Germany, Ghana in decisive World Cup match

JOHANNESBURG — Ghana has already achieved one milestone and now stands a victory away from achieving maybe an even bigger one — sending Germany to its earliest exit from a World Cup.

Ghana became the first African team to win a World Cup game in Africa by beating Serbia 1-0 in its Group D opener. Now it can ensure that Germany exits at the group stage for the first time.

However, Germany coach Joachim Loew is sure that won't happen.

"Ghana is possibly Africa's last chance in the tournament and will be very motivated," Loew said Tuesday. "It's not going to be a piece of cake, but we are confident that we have what it takes to beat Ghana."

Going into the decisive final round, Ghana leads the group on four points, Germany and Serbia have three and Australia is on one, meaning all four have a chance of progressing and all are at risk of missing out.

Loew said he would try to prevent his players from knowing the outcome of the other match, played simultaneously in Nelspruit.

"We should concentrate on winning our own game," he said. "Maybe at the end, if it's all clear."

Both sides will be eager to improve on their previous performances: Germany was surprisingly beaten 1-0 by Serbia, while Ghana failed to capitalize on an early red card to Australia forward Harry Kewell and was held to a 1-1 draw.

Loew said his young players were mentally strong enough to put the loss to Serbia behind them.

"The impression I have is that they are not showing nervousness or doubt. But Ghana is a physical and robust team, and it will be mentally and physically very demanding on our players," Loew said at a news conference at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

Loew decided to spare his players a long bus ride to Soccer City to practice at the venue as is customary on the eve of the match. Instead, Germany will have its final training session at its base outside Pretoria.

"It may be a slight advantage to get the feel for a stadium you don't know, but to sit possibly two or more hours in the bus there and back was too long for me," Loew said.

Loew said he was likely to start with Cacau up front as a replacement for Miroslav Klose, who is suspended after being sent off for receiving two yellow cards against Serbia.

"We know our qualities and have no doubt that we'll make it," Cacau said. "I can see that my teammates have the confidence that we'll win."

Germany has been in a similar situation before — two years ago, it needed to beat host Austria in the final group match to advance at the European Championship. The team did that and then went all the way to the final.

But the winning goal against Austria came from captain Michael Ballack, who was forced out of this World Cup by an ankle injury. That contributed to Germany having the second youngest team in its World Cup history.

Kevin-Prince Boateng, whose tackle in the English FA Cup final took Ballack out of the World Cup, will be on the opposite side Wednesday.

Boateng was born in Berlin and played for Germany's junior teams before switching allegiance to the land of his father. His half brother Jerome is a Germany defender.

According to Jerome, the two have not had contact since the start of the World Cup, after Kevin-Prince complained that the hostile reaction in Germany to his foul on Ballack had racist elements.

"It was stupid that something like that became public ... but I wish him the best and I will shake his hand before the match," said Jerome, who is unlikely to start.

Ghana has a Serbian coach, Milan Rajevac, who will have captain John Mensah back after a hamstring injury ruled him out of the match against Australia. Mensah's usual central defensive partner, Isaac Vorsah, remains in doubt.

Like Germany, Ghana is at the World Cup without its injured regular captain, Michael Essien — Ballack's Chelsea teammate.

"I don't think there is pressure on us," Mensah said. "They will probably have more pressure because they are the favorites.

"We all know Germany has a good team, but we believe we have a good team as well. We have to keep things tight, stay compact and I'm sure we can win the match."

Hans Adu Sarpei, the Bayer Leverkusen defender who has spent his entire career in Germany, believes Ghana can exploit weaknesses in Germany's defense. Ghana has yet to score from open play in two games, with both its goals coming from penalties.

"This is a big game. This situation of win or die makes it much bigger. Myself, Kevin-Prince Boateng and the rest of the team must be calm and go into the game with our minds and not emotions, so we don't get red cards," Sarpei said. – AP