:00:14. > :01:07.Good evening. The African side has ever reach the semifinals of a World
:01:08. > :01:09.Cup. The Black Stars of Ghana came closest of all to making history
:01:10. > :01:34.four years ago. and he scores! And they equalise!
:01:35. > :01:40.Luis Suarez beats it away, it is a red card, they've got a penalty with
:01:41. > :01:45.the last kick of the game. Oh, and he has missed. And we are headed for
:01:46. > :01:55.penalty kicks. Ghana with the chance to draw level. And what a finish.
:01:56. > :02:01.Africa's last representatives in this World Cup are going home.
:02:02. > :02:09.Tonight, Ghana face a USA side they beat. The Americans are led by
:02:10. > :02:14.Jurgen Klinsmann and both sides know that their hopes of getting out of
:02:15. > :02:20.the group stage could enter night with defeat that is because of the
:02:21. > :02:29.opposition in their group. Germany and Portugal met earlier. It was a
:02:30. > :02:36.dream start to Germany, with a mullah hat-trick helping them to a
:02:37. > :02:41.4-0 win. We are joined by Thierry Henry, Clarence Seedorf. Ghana who
:02:42. > :02:48.were so terrific four years ago and entertained us so much, it remains
:02:49. > :02:54.together, the nucleus of that side. It is still a nice formation. That
:02:55. > :03:02.was a great experience in South Africa. I am sure they are going to
:03:03. > :03:10.be an important competitor here. Two of those players were yours in
:03:11. > :03:16.Milan. Of course, I played together with Boateng, and Muntari. I am
:03:17. > :03:25.looking forward to see their performance. USA are very organised.
:03:26. > :03:31.You are the man in the MLS there, have they got the strength to
:03:32. > :03:34.compete at this sort of level? I believe they do because they are
:03:35. > :03:41.well-organised, difficult to beat, they can score with Clint Dempsey.
:03:42. > :03:47.And they are well structured, difficult to beat. They can keep the
:03:48. > :03:51.ball. I think they can compete, and they have shown it in the friendly
:03:52. > :03:59.games. I believe they have the quality. It is a national side now a
:04:00. > :04:07.big deal in America? Yes, it is. It is World Cup time. Right now, it is.
:04:08. > :04:10.Are they into it? Yes, they are, although it is difficult compete
:04:11. > :04:15.with basketball and all the other sports. Yes, but all of those
:04:16. > :04:22.finished now, they can focus on football. Yes, and it is getting
:04:23. > :04:28.better. It has definitely changed. There is a sense of knockout to this
:04:29. > :04:33.game. We have to be realistic, whoever loses this is going home. We
:04:34. > :04:37.should get an entertaining game, both teams going for it. Can't be
:04:38. > :04:44.any worse than the last game, can it? We hope it is significantly
:04:45. > :04:49.better. The Ghanaian manager is the first manager to lead his team into
:04:50. > :04:51.a World Cup. He doesn't believe he needs to fear any of the teams in
:04:52. > :05:07.his grip. -- in his group. Ghana is a footballing loving
:05:08. > :05:15.country. Just like Brazil England. When URL coach, you should respect
:05:16. > :05:18.that. -- when you are a coach, you should respect that. Done ANC
:05:19. > :05:28.themselves as the African Brazilians. --
:05:29. > :05:39.my players have played it higher levels. I believe that all of them
:05:40. > :05:48.are ready for this competition. Most of the players are playing like
:05:49. > :05:55.heroes. They are not thinking, I am going to be afraid of the big
:05:56. > :05:58.players. I believe that Africa, very soon, we'll get a big sensation in
:05:59. > :06:14.the world. After the game, the dressing room
:06:15. > :06:25.was full of tears. We thought, that was a big opportunity to go further.
:06:26. > :06:29.Everyone would have loved that. But we need to go out there, perform to
:06:30. > :06:35.the best of our knowledge, and then when we have the first win, you are
:06:36. > :06:40.confident, and it is easy to play your second game. I believe the
:06:41. > :06:48.players are capable. When you talk to them, they all want to do well.
:06:49. > :06:53.The big news for Ghana is that Michael Essien and Boateng are on
:06:54. > :07:16.the bench. It is quite an interesting story,
:07:17. > :07:22.Gyan. He has scored a mountain of goals in the East. What do you think
:07:23. > :07:28.of him? He is a good player. If you can score in a World Cup and be
:07:29. > :07:33.consistent, it's great. He has scored lots of goals, it's amazing.
:07:34. > :07:43.I can't help thinking, why did he go there so early? What would be the
:07:44. > :07:49.main reason? It is a lack of ambition, I don't like that. But he
:07:50. > :07:56.is a talent. I believe he can score today, and I believe he is going to
:07:57. > :08:00.be a big threat. Also, you don't know, this is a player that could
:08:01. > :08:06.play, but sometimes you don't find the right club or situation. That's
:08:07. > :08:11.true, you don't know the main reason why he went there. He performed well
:08:12. > :08:18.for years ago. Apart from that obvious and unforgettable moment.
:08:19. > :08:21.It's going to help that most of those players have been there
:08:22. > :08:26.before, to deal with the pressure, but it is about the service he is
:08:27. > :08:32.going to get. He needs good service. So, the USA's best World Cup form
:08:33. > :08:35.and scheme in 2002 when they reach the quarterfinals. Here is Dan
:08:36. > :08:41.Walker with the current state of the states.
:08:42. > :08:45.This would be the USA's 10th World Cup appearance, their second in
:08:46. > :08:56.Brazil where, in 1950, they produce that most famous of results beating
:08:57. > :08:59.England 1-0. Coach Klinsmann is the current talking point, especially
:09:00. > :09:08.after leaving Landon Donovan out of the squad despite his experience. In
:09:09. > :09:13.South Africa, you'll remember they topped the group containing England,
:09:14. > :09:17.Slovenia and Algeria, but they were dumped out of Ghana in round two.
