Germans out to blunt United States attack

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Germans out to blunt United States attack

Germany face the United States in Recife on Thursday aiming to close down their former boss Jurgen Klinsmann's team's attack and book their place in the World Cup's Last 16.

The United States' 2-2 draw with Portugal in Group G on Sunday put them level on four points with Germany heading into their final group game.

A draw in Recife would see Germany qualify as group winners with the United States finishing runners up, knocking Portugal and Ghana out of the competition.

The German camp and Klinsmann insist both sides are playing for a win, strongly denying any suggestion of a deal being struck for a mutually beneficial draw.

Germany laboured to a 2-2 draw with Ghana on Saturday, needing a late equaliser from Miroslav Klose who became the World Cup's all-time joint top-scorer with 15 goals in his fourth finals.

Defensive errors crept back into the Germans' game, which had been absent in their 4-0 thumping of Portugal in their opening match.

Assistant coach Hansi Flick said Germany want to beat the Stars and Stripes to secure a last 16 clash in Porto Alegre as Group G winners to face the Group H runners-up.

"The play-offs have effectively begun for us," said Flick.

"We want to beat the USA to finish the group stages top and play in Porto Alegre.

"We looked at the 90 minutess against Ghana to see what we liked and the things we need to improve.

"We want the team to react in a more clever fashion and cut out the space behind when the opposition counter-attack us.

"We have a few things to iron out and we have enough quality to create chances, but we have to close down the space behind."

Flick said Germany captain Philipp Lahm will remain as a defensive midfielder with the experience of Klose and midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger to be called off the bench if needed, as they were against Ghana.

"Miro and Basti gave us good options, after going 2-1 down, the team put their foot to the floor to equalise," said Flick.

"We have a clear plan and we know exactly what each player can do.

"We wanted to beat Ghana, but we were pleased with the way the players reacted even though things didn’t go exactly how we had wanted them to."

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-06-24