Knock-out stage
June 23, 2010
Germany is through to the Round of 16 after a 1-0 win against Ghana. Joachim Loew's squad will face England on Sunday in a clash of traditional soccer rivals.
It only took a single goal from Mesut Oezil to advance Germany to the next round. In the 60th minute, Oezil controlled the ball at the top of the box and fired with his left foot past Ghana's keeper Richard Kingson.
Germany spent much of the game probing Ghana's defense but struggled to repeat the offensive dominance they showed in their opening game of the World Cup, a 4-0 win over Australia.
Ghana were held at bay for the most part by Germany's defense, but managed to create some tense moments. In the 51st minute, Kwadwo Asamoah picked up a deflection and was all alone against German keeper Manuel Neuer, but Neuer made a great save of Asamoah's shot and deflected the ball away.
The Germans played without striker Miroslav Klose, who was shown two yellow cards in the last match against Serbia and was therefore suspended against Ghana.
Brother vs. brother
Loew slotted Brazilian-born striker Cacau in Klose's place at the front. Defender Jerome Boateng also got the nod for Germany as a replacement for Holger Badstuber, whose performance against Serbia had been shaky.
Boateng's father is Ghanaian, and his half brother, Kevin-Prince Boateng, started in midfield for Ghana. Both Jerome and Kevin-Prince grew up in Germany, but the elder Kevin-Prince fell out of favor with the German national side and opted to play for Ghana.
He also dealt a blow to the German team in the final of England's FA cup. During that match for his club side Portsmouth, Kevin-Prince delivered a vicious tackle to Chelsea star - and former Germany captain - Michael Ballack, injuring his ankle and keeping him out of the World Cup.
Ghana finished second in Group D and will face the United States in the Round of 16.
Australia, Serbia eliminated
In Group D's other match Wednesday, Australia managed to beat Serbia 2-1, but both teams were eliminated by Germany's win.
Like Germany and Ghana, the two teams headed into halftime tied 0-0. But in the 69th minute, Australia's Tim Cahill fired home a perfect header to put the Socceroos in the lead. Just four minutes later, substitute Brett Holman took a long shot from distance that snuck past Serbian keeper Vladimir Stojkovic.
Serbia got one back in the closing minutes of the game. Marko Pantelic picked up a deflection from Australian keeper Mark Schwarzer in the 84th minute and easily slotted the game's final goal.
Author: Matt Zuvela
Editor: Andreas Illmer