:09:18. > :09:23.The World Cup winning boss has been working hard to introduce a bit of
:09:24. > :09:27.European possession style football, and his whopping contract, running
:09:28. > :09:36.to 2018, has given him unprecedented power to reshape stateside soccer.
:09:37. > :09:52.Everton's Tim Howard has Cameron in front of him in central defence.
:09:53. > :09:59.Altidore, plain for Sunderland, scored just one goal last season.
:10:00. > :10:05.Clint Dempsey, you know him well, he is impressive. He is a winner.
:10:06. > :10:13.Probably the best trainer I've trained with. Always looking to do
:10:14. > :10:18.and work hard, to improve. I'm not sure where he will play tonight, but
:10:19. > :10:22.he is to do most of his best damage coming off the wide areas from
:10:23. > :10:29.behind. I am not sure he will get this type of service tonight, by the
:10:30. > :10:34.way! You know him very well! I do. He is a special player because he is
:10:35. > :10:39.not naturally gifted. He looks gifted because of his application
:10:40. > :10:43.and attitude. He is a Texan boy, he plays with a lot of hard. If they do
:10:44. > :10:47.anything tonight, it's going to come from him because he is the main
:10:48. > :10:58.goal-scorer. Who has impressed you in the MLF? I like Beckerman. He is
:10:59. > :11:04.not scared, at times he can lose his head, but hopefully he will not do
:11:05. > :11:11.that tonight. I like him. Klinsmann's sides usually play open
:11:12. > :11:17.football. Does this team play in a similar manner? They have the same
:11:18. > :11:22.tools, but I don't know. One of the things that take would stars, and I
:11:23. > :11:28.think that Clarence can agree with me, is that you can maximise what
:11:29. > :11:31.you have with your team, and make sure you can put it out there, and
:11:32. > :11:39.make sure they can perform with that. I agree, absolutely. That is
:11:40. > :11:44.the strength of the USA team. It is always a team, they know what to do,
:11:45. > :11:49.they know how to maximise their talent and qualities. Gents, thank
:11:50. > :11:50.you, it is Ghana versus USA, our commentators are Robbie Savage and
:11:51. > :12:02.Guy Mowbray. Thank you. The World Cup and all the
:12:03. > :12:06.goals it has given us has felt like all our Christmas is coming at once,
:12:07. > :12:13.so welcome to the city that was named after Christmas.
:12:14. > :12:16.# And make our nation great and strong
:12:17. > :12:25.# Bold to defend forever The cause of Freedom and of Right
:12:26. > :12:35.# Fill our hearts with true humility Make us cherish fearless honesty
:12:36. > :12:40.# And help us to resist oppressors' rule
:12:41. > :12:43.# With all our will and might evermore Hail to thy name, O Ghana
:12:44. > :12:56.# With our gifts of mind and strength of arm
:12:57. > :12:58.# Whether night or day in the midst of storm,
:12:59. > :13:00.# In every need whate'er the call may be,
:13:01. > :13:02.# To serve thee, Ghana, now and evermore
:13:03. > :13:05.# Raise high the flag of Ghana And one with Africa advance
:13:06. > :13:08.# Black star of hope and honor To all who thirst for liberty
:13:09. > :13:11.# Where free flies, May the way to freedom truly lie
:13:12. > :13:21.# And under God march on forevermore. #
:13:22. > :13:28.# Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
:13:29. > :13:35.# What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming
:13:36. > :13:43.# Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
:13:44. > :13:50.# O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming
:13:51. > :13:58.# And the rockets' red glare the bombs bursting in air
:13:59. > :14:06.# Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there
:14:07. > :14:16.# O Say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
:14:17. > :14:41.# O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? #
:14:42. > :14:58.Good noise from the USA supporters, who have travelled in great numbers.
:14:59. > :15:02.Let's take a look at the Kone inside. Their squad is the youngest
:15:03. > :15:10.overall in the World Cup. Silly Muntari is still there, and
:15:11. > :15:50.the talismanic as ODM. -- Gyan. The man in the middle is from the
:15:51. > :15:55.far north of Sweden. He is reportedly worth a lot more than the
:15:56. > :16:02.players he keeps in check, a soldier share in a media rights company for
:16:03. > :16:10.plenty seven years ago. -- he sold his share.
:16:11. > :16:28.Presumably he hasn't had to borrow the coin!
:16:29. > :16:40.Everton's Tim Howard and Sunderland's Josey Altidore starts
:16:41. > :16:46.for the USA. Altidore's two goals against Nigeria equalled his entire
:16:47. > :16:50.total for Sunderland last season. It is a side with plenty of experience
:16:51. > :16:53.of playing for their country but perhaps isn't blessed with a great
:16:54. > :16:59.deal of pace, that will be something that Gala will look to exploit. --
:17:00. > :17:24.Ghana. course. It is Klinsmann's second
:17:25. > :17:30.World Cup as a coach, he led his native country to the semifinals on
:17:31. > :17:33.home soil in 2006. His opposite number Kwesi Appiah has been in
:17:34. > :17:41.charge of his national side for two years. Clint Dempsey, looked almost
:17:42. > :17:48.emotional, as emotional as he gets, anyway, during the national anthems.
:17:49. > :17:51.He has scored in the last two World Cup,
:17:52. > :17:53.anyway, during the national anthems. He has scored in the last two as has
:17:54. > :17:56.Gyan. If you get another one, he will equal record for a player from
:17:57. > :18:17.one of the African nations. The humidity is quite high, the
:18:18. > :18:22.temperature is very pleasant indeed. Ghana against the USA for the third
:18:23. > :18:27.World Cup in a row. Looking forward to this youthful gourmet and side
:18:28. > :18:32.against this disciplined USA team. -- Kone inside.
