Germany and Ghana played out a thrilling 2-2 draw in Group G on Saturday night, with neither side able to grab the winner in an end-to-end second half.
In the second 45 Thomas Muller crossed for Mario Gotze to put Germany in front, but Andre Ayew equalised with a header of his own.
Ghana then took the lead through a fine finish from Asamoah Gyan, but Miroslav Klose levelled with his first touch, which also put him on par with Ronaldo on 15 World Cup goals.
Read how the action unfolded below.
Hello everyone and thanks for joining me this evening for the start of the second round of games from Group G. Germany started magnificently against Portugal and now face a tricky African opponent in Ghana - can they continue to show why they are so heavily backed?
Ghana, in their opening game, lost to America 2-1, which now means that they realistically cannot lose to Germany tonight. Even a draw would make things tough, depending on the result between USA and Portugal tomorrow, but they cannot look too far ahead. We've seen already that this tournament is not played on paper, so Ghana should believe that they have every chance.
Well, the team news is in, so let's take a look at who's playing then, shall we?
GERMANY XI: Neuer; Howedes, Hummels, Boateng, Mertesacker; Lahm, Khedira; Ozil, Kroos, Muller; Gotze
GHANA XI: Dauda; Afful, Mensah, Boye, Asamoah; Rabiu, Muntari, Boateng; Atsu, A. Ayew, Gyan
After the thumping of Portugal there was absolutely no need for Joachim Low to tinker with his lineup, and he hasn't. It's the same XI, including six Bayern Munich players, that made Cristiano Ronaldo and friends look ordinary. Mario Gotze will start as the false nine, but he will rotate plenty with Muller I don't doubt.
There is German interest, too, on the Ghana team, as Kevin-Prince Boateng starts against his brother Jerome. The two are regularly in contact and now both play in Germany, but you can be sure that there will be no love lost if the pair come up against each other in a tackle. It's a very interesting facet to this clash.
It's very rare that brothers choose to represent different nations, let alone for those two countries to face each other in the world cup. Paul Pogba has two brothers who both play for Guinea, and then there is Steve and Parfait Mandanda, who chose France and Congo respectively, but the likelihood of those two African minnows qualifying is not high.
Thomas Muller has scored 8 goals in 7 World Cup games. #GER pic.twitter.com/sc3kT9k8h8
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) June 21, 2014
Muller at the moment is the main man for Germany. It is interesting that, even with his ridiculous World Cup scoring record, he is better operating from the right than as a lone striker. It is his late movement into space that makes him such a dangerous player, and that just doesn't have the same impact centrally.
This will not be as easy for Germany as people are predicting, in my opinion. This game is massive for Ghana and as such they are likely to try to keep things tight at the back, whereas Portugal wanted to attack and ended up leaving a lot of space for their opponents to exploit.
These two teams have only met twice in the past, with Germany victorious on both occasions as you might expect. In the first game, in 1993, Germany won 6-1 in a friendly, but where it mattered in the last World Cup in 2010 Ghana put up a much better fight and were defeated only 1-0. That one is more of an indication as to how this match will go, I suspect.
#GER appear susceptible to long shots. Only one European finalist conceded more goals from range during qualifying pic.twitter.com/YdUUeq4WzN
— MatchStory (@MatchStory) June 21, 2014
Whenever and whoever Germany play they are usually the favourites, and today is no exception. However, they are not all that short and there is still value in the 4/11 odds. Ghana can be backed at around 9/1, which I think is unlikely, but a draw at 9/2 is definitely interesting.
PREDICTION: I've talked up the draw, so that must be what I fancy, right? Actually, no. I think Germany will be tested tonight, but I still think they will have enough. They might well concede against a strong looking Ghana attack, but I fancy them to win 2-1.
The players are on the pitch, the handshakes are taking place and we're almost ready to go in a sunny Fortaleza.
KICKOFF: Germany, in their traditional white, get the game started.
Plenty of the ball early on as expected from Germany, but no chances as yet. Benedikt Howedes has been involved perhaps a little more than he would have liked early on, with one header won and a through-ball put out of play.
