strikes
2-1 Ghana

2-2

2-2 now!

and now a corner for Germany

Still rooting for Ghana though!

2-2 final - delish second half.

That was a much better Ghana than against the US when most of their shots wound up in the car park. I was particularly impressed with their defending also.

What a tournament so far!

Individualism cost them two clear goals.
Ghana has the best youth program in Africa - they are regular winners at youth level.

This is a difficult group - hard games to come for all teams.

It' a delish world cup so far - goals and excitement!

And some yahoos here call soccer/football wimpy.

When Low put his veterans in at the end I had a 1982 France/Germany Cup semifinal flashback. Karl Heinz-Rummenigge, their best player, was hurt and on the bench all night and the game was 3-1 France in OT. They put him in and he scores a goal, Germany ties and they win on kicks. Scarred me forever (lived in France at the time). When Klose scored that goal, I know that somewhere, someone in France said they'd seen that movie before.

This was an excellent match. Well played, few fouls. Really enjoyable to watch.

I remember one other thing from that famous semi-final: the criminal assault by Schumacher on Battiston who required weeks of reconstructive surgery and hospitalisation afterwards.

Had it happened off the pitch, Schumacher would have been gaoled for grievous bodily harm, but he wasn't even yellow carded. I remember him standing aloofly by as Batiston was carted off the field of battle in a wheelbarrow like a used gladiator.

Not a sport for wimps, no.

Schumacher is an eternal villain in France. It was going to be so sweet to win that one and they had a great chance to beat Italy in the final (as you surely remember, Germany had nothing left in the tank). The most painful loss I've ever experienced as a fan. That was such a great French side, led by Platini.

...but what was the best outcome the US could have hoped for in this match?

A German victory would probably have been slightly better as Germany would likely have taken it easy in their match against the US.

I think if the US defeat a depleted and demoralised Portugal tomorrow they will have qualified regardless, but a draw will leave everything to play for in the final round.