:18:33. > :18:46.What a start! 31 seconds played! Clint Dempsey, so quick off the
:18:47. > :19:07.mark. Juergen Klinsmann is up off the
:19:08. > :19:14.bench. Incredible start stop it goes past a defender, and what a finish.
:19:15. > :19:20.Clint Dempsey, a great start for the USA.
:19:21. > :19:33.So easily passed John Boye. He just had one look at the keeper, and one
:19:34. > :19:40.shot later, it is Ghana zero, the USA one. One very happy German. Look
:19:41. > :19:47.at that, very happy German! Klinsmann has lived in the US since
:19:48. > :20:10.his playing career ended in 1998. The USA, on the front foot, winning
:20:11. > :20:17.second balls, driving at the heart of the Ghana defence.
:20:18. > :20:24.Christian Atsu, a Chelsea player who has spent the last season on loan
:20:25. > :20:32.with Vitesse Arnhem. Asamoah, the Juventus player, a key
:20:33. > :20:45.player down the left-hand side. We mentioned that Ghana are a young
:20:46. > :20:50.side, is this where they need the likes of Muntari to bring the
:20:51. > :20:58.players together? He will be a key man in there, with Gyan upfront.
:20:59. > :21:05.They need to not concede another one. What an awful start. They came
:21:06. > :21:16.out of the traps sleeping in defence of areas. -- defensive areas.
:21:17. > :21:22.The coach spent time at Manchester City and Liverpool last year, ideas
:21:23. > :21:49.sharing. There is a problem for Daniel Opare,
:21:50. > :21:50.who has gone downhill. His contract is up at standard Liege, he will be
:21:51. > :22:04.joining Porto. In their first game at the last
:22:05. > :22:12.World Cup, it was England who scored early against the US, Steven Gerrard
:22:13. > :22:17.scored in the fourth minute. It's terrible defending. He just comes
:22:18. > :22:27.inside, could the keeper had done better? Wonderful finish.
:22:28. > :22:36.There was a determined look about him during the anthems. Didn't sing
:22:37. > :22:39.it. If I was the manager of my country, I would make people learn
:22:40. > :22:45.the national anthem and sing it. As a player, you should learn it, but
:22:46. > :22:54.he comes up with the first goal for his team. You could him now? Not
:22:55. > :23:07.sure I would. I think you should sting your national anthem.
:23:08. > :23:12.The USA have pulled everybody back behind the ball. A very solidly
:23:13. > :23:27.built wall. Flicked wide by John Boye, he hasn't
:23:28. > :23:32.had the best of starts to his evening. It's actually a terrible
:23:33. > :23:51.free kick from Muntari. Juergen Klinsmann's 50th game as the
:23:52. > :23:55.US head coach. He has only lost three of the competitive games.
:23:56. > :23:58.There is the argument that the North and Central American qualifying
:23:59. > :24:03.category isn't the strongest but if you look at this competition, Mexico
:24:04. > :24:08.won the opener here, and then of course Costa Rica shocked Uruguay.
:24:09. > :24:14.And the USA are a team used to winning, as well. Joel Campbell's
:24:15. > :24:25.performance for Costa Rica, that is one England have two watch.
:24:26. > :24:36.Altidore got up well. Just shaved his forehead. A player who is often
:24:37. > :24:39.derided in the Premier League. 31 games for Sunderland, 19 starts,
:24:40. > :24:45.only the one goal against Chelsea, just before Christmas. One thing
:24:46. > :25:01.that couldn't be faulted is his workrate.
:25:02. > :25:11.Tim Howard was there. Great goalkeeping. The control of the
:25:12. > :25:13.situation. He knew Gyan was going to whip the ball in, good authority
:25:14. > :25:36.from Tim Howard early on. Michael Bradley, you might remember
:25:37. > :25:44.his unfortunate spell with Aston Villa. Now playing for Toronto FC.
:25:45. > :25:48.It is an assured start from the state. Bradley, good player, looking
:25:49. > :26:14.to link play. Just a little too much for Johnson
:26:15. > :26:27.to do that time. They won't change their approach all
:26:28. > :26:34.game, they have been drumming, singing, dancing, entertaining four
:26:35. > :26:40.hours. Great atmosphere in the stadium. Drums being bound behind
:26:41. > :26:43.the goal, but they need something to cheer. It has been a poor start from
:26:44. > :27:11.Ghana. The USA supporters were quite
:27:12. > :27:25.surprised that Landon Donovan didn't make the squad.
:27:26. > :27:35.I like to see that, left footer playing on the opposite side. Good
:27:36. > :27:37.pace and trickery. He put easily on his bottom, it didn't quite come
:27:38. > :28:02.off, though. final warm up game after defeats to
:28:03. > :28:16.Montenegro and the Netherlands in their other friendlies. Patrick for
:28:17. > :28:22.Jordan Ayew. -- a hat-trick. The USA are unbeaten in four. They won 19 of
:28:23. > :28:27.their last 24 matches, including a dozen in a row last summer, the
:28:28. > :28:32.candid by wins against Bosnia and Germany. Both by 4-3 margins. They
:28:33. > :29:27.know how to win games. Atsu, offside. Very condensed in the
:29:28. > :29:30.middle of the park. Neat little passes around the box, the space is
:29:31. > :29:46.out wide, keep switching the ball. A bit of waste from Tim Howard. He
:29:47. > :29:54.is beating himself about the head that. He concedes position easily.
:29:55. > :30:03.-- possession. Michael Essien, left on the bench,
:30:04. > :30:54.to the surprise of many, certainly in the media centre here.
