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WC MOTD: USA 0-1 Germany

By on June 26, 2014

At the end of every World Cup match, Pharrell Williams’ song Happy is played out over the loud-speakers. At the end of the US’ 2-2 draw with Portugal, it hardly fit the mood. Even with a draw against Portugal, the US fans were heartbroken at the end of the match. Yet at the end of a loss to Germany, the song coined the feeling of American fans. For while they failed to qualify for the Round of 16 when playing Portugal, they sealed their improbable place in the Second Round even with a loss to Germany.  Those doubting Jurgen Klinsmann’s decision to leave Landon Donovan off the nation’s twenty-three man roster have their answer from a brilliant US squad.

Even Germany, who fired four past Portugal, could only once break open the US defense in ninety minutes of football; doubts surrounding the US’ defense were all but put to bed tonight as well. The Americans had twenty-seven hours less rest than Germany following their draw with Portugal in the jungle sauna that is Manaus, but a gritty performance from Klinsmenn’s side hardly showed that the longest group-stage travel schedule affected them at all.

Early on in the match Germany dominated possession, yet the US broke dangerously and nearly found an open twenty-two minutes in, only for Graham Zusi’s brilliant curling effort from the top of the box to curl inches over the crossbar. And even when the US defense was breached, Tim Howard was there to stop Germany. Thirty-one minutes in the Everton goalkeeper kept out Toni Kroos’ screaming twenty-yard shot, before Howard blocked Mesut Ozil’s low eight yard effort, despite Howard finding himself unsighted.

However, neither side, despite claiming to not be satisfied with a draw, which would see both nation’s through to the Second Round, saw many clear cut chances during the match. In fact, when Thomas Muller put Germany in front in the fifty-fifth minute, it took a brilliant finish to create a goal out of hardly anything.  The man of the match midfielder collected Howard’s parried save from a near-post header from Per Mertesacker on the edge of the box, and with just one touch somehow curled the ball around the fully extended fingertips of Howard, who had seemed to have had the post covered.

It was a goal that took the US’ fate out of their own hands, and when news came in that Ghana had found an equalizer against Portugal moments later, the US began to count the clock tick down.  And while the Germans relentless pressuring fatigued the US, Klinsmann’s side mental strength managed to help them hold on. Key “professional” challenges in the middle from Kyle Beckerman and Jermaine Jones prevented Germany from breaking, while Omar Gonzalez remained a constant wall in front of Howard.   The US’ work nearly paid off towards the end, when they broke on the counter-attack, only to see substitute Alejandro Bedoya’s ten yard shot blocked via brilliant challenge from Phillip Lahm before Clint Dempsey headed a cross from the left just over the frame at the far post. It would not matter, though, and as Portugal triumphed 2-1 over Ghana the US sealed qualification from The Group of Death.

KEY TAKEAWAY:

Omar Gonzalez is crucial to the US back-line. The Los Angeles Galaxy center-back made many critical challenges, but his partner at the back, Matt Besler, occasionally was caught out of position and seemed to rely heavily on the guidance of Gonzalez. Coming into the tournament the US’ center-back position was their biggest weakness, and if Gonzalez finds himself suspended or injured in the US’ remaining World Cup games, it could become a problem for the US.

 

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.