Germany advance after 1-0 win - USA and Johnson join them

Personnel and tactics

Joachim Löw made two chances to the side which drew 2-2 with Ghana: Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolski started in place of Sami Khedira and Mario Götze. Philipp Lahm once again occupied the holding midfield role in front of an unchanged defence.

The USA kept their 4-2-3-1 formation, making two changes in personnel: Gonzalez came in for Cameron in the centre of defence and Davis replaced Bedoya in the midfield trio. Interestingly, Stars and Stripes man Jermaine Jones played his last match involving Germany alongside Mertesacker, Schweinsteiger and Klose, after having switched to the USA in 2010.

The Hoffenheim man

Fabian Johnson, who will soon be joining Borussia Mönchengladbach, impressed in the first two group games and was a definite choice to start against Germany. Like Jones, Johnson also used to play on the German side (admittedly only for the youth teams) and was U21 European champion with them in 2009.

Highlights

2nd minute: Thomas Müller miss-hits the ball with an acrobatic attempt from Özil's cross. Podolski's follow-up from his weaker right foot goes over the bar.

8th minute: An attentive Howard snatches Podolski's low cross off the turf before it can reach Müller who is waiting to pounce.

22nd minute: USA counter and Zusi tries a shot from the edge of the box. It goes just over.

35th minute: The Germans find some space in the box, but Howard saves Özil's shot.

39th minute: Howard intercepts another of Podolski's crosses aimed at Müller.

Half-time: Neither team is allowing the other many chances. The superior Germany side need to be wary of USA's counter attacks.

47th minute: Boateng's cross finds Özil who fails to make the right contact with his head.

55th minute: Goal for Germany! Thomas Müller makes it 1-0! Howard saves well from Mertesacker's header, but the ball falls to Müller on the edge of the box and he curls a sublime shot into the right of the goal. No chance for the keeper.

90+3rd minute: Bedoya gets an opportunity to shoot but Lahm slides in from nowhere to hook it away.

Final whistle: One goal was enough for Germany to overcome a spirited challenge from USA and win the group. After Portugal's 2-1 win over Ghana, USA also progress thanks to their superior goal difference over the Iberians.

Man of the Match: As he made the difference with his goal, Thomas Müller was yet again man of the match.