Ghana are pressing their opponents quite high up the pitch so far. Germany just manage to escape and step through the gears, however, as Howedes plays through to Gotze, but the African side regroup and manage to clear.
Ghana have not been able to keep the ball so far, with too many long balls giving possession straight back to Germany. They cannot afford to keep doing that. That's better, though, as Muntari cuts to Gyan in the box, but the striker under pressure shoots over.
Boye in a little bit of trouble there taking it out of defence, and he concedes a throw after a challenge from Muller. From the throw Lahm threads it through to Ozil, but Dauda is out off his line quickly to gather. A tactical start, this.
Germany beginning to up the pressure a little now. From a Muller backheel Toni Kroos shoots low, but his effort is quickly blocked and the danger is gone. Not long after that there's a tasty tackle from Rabiu through the back of Ozil. No booking, however.
SAVE! First real stop of the game comes from Manuel Neuer. A shot from Atsu is beaten away by the Germany stopper. Although it was well struck, it would have done well to beat Neuer.
We haven't seen a great deal from either of the Boateng brothers so far, but there is plenty of time for either to have an impact. Gotze and Muller have switched a lot and worked hard, but neither has had too much say in this one thus far.
SHOT! Kroos nips in and pinches the ball from I think Rabiu, and then sets away Ozil down the left. His low pass finds Khedira, who strikes low but it's an easy stop for Dauda.
Gyan pings a diagonal pass to Boateng, who is quickly followed by Jerome. Kevin-Prince sees the chance to get one over on his half-brother and shoots from 30 yards, but it's well wide in the end.
CHANCE! Muller is almost in from a low cross by Ozil, but in the end Afful is in really well to make a tackle, with the ball then cannoning back off the German and out for a goal kick.
Spectacular bit of defending there from Mensah, who hooks it away with a volley. Germany just starting to look a little ominous as Ghana have not touched the ball for about three minutes.
This has been pretty much what I expected so far. Ghana are very reluctant to push too many players forward, and certainly only one full-back at a time, and as such the chances have been very limited.
Germany win a corner but it could have been more for them. Gotze is played in down the right and only has Muller in support, but Boye is across to make the block and puts it behind. He has defended well so far.
SAVE! Another effort from range for Ghana, and this time it's Muntari's effort that tests Neuer. It was swerving but needed to be palmed away.
Lovely play again by Germany. Kroos fired a through ball left to Ozil, who cuts back for Muller, but once more there are too many red shirts and it's a corner. They should be committing more players into the box.
SHOT! Decent attempt on the volley from Gotze, but it was straight down the throat of Dauda who held on well.
CHANCE! Germany are close to opening the scoring there, as Muller fizzes in a low cross from the left. However, he needs himself on the end of it and instead it skids through and to safety.
We've just ticked over into stoppage time, of which there will be two minutes. Late spell of Ghana pressure, but Mensah's effort from the edge of the box goes wide.
HALF-TIME: Germany 0-0 Ghana
Hmm. Well that was a less than impressive half in what looked as though it might have been interesting. To be fair to Ghana, they have done what they have needed to - keep things tight. Germany, so far, have been unable to create anything really.
As it stands at the moment, Germany remain on top of the group with four points, while Ghana would stay in contention in third behind USA.
Neuer has been the busier goalkeeper in this half, but all of what he has had to do has come from range. He has not been tested from any crosses, so far, while Dauda has gathered a couple at the other end.
The players are making their way back out for the second half. There's a change for Germany with Mustafi replacing Boateng. That must have been because of an injury.
The African side get us back underway for the second half. Here's hoping for an improvement.
Lots of passing early on from Germany as expected. They are not making much progress with Ghana closing them down very high up the pitch.
GOAL! Germany 1-0 Ghana (Mario Gotze)
Everyone expected Muller to score, but he has just produced a magnificent assist. From the corner of the box he crosses for Gotze who gets it in via face and knee. Not a pretty finish, but Muller did put it on a place for him.