:30:55. > :31:01.be playing in an advanced midfield role but he's pretty deep so far. He
:31:02. > :31:09.is, and it is Clint Dempsey, he works usually on the left, he is
:31:10. > :31:14.playing just behind Altidore. He's just off Altidore there, a decent
:31:15. > :31:22.start, a great start for the USA. It has been too easy for them.
:31:23. > :31:29.With Portugal and Germany in the group, I think this would be the key
:31:30. > :31:34.game but these two nations if they are to have a shout of realistically
:31:35. > :31:38.finishing runners-up to Germany, especially after what happened
:31:39. > :31:39.earlier today. You can Klinsmann said it was pretty much like a
:31:40. > :32:02.knockout from the start. He did everything he could to keep
:32:03. > :32:24.it in. Easy enough for Howard. For ball
:32:25. > :32:42.again in the final third. -- Paul ball.
:32:43. > :32:49.Ghana have settled down, they are spending much more time in the USA
:32:50. > :32:56.half. That was lovely. Tim Howard got there first. That was a great
:32:57. > :33:01.ball. But Tim Howard has the experience, he has seen the danger,
:33:02. > :33:10.good start, position on the six yard line. Brilliant goalkeeping.
:33:11. > :33:16.You have seen so many times in the Premier League keepers rushing out
:33:17. > :33:25.needlessly. On that occasion, Tim Howard was spot-on. Is he one of
:33:26. > :33:30.those that backs up the idea that keepers get better with age? He's 35
:33:31. > :33:42.and better than ever. He had a great season with Everton.
:33:43. > :33:51.We were told Asamoah Gyan happen number three shaved into his head.
:33:52. > :34:05.But I think it went a little bit wrong. He always wears number three,
:34:06. > :34:12.although he is a striker. He says it is a powerful number.
:34:13. > :34:23.It will indeed be a free kick, but for offside. Ghana, they do look
:34:24. > :34:33.dangerous when they break forward, especially with the pace. They get
:34:34. > :34:49.the ball wide as quick as they can, Atsu.
:34:50. > :35:00.The two midfield crunchers, Jones and Beckerman close-down Mohammed
:35:01. > :35:06.Rabiu. Atsu, he could play a key or all four Ghana this evening. That
:35:07. > :35:17.was a little bit too high for Gyan. A fantastic cross. The timing of the
:35:18. > :35:19.run from Gyan was wrong, but that was great, keep doing it. Keep
:35:20. > :35:35.coming to this side, Ghana. The flag has been waived, it is a
:35:36. > :35:44.free kick to the USA, he has been judged as holding on. That is harsh.
:35:45. > :35:52.Good strength. He turned his man well.
:35:53. > :36:22.Got hold of his shirt, but, I think that is a bit harsh.
:36:23. > :36:33.The door was closed for Altidore. He didn't expect the ball, Altidore. He
:36:34. > :36:41.has only scored one goal for Sunderland the season. The ball was
:36:42. > :36:48.cut back, and Altidore was just behind him, but he has to be better
:36:49. > :36:54.than that. Rooney got slated for ruining a chance like that with
:36:55. > :37:05.Italy. There is the number three, on that side! Altidore's goal-scoring
:37:06. > :37:14.record for the USA is decent. He tends to get them in clusters. He
:37:15. > :37:17.has got a few hat-tricks. You wonder whether confidence is a problem, off
:37:18. > :37:31.the back of the season he has had. Tim Howard, he judged that
:37:32. > :38:24.perfectly, easily could have made a mistake.
:38:25. > :38:35.Altidore looks to have pulled something. Hamstring. The hamstring
:38:36. > :38:42.has gone. He pulled up very quickly in that race. Game over. He won't be
:38:43. > :38:59.coming back from that. World Cup over. No doubt about it.
:39:00. > :39:09.You have got to feel for him. He is a key man in Jurgen Klinsmann's
:39:10. > :39:14.team. He is just about an automatic pick. And you can see the anguish on
:39:15. > :39:19.his face now. It registers in his mind what this will mean. When you
:39:20. > :39:32.pull the hamstring, your pain is intense. You feel it straight away.
:39:33. > :39:50.Jozy 's game is done. His team are going well. Almost a quarter of the
:39:51. > :39:59.way through, leading 1-0, the goal scored in the first 30 seconds.
:40:00. > :40:07.Johannsson looks like the player who is going to come on. Fever only
:40:08. > :40:16.approved his switch from Icelandic nationality to the United States
:40:17. > :40:24.last August. He was actually born in Alabama, but moved to Iceland aged
:40:25. > :40:30.three. The man from New Jersey is getting a sporting round of applause
:40:31. > :40:35.from his fans, who have paid a lot of money to watch him, and possibly
:40:36. > :40:45.score a goal, but that isn't going to happen. Altidore is going off.
:40:46. > :40:51.Johannsson comes on. What an opportunity for him. One door
:40:52. > :40:58.closes, another one opens. Such is football.
:40:59. > :41:09.The hamstring is painful, Robbie, but the emotional pain on this
:41:10. > :41:11.stage... He will be devastated. To miss a chance like he did, and get
:41:12. > :41:24.stretchered off? Not a great day. The boys are on the way. Mensah is
:41:25. > :41:54.coming, too. Muntari will hope to put the ball
:41:55. > :41:58.somewhere in the middle of that. That should have been something
:41:59. > :42:07.better on the end of that from Boye, because he had plenty of time
:42:08. > :42:12.to think about that. Swung into the back. That was a very poor header,
:42:13. > :42:25.no conviction in it at all. Just a free kick, I think. The
:42:26. > :42:31.Swedish referee is marching of a very deliberately. It will just be a
:42:32. > :42:38.word with Jordan Ayew. Yes, he is late. Most referees will give a
:42:39. > :42:47.yellow card for that. He has let that one go.
