Recife, the respect will certainly be mutual.

"The USA play very disciplined and very intense going forward. They'll certainly demand a lot from us. We have respect, but certainly not fear," said Flick.

Since the World Cup draw was made last December, US media have rightly referred to Group G as a "Group of Death." Going into the third match day, all four teams are facing possible elimination or qualification into the next round.

The surprise success in a World Cup full of the unexpected has given the US new hope. Klinsmann - a man who was criticized by US fans as being overly pessimistic when he said winning the tournament wasn't realistic - is suddenly sounding much more positive.

"We're going to go into Recife very ambitious with a lot of confidence to beat Germany," he said. "This is our goal. Then we'll see what happens on the field."