GOAL! Germany 1-1 Ghana (Andre Ayew)
That's another fantastic delivery in this game! Afful crossed from the right and Ayew rises to plant a thumping header low past Neuer. We don't half have a game on now!
Muntari's eyes light up from a 40 yard free kick. He has no right to score from it and doesn't even come close as his shot flies well wide of goal. To beat Neuer from there it would have had to be very special.
Mustafi gets forward down the right for the first time in the game, but his cross after being found by Ozil on the overlap was too close to Dauda, who gathered comfortably.
Really good defending there from Hummels, who could have been in trouble if he'd have slid in on Gyan. It was what the striker was counting on, but Hummels tackled him.
GOAL! Germany 1-2 Ghana (Asamoah Gyan)
Well, well, well! Hands up who saw that coming?! Lahm gives the ball away yet again in midfield and this time he is punished. It's threaded through to Gyan by Muntari, and his finish is brilliant across Neuer. What a tournament.
What are Germany made of now? Ghana have shown them no respect at all and now lead. All of a sudden, this group is wide open and Germany must come from behind. Gotze turns in the box but is clattered by a brilliant tackle from Mensah. They will defend for their lives now.
CHANCE! Gyan is furious with Jordan Ayew, who skipped down the left at speed but wanted to do it all himself by cutting in and shooting. In the end it was a comfortable save for Neuer, but Gyan was waiting for the pass.
GERMANY SUBS: Miroslav Klose on for Gotze, with Schweinsteiger for Khedira in a final roll of the dice from Low.
GOAL! Germany 2-2 Ghana (Miroslav Klose)
He's equalled the record! From Kroos's corner Howedes flicks on and Klose is in the right place at the right time to poke in at the far stick. What a striker he is, and what a change from Low.
Meanwhile Mubarak Wukaso is on for Ghana, in place of Atsu.
Klose has just over 15 minutes to grab World Cup goal number 16, which will take him past Ronaldo. That goal, incidentally, put him past Gerd Muller's World Cup record of 14. Not bad, eh?
Lahm is bundled over around 30 yards from goal. Kroos and Ozil fancy this, and both are standing over it.
Four players step over it and in the end it's left to Schweinsteiger to... put it well wide. Rabiu makes way for Emmanuel Badu.
This could still go either way, with Ghana currently enjoying plenty of the ball. As it stands it's a fantastic result for them, but having led they will be gutted if they don't get the win.
Germany try to work a nice passing move, but instead Ghana break. A Ayew breaks down the right and in the end his shot from a tight ankle is deflected towards the near post, but it's an easy gather for Neuer. Time is running out, will there be a winner?
CHANCE! What a magnificent tackle that is from Asamoah coming across from left-back. Muller is played through and only has the keeper to beat, but suddenly it is pinched off his foot for a corner. That could have earned his side a point!
Mensah has been imperious at the back, and he has just hacked it over the bar from a low cross. They're defending for their lives at the moment.
SAVE! The younger Ayew still wants that goal, and he has just tested Neuer from outside the box, but the German keeper got down to his right to hang on. You still get the sense that there's another goal in this.
CHANCE! Wow that should be the record from Klose! He's just inside the box and shoots on the turn, but somewhat snatched at the chance and dragged it wide. He does feel pressure, then.
Oh dear!! Ghana have a glorious chance to break three on two, but for some reason Wukaso Mubarak strays offside! That was the chance.
Late, late free kick for Germany here. Muntari brings down Kroos around 25 yards out and is also booked. He will miss his side's next game now. Silly.
FULL-TIME: Germany 2-2 Ghana
The game is over, but the drama is still not. Muller has blood all over his face after clashing with Boye, who headed away a late corner. Many Ghana players are down - they have given everything and it wasn't in vain, as they have earned a point. What a half!
A poor first half was followed by possibly the best one at the tournament so far. Neither side deserved to lose that, so the points are rightly shared. That's all from me here, but do stick around and we will have coverage of Nigeria vs. Bosnia soon. Goodbye.
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
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