:42:48. > :43:25.One of them has got, short, one of them has got to come along. -- come
:43:26. > :43:41.long. That shot from range is
:43:42. > :43:51.disappointing. Alejandro Bedoya, once of Glasgow Rangers. That was a
:43:52. > :44:01.great ball from Bradley. But you're not going to score like that. If he
:44:02. > :44:05.did, we would be talking about it for a long time. I have seen goals
:44:06. > :44:35.in world cups from that sort of range.
:44:36. > :44:49.That was risky, it just bounced up. It looks like that will be Ghana's
:44:50. > :44:55.best chance so far. USA, no space in between the lines. They are getting
:44:56. > :45:01.the ball across into the scum that is the best way. Here comes another
:45:02. > :45:08.one, not the best. So frustrating, that, when you hit the first man.
:45:09. > :45:14.You work hard to get the corner. Joe Biden is here this evening.
:45:15. > :45:20.Presumably, there are some other business to do in Brazil as well. We
:45:21. > :45:25.are told that Leonardo DiCaprio and Katy Perry at in attendance, too. I
:45:26. > :46:07.suppose the camera will work hard to find them. Especially the latter.
:46:08. > :46:12.The USA look moderately threatening when they go forward. They need to
:46:13. > :46:21.quicken it up, get those passes going, get the runners in. Look how
:46:22. > :46:46.condensed it is, so tight. Goalkick, USA. I think the referee
:46:47. > :46:55.played good advantage there. A little curl to the top corner. I
:46:56. > :47:02.think you could go for the foul. It is a foul from Beckerman. He has had
:47:03. > :47:11.a few, I am surprised he has not been in the book yet. When you play
:47:12. > :47:16.against Beckerman and Jones, you are going to get tackled. Jones in
:47:17. > :47:20.particular wants to make his mark. He played for Blackburn in a hard
:47:21. > :47:25.season spell. Did you play against him? No, I didn't. Disappointed for
:47:26. > :47:43.Blackburn. Beckerman this time, the card is
:47:44. > :48:00.straight out of the pocket. Ayew has to go over and receive his
:48:01. > :48:21.punishment. I think it is a bit harsh, there, he
:48:22. > :48:23.has eyes for the ball. His Beckerman has got away with one or two
:48:24. > :48:41.challenges already. A USA free kick. They are trying to
:48:42. > :48:47.do things more quickly now, Ghana. They need to. Their set pieces and
:48:48. > :48:54.crosses have been poor. They haven't created anything yet. Against a
:48:55. > :48:55.discipline, well-organised USA side. Not the greatest side I've ever
:48:56. > :49:33.seen, have a go at them. The USA noise is starting to build
:49:34. > :49:38.around the stadium. Just sensing that Ghana are having an awful lot
:49:39. > :49:46.more of the position at this stage. -- possession. They are, but they're
:49:47. > :49:51.not doing much with it. The only chance they get is when they get it
:49:52. > :50:03.out wide. Howard had to beat away the shot! Asamoah Gyan, with his
:50:04. > :50:08.first chance to really let fly. Decent save. Great strike. You
:50:09. > :50:15.should say that. He pushed it away into a good area, away from danger.
:50:16. > :50:26.But if you let that in, you shouldn't be a goalkeeper.
:50:27. > :50:32.Clint Dempsey is down, I can see why. Just checking that the bones
:50:33. > :50:45.are all in the right place still. Not sure they will be. It's the,
:50:46. > :50:55.isn't it? -- boot. An intentional boot there. He is off-balance, John
:50:56. > :51:05.Boye. That has got to be dangerous play. It's not his elbow, it's his
:51:06. > :51:10.boot. That's going to be painful. Once upon a time he would have
:51:11. > :51:17.fallen down. I don't like to see that, Klinsmann signalling an elbow
:51:18. > :51:22.when they're clearly wasn't. They have lost Altidore, will they now
:51:23. > :51:32.lose Dempsey or will this be temporary? I think they will miss
:51:33. > :51:39.him. You don't want to see that again, especially if you're having
:51:40. > :51:42.your late-night cocoa. Going back to Altidore, I think they will miss
:51:43. > :51:49.him, running the channels, his pace, his power. An unfortunate hamstring
:51:50. > :51:56.injury. I think Clint Dempsey will be OK, be a bit painful, couple of
:51:57. > :51:58.black eyes in the morning. Seems to be a couple of cotton wool buds
:51:59. > :52:13.going in there. Dempsey still has that warrior look
:52:14. > :52:17.about him. I think it will take more than that to make him leave the
:52:18. > :52:18.action, to be honest. The USA doctors, just checking nothing is
:52:19. > :52:25.broken. The man who gave the USA the lead
:52:26. > :52:40.just 31 seconds into the match. Here is the goal again. Yes. Poor
:52:41. > :52:49.defending, it came from throwing. He is to stroll through, great bit of
:52:50. > :52:52.skill, it's good finishing on his left foot, most people would have
:52:53. > :53:03.bent it in with his right foot, but to hit it the way he did, not much
:53:04. > :53:08.space to a map, great finish. The USA will play on with ten for now.
:53:09. > :53:18.Ten minutes of the first half remaining.
:53:19. > :53:29.DaMarcus Beasley couldn't quite gather it. Back he comes.
:53:30. > :53:41.Johnson is making some great runs down the right-hand side for the
:53:42. > :53:43.USA. I want more from Asamoah. We haven't seen him getting forward
:53:44. > :53:46.yet, it is one of his great strengths. We haven't seen much of
:53:47. > :54:26.Andre Ayew, either. He got the better Jonathan Mensah.
