USA v Germany 1700BST

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Head-to-head
The USA won 4-3 when the two nations last met in a friendly in June 2013.
Germany have scored 12 12 goals in their last four matches against the USA.
The last four fixtures between the sides have produced 19 goals, at an average of 4.8 per game.
They have met twice before at the World Cup. Germany won 2-0 in 1998, when current USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann scored the second goal, and 1-0 in the 2002 quarter-finals.

USA
The USA have not won two World Cup games in a row since their opening two matches of the first tournament in 1930.
Clint Dempsey needs one more goal to draw level with Landon Donovan's American record of five World Cup goals.
The USA have scored in eight successive World Cup games, their best run since their opening eight matches (1930-1990).
Seven of the USA's last eight World Cup goals have come after half-time.
The States have conceded in each of their last 15 World Cup games against European opposition.
Following Nani's goal for Portugal, the USA have now conceded seven goals at the World Cup in the first five minutes of a match, the most of any team in World Cup history, overtaking Hungary (six).

Germany
Germany have scored in 19 of their last 20 World Cup group games.
Miroslav Klose is only the third player in World Cup history to score in four different editions of the competition (after Pele and Uwe Seeler).
Thomas Muller has eight goals and four assists in eight World Cup appearances.
Mario Gotze has scored three goals in his last three appearances for Germany, and four in five in 2014.

Kick off 5pm Southampton time, mid day Qwerty time. USA need a point, or just for Ghana and Portugal to draw. USA! USA! Kick that soccer ball!! etc.

 

Is that all?

 

USA! USA! USA!

 

Down with ASA!

 

Really, really, really annoyed to be missing this one.

 

We hope there hasn't been any late night calls between Jurgen & low.

 

Thought you would be. I have got my Dad's car so will be back in time for kick off. #publictransportisforpeasants.

 

#publictransportisforpeasantstomeetotherpeasantsandarrangeholidayswiththemapparently

 

A friend of mine has now got 2 buddies she met on a bus...buses replace nightclubs as meeting places for the elderly.

 

That's encouraging.

 

I occasionally use my bus pass and notice how chatty pensioners are (I of course look far too young) and the drivers seem to know a lot of them. On a serious note, I think the free bus passes are important for the elderly who are alone.

Anyway, moving on....

 

Let's all sing along chaps

Oh sayyyyy can you seeeeeeeeee by the dawns early liiiiiiiiiiiiiiight

(I think that gives you an indication of who I'm supporting in this match, if you couldn't guess beforehand)

 

Klinsmann has written a letter to all bosses in the USA (those who have Twitter anyway) to persuade them to let employees watch the match.

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If that's genuine, that's pretty epic.

 

The only people I've ever met on a bus have been drunks or loonies.

 

Well you just convinced me to cheer for the Krauts. I quite like Yanks, but all that saluting the flag they do gives my arsehole a headache.

 

I'm detained at work until 1 so it's a quick dash for the second half over "lunch".

 

USA soccer is no longer a joke. They're ranked 13 (above Netherlands and France) After the world Cup I expect they'll be above England and Italy!

 

Yeah, but France's ranking just perfectly illustrates how the FIFA rankings mean nothing.

 

Why? They performed abysmally in the last world cup, worse than England in the Euros, and barely qualified for this world cup. They're obviously an improving team and likely to rise, but their current ranking is perfectly fair.