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Another World Cup game, another goal for Thomas Muller, another win, and a safe passage through to the knockout phase for Die Mannschaft. For the USA, the dream goes on, as despite the defeat, they made it through to the next round of the World Cup. Here’s a look at how each player fared in a rather dull encounter at Recife.
USA
Tim Howard: 7/10
Howard made a few important saves in the first half, and was very assured with his handling throughout the game. But, he will have to take some blame for the goal, for not having dealt with the initial header strongly enough, which presented a golden opportunity that Muller took with aplomb.
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Fabian Johnson: 6/10
Found a bit of joy on USA’s right flank against Howedes, but failed to make it count in terms of creating opportunities. Wasn’t tested defensively in the first half by a poor Lukas Podolski, but did his job in the second half whenever he was called upon.
Matt Besler: 6/10
Besler was thought to be weak link in the US defense, but he did not put a foot wrong, repelling everything that came his way,
Omar Gonzalez: 7/10
Gonzalez was called in for this game to replace Geoff Cameron, and like Besler, Gonzalez too had an outstanding game, making several crucial blocks and interceptions. He was dominant in the air, and was unfortunate to have his clean sheet cancelled out by Muller’s beautiful strike.
DeMarcus Beasley: 5.5/10
Beasley allowed Jerome Boateng and Mesut Ozil too much space down Germany’s right flank, and the US were made to pay for that with the goal for the Germans eventually arriving from a cross from that flank.
Graham Zusi: 5/10
Apart from one stinging shot that flew just over the bar, Zusi had a very quiet game.
Kyle Beckerman: 5/10
Beckerman could consider himself fortunate to have finished the game on the field, considering the number of bad challenges he made, particulary on Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Jermaine Jones: 6.5/10
Jones tried to drive the USA forward at every possible opportunity. He made a lot of powerful runs, and was unfortunate that those around him could not back him up well enough,
Michael Bradley: 5.5/10
Bradley had a poor game, for someone who had to don the role of lynchpin. He made way too many stray passes, and gave the ball away far too easily.
Brad Davis: 4/10
Davis was anonymous all game, with his only notable contribution being conceding the corner that led to the German goal.
Clint Dempsey: 5/10
Dempsey had a poor game. He missed the USA’s best opportunity with a header over the bar in stoppage time.
Substitutes:
Alejandro Bedoya: 5/10
Bedoya had a wonderful low shot brilliantly blocked by Philipp Lahm. Apart from that, he showed a lot of purpose with his running, and tried to drive the USA forward.
Deandre Yedlin: 4/10
Yedlin only touched the ball a couple of times. One was a poor cross. The other, a header across goal that Dempsey headed over in the USA’s best opportunity of the match.
Germany
Manuel Neuer: 5/10
Neuer had a nice runout in the rain, having absolutely nothing to do.
Jerome Boateng: 6/10
Boateng got up the right flank purposefully, but most of his crosses were dealt with effectively by the US defenders.
Per Mertesacker: 6/10
Mertesacker was barely tested by a poor US offensive unit. It was his header that Howard palmed into Muller’s path for the German to slam home.
Mats Hummels: 7/10
Hummels was his usual self. Calm, composed and assured in possession, Hummels made regular forays into the US half, and tried his best to pick out his team-mates in space.
Benedikt Howedes: 6/10
Howedes was rather quiet. He tried to get up the flank, but his efforts were in vain in the first half, as he was playing alongside Lukas Podolski who was woeful.
Philipp Lahm: 7/10
Had a super game controlling the midfield. Also made a crucial tackle right at the end to deny Bedoya an equalizer.
Bastian Schweinsteiger: 8/10
He ran the game alongside Lahm in midfield for Germany. Was fouled countless times, but carried on and drove the Germans forward at every opportunity.
Toni Kroos: 6/10
By his standards, he had a rather quiet game. His best moment in the match came in the first half, when he struck a left-footed effort straight into Howard’s palms.
Mesut Ozil: 4.5/10
Ozil had a rather forgettable outing. Poor touches and poor passes summed up his game, but he put in a telling cross for Germany’s goal.
Lukas Podolski: 4/10
Podolski had a woeful game, He offered nothing down the German left, and was rightly taken off at half-time.
Thomas Muller: 7.5/10
This man just seems to have natural predatory instincts. Was once again in the right place at the right time, and scored Germany’s winner with a crisp finish.
Substitutes:
Miroslav Klose: 5/10
Klose had a forgettable game after coming on at half-time. He did very little to influence proceedings.
Mario Gotze: N/A
Gotze came on with too little time left.
Andre Schurrle: N/A
Came on in a time-wasting substitution in the second half of stoppage time.