:54:27. > :54:29.The USA are closing down in numbers. There are three of them, going to
:54:30. > :54:33.close the ball down, great work ethic, disciplined. Doing
:54:34. > :54:51.exceptionally well so far. Ghana in terms of -- with more in
:54:52. > :54:52.terms of possession, but only once to statistic matters, and that is
:54:53. > :55:10.the USA goal. Another panicky first-time clearance
:55:11. > :55:29.from Kwarasey. You got it wrong, he had options
:55:30. > :55:51.right, left and sensual. The manager is not happy whatsoever.
:55:52. > :56:00.Cleared by Cameron to great cheers from the US public.
:56:01. > :56:06.Nothing happening for Ghana down that far side. Hopeful balls into
:56:07. > :56:22.the box. Another hopeful one, it was met by
:56:23. > :56:33.the man at the front of the queue, Asamoah Gyan. They are creating that
:56:34. > :56:36.much at all, it's all hopeful. I think the USA will be so happy with
:56:37. > :56:44.the way the game has gone at the minute. It has not been a great game
:56:45. > :56:48.to watch, not many chances. But Ghana realise that if they lose
:56:49. > :56:54.this, with Germany and Portugal to come, they are out of the
:56:55. > :56:58.competition. On Saturday, they face Germany, up the coast in Fortaleza.
:56:59. > :57:21.We have already seen the strength of the German side today.
:57:22. > :57:27.I also think we have seen some bad refereeing decisions so far in this
:57:28. > :57:32.World Cup, yes, we have seen lots of goals, but some terrible refereeing
:57:33. > :57:42.decisions already. I get the feeling you think this
:57:43. > :57:53.referee has been too strict on some of the 50-50s.
:57:54. > :57:59.They missed the pace of Altidore. His physical presence there, he
:58:00. > :58:01.would have run after it, but Johansson hasn't got the pace so
:58:02. > :59:35.they will miss Altidore. He did well to keep it in. Had to be
:59:36. > :59:44.a heck of a cross, with four against two in the USA's favour. Busting a
:59:45. > :59:52.gut to get in there, and then Atsu fires the ball over everybody, not
:59:53. > :59:59.very good at all. A terrible challenge initially from Asamoah,
:00:00. > :00:01.that was a clean strike, though. That right-hand side for the USA,
:00:02. > :00:08.Ghana got sorted out. Clint Dempsey, starting to look a
:00:09. > :01:13.little dizzy. predictive. Cameron and easily at
:01:14. > :01:20.the back, balls into the box, they can deal with it. Muntari needs to
:01:21. > :01:24.start dictating the speed of play. They need somebody in between the
:01:25. > :01:28.lines. The ball out wide, into the box, the back four of the USA are
:01:29. > :02:07.dealing with absolutely everything. That's a foul and a free kick.
:02:08. > :02:12.Daniel Opare stands and looks on amazed. What a stupid tackle that
:02:13. > :02:37.is. No need whatsoever. Ridiculous. The goalkeeper is under pressure
:02:38. > :02:57.now. Height advantage is with the US, marginally.
:02:58. > :03:10.I think he got it just about right, Kwarasey. He looks relieved. Yes,
:03:11. > :03:18.too much pace on the ball, too much height on it. He made a meal of it.
:03:19. > :03:23.Yes, he did. Five minutes to be added on a primarily when
:03:24. > :03:43.Altidore's hamstring went. I think they were trying a very
:03:44. > :04:15.similar move when Dempsey ran around the back. They watched the Italians.
:04:16. > :04:23.And that is a late challenge, that'll be a free kick. And there is
:04:24. > :04:29.a wrestling match owing on between Muntari and Jones. Jones is trying
:04:30. > :04:36.to calm it down now. What happened after the foul, if anything? Tell
:04:37. > :04:43.you what, it was a fantastic tackle from Muntari. Full-blooded. He's not
:04:44. > :04:57.happy with something that Jones did. It has ended as it should with a
:04:58. > :05:01.sporting handshake. That is sensible refereeing, of course, this might
:05:02. > :05:08.tell us differently. That is just a foul. I thought it might be. He just
:05:09. > :05:16.stopped himself of grabbing Jones around the neck. It should have been
:05:17. > :05:22.a yellow card, no doubt. I can't believe the referee has let him get
:05:23. > :05:28.away with that. I don't know that Jones deliberately applied his studs
:05:29. > :05:39.to Muntari. Muntari checked himself just in the nick of time. Jermaine
:05:40. > :06:11.Jones did very well. In the France game, we had a similar play.
:06:12. > :06:26.Johannsson wasn't reading it. Unlucky. Bedoya, he was storming
:06:27. > :06:35.around there. But too many straight balls being cut out by this team.
:06:36. > :06:44.Who has caught your eye most of all in the first half, Robbie? The two
:06:45. > :06:57.centre halves of the USA. Defended very well. Cameron, Besler, and
:06:58. > :07:04.Dempsey. The workrate has been fantastic.
:07:05. > :07:15.Ghana corner right at the end of the first half, four minutes of injury
:07:16. > :07:16.time played. Their corners, they are not good. Overhit, too far, they
:07:17. > :07:56.want better than that. What a mess! Quarter mishit! -- what
:07:57. > :08:00.a mishit. The USA just need to keep possession until they hear the
:08:01. > :08:12.half-time missal. -- half-time whistle. This was at the very end of
:08:13. > :08:18.the first half. Beasley, too far forward. Now, he got his head up,
:08:19. > :08:28.but what an awful finish, no conviction. It was Jordan Ayew who
:08:29. > :08:37.scuffed it. So, one goal which came very early, inside the first minute.
:08:38. > :08:41.Clint Dempsey makes the -- Clint Dempsey scores the first goal.
:08:42. > :08:50.What a fascinating clash. How would you evaluate that, Thierry Henry? I
:08:51. > :08:56.think we would have some type of crazy first half, but that wasn't
:08:57. > :09:00.the case. Like we predicted, it is difficult to predict this USA side.
:09:01. > :09:04.They are well organised, they know what they have to do, they force you
:09:05. > :09:10.to play out. Clarence, the one thing you don't want to do against a side
:09:11. > :09:19.like the USA is concede early. Yes. They started with a very aggressive
:09:20. > :09:25.first minute, from both side, but the organisation from the USA is
:09:26. > :09:30.spot-on, they create a lot of space away, and it will be a hard time for
:09:31. > :09:37.Ghana in the second half. He picked up Clint Dempsey, you couldn't have
:09:38. > :09:43.imagined his impact with the fifth fastest goal in World Cup history.
:09:44. > :09:50.He was drifting over to the left, where he likes to be. He is
:09:51. > :09:52.inventive. He did a give and go. Clarence was right, there was a good
:09:53. > :10:05.temper from the kick-off. -- the tempo has been good. He has
:10:06. > :10:11.gone then after the throw in. Clint Dempsey, he's trying to find a
:10:12. > :10:15.pocket. And, then, eventually, he follows this pass. He gets the ball
:10:16. > :10:21.back in, and this is where he comes to life. A little bit of invention,
:10:22. > :10:26.along with poor defending. But to take it with his left foot shows he
:10:27. > :10:32.is confident in front of goal. Each time we watch the USA, he is always
:10:33. > :10:36.the danger man. You can see the joy in his face afterwards. That set the
:10:37. > :10:45.tempo for the rest of the first half. They were just waiting for
:10:46. > :10:53.Ghana to come at them. Super finish, isn't it? It is. I would have done
:10:54. > :11:00.exactly what you say, I would have tried to call it with my right foot.
:11:01. > :11:05.But, in the end, same result! Generally, it was, I cannot fault
:11:06. > :11:09.too. Clarence, you talk about the organisation of the team, and you
:11:10. > :11:16.have some examples of that. It was so obvious how Klinsmann put the
:11:17. > :11:22.German discipline in there. You can see the two lines, there is no
:11:23. > :11:26.possibility for the Ghana players to play in the middle. Every time, they
:11:27. > :11:30.have to take a little bit longer. The only difficulty is, you have to
:11:31. > :11:38.have pressure on the ball, which is why they had to give this pass.
:11:39. > :11:48.Again, two lines. Very short. And the moment the ball goes out, they
:11:49. > :11:54.make pressure. The other side has to have the quality in the players.
:11:55. > :11:59.What Ghana needs to do is create more chances, and to use their best
:12:00. > :12:07.men on the field, which is the number seven, Atsu, because in the
:12:08. > :12:14.middle, here, again, this is a wall, so they have to go to the side and
:12:15. > :12:22.make the run. That is how they will make the best chance. Ghana had...
:12:23. > :12:26.Defending has been lapse. America were getting opportunities, and
:12:27. > :12:32.Altidore had one before he got injured. I would have liked to have
:12:33. > :12:41.seen him stay in the game because of the game stays like this, he would
:12:42. > :12:45.have done well, but he has got injured. You would have fancied him
:12:46. > :12:52.to school there. I don't know why Jones stop us there. Maybe the two
:12:53. > :12:56.guys that actually are going to block Altidore would have thought
:12:57. > :13:06.maybe that he was going to lay it off. He is worried about the players
:13:07. > :13:10.behind him. This is a real shame, Altidore is probably out of the
:13:11. > :13:14.World Cup. You don't want to see that. I'm sure he was looking
:13:15. > :13:20.forward to showing people that he can perform. And not just scoring
:13:21. > :13:25.one goal for Sunderland. But he is out, it's going to be tough.
:13:26. > :13:34.Tough for America, and tough for himself. Yes, indeed. There was an
:13:35. > :13:38.example in the first half, and Thierry Henry is a calm individual,
:13:39. > :13:43.but occasionally you get exhaust rated at people. There is a
:13:44. > :13:45.wonderful example of that. You leapt out of your chair in exile spray
:13:46. > :13:56.should. -- in exasperation. I don't know why they didn't play
:13:57. > :14:04.the guy. I've been in that situation where I say, give me the ball! He
:14:05. > :14:09.didn't score. I will turn to him and say, what were you doing? If your
:14:10. > :14:14.name is Clarence Seedorf, you can put the ball in, and well done.
:14:15. > :14:22.It is about making the right decisions. Especially because the
:14:23. > :14:27.chances are going to be limited. It is going to be a case of breaking
:14:28. > :14:32.away, and having more possession. I would like to see Atsu switch to the
:14:33. > :14:45.other side. He will have some space to get some crosses in. We were
:14:46. > :14:49.talking about something interesting. Playing on the right. Maybe he sees
:14:50. > :15:01.the better game from there. A bit less like sterling against
:15:02. > :15:07.Italy, but he is out there, he's trying his best, with great
:15:08. > :15:14.movement. He doesn't give up, he turns, and can visit, the delivery,
:15:15. > :15:17.you can question it at times... Every cross he made, practically the
:15:18. > :15:35.strikers were making the same run. Could you control the ball there? Do
:15:36. > :15:41.you know somebody who did it? Yes, he is the only guy who could have
:15:42. > :15:47.done it. But Atsu has been brilliant for me. But he needs to work on his
:15:48. > :15:54.delivery. It is quite interesting. We will get some stats now. It says
:15:55. > :15:59.on here 46% of the attacks went down the right-hand side through Atsu.
:16:00. > :16:13.That is what I'm saying. That is modern technology. No
:16:14. > :16:14.expense is spared. The other two teams met earlier today from this
:16:15. > :16:21.group. Two opponents going head-to-head in
:16:22. > :16:30.the searing lunchtime heat. He has been pulled down! Germany
:16:31. > :17:03.have a penalty. Has he caught him in the face? He
:17:04. > :17:08.clearly didn't think so, judging by his reaction. They are squaring up
:17:09. > :17:15.to each other. Straight off! Thomas Muller fell down as if he had been
:17:16. > :17:23.punched in the face, and that was far from the case. And Pepe, with
:17:24. > :17:28.that reaction, he had to go. It is 3-0! Thomas Muller is there. This
:17:29. > :17:43.game is all over already. Thomas Muller has a hat-trick!
:17:44. > :18:08.Germany - comfortable, convincing winners.
:18:09. > :18:12.USA could join them on three points. In the other group, we saw Nigeria
:18:13. > :18:19.play against Iran, it wasn't very entertaining at all.
:18:20. > :19:17.Before that, time for a bit more Brazil.
:19:18. > :19:22.The match takes place in Fortaleza, where Brazil beat Mexico 2-0 on
:19:23. > :19:29.their way to winning the Confederations Cup last year. I
:19:30. > :19:37.understand your microphone is a bit ropey, tin, but we will try. What is
:19:38. > :19:41.the mood like in the host nation was met at June the eve of the
:19:42. > :19:47.competition about my formula of the 3ps, the problems, protests,
:19:48. > :19:50.parties. So far the problems have been minor, protests relatively
:19:51. > :19:57.small and the party keeps getting bigger. This city, delighted to be
:19:58. > :20:04.hosting the national team tomorrow. It seems half of Mexico here as
:20:05. > :20:11.well. Do you think Mexico can offer any threat to Brazil? That win last
:20:12. > :20:15.year was a nervy affair, only sealed in second-half stoppage time. There
:20:16. > :20:19.is no way that the Brazil coach will be taking them lightly. After they
:20:20. > :20:26.won the Confederations Cup, he said he would be more worried -- had been
:20:27. > :20:33.more worried by Mexico then by Spain. It wouldn't be a surprise if
:20:34. > :20:40.Ramires of Chelsea were to come in, a slight tactical week to a fourth
:20:41. > :20:43.33, more protection in the space behind the attacking full-backs --
:20:44. > :21:04.4-3-3. Before the second half, you were
:21:05. > :21:08.outraged about the challenge by Pepe and what was going on with Thomas
:21:09. > :21:17.Muller. Shall we have another look at it? I mean, it's kind of soft,
:21:18. > :21:23.but Pepe comes and touches him with his head. You can argue the fact
:21:24. > :21:30.that maybe the red is a bit too much but you know that if you do what
:21:31. > :21:34.they did, you have to go. Miller is wrong for stitching him up, he has
:21:35. > :21:40.hardly touched him, I hate to see that. Luckily I don't see that very
:21:41. > :21:44.often in our game but what Pepe does is gives the referee a problem. How
:21:45. > :21:51.many times has he done it for Real Madrid? He is a liability. I think
:21:52. > :21:55.it is really unprofessional. He is a player of that status. You work so
:21:56. > :21:59.hard to go to the World Cup and you throw away your biggest chance like
:22:00. > :22:10.that. How would Cristiano Ronaldo feel about this? Everybody, the
:22:11. > :22:16.phones. -- the fans. Ghana to come and do something in this second
:22:17. > :22:22.half. I'm waiting for them to react and score a goal to make it a good
:22:23. > :22:25.game for us to watch. Let's hope you buts in boating. They need more
:22:26. > :22:34.control in midfield, more passing, more controlled. Let's see if it
:22:35. > :22:43.will work. For the Americans, more of the same. Keep those two banks of
:22:44. > :22:47.four, and when they break, break with numbers and if they get a
:22:48. > :22:52.second, I would say that would be game over. We know how hot it is
:22:53. > :22:57.there, the heat and humidity are going to make a huge difference as
:22:58. > :23:02.the game goes on. Can the USA continue to play with tenacity to
:23:03. > :23:08.stop Ghana? Interesting warm up routine, you don't often see that.
:23:09. > :23:15.Incidentally, Barack Obama has put a video message on the White House
:23:16. > :23:21.Facebook page, saying, go Team USA, show the world would we are made of!
:23:22. > :23:31.It just shows you, America are getting behind it. Exactly what I
:23:32. > :23:33.said before. It is good to see that. We can go back and rejoin Robbie
:23:34. > :23:47.Savage and Guy Mowbray. The president has the bug, the vice
:23:48. > :23:52.president is here. Soccer is definitely on the up in the USA,
:23:53. > :23:56.possibly like never before. Looks like it might be a craze that turns
:23:57. > :24:01.into something a bit more than that, this time. They have made a
:24:02. > :24:10.substitution, they have thrown on the German! John Brooks, his dad is
:24:11. > :24:17.a US serviceman. He spent all of his career at Hertha Berlin. He has
:24:18. > :24:23.taken the place of Besler, who has a hamstring injury. Disappointed, he
:24:24. > :24:31.had a good relationship with Cameron in the heart of the defence. The
:24:32. > :24:37.quality of balls into the box from wide areas from Ghana wasn't great.
:24:38. > :24:43.But Kevin-Prince Boateng, I think he's needed that this game, add a
:24:44. > :24:47.bit of creativity in central areas. What they don't need is to lose
:24:48. > :24:48.Asamoah Gyan, and took a couple of kicks their commie he's limping
:24:49. > :25:37.heavily. Tim Howard, great position.
:25:38. > :26:00.Marshalling his defence, very calm back there.
:26:01. > :26:07.Just lacks a little bit of pace, Johansson. That is where they are
:26:08. > :26:08.missing Altidore. Must be devastated, hamstring gone, World
:26:09. > :26:21.Cup over. Talking about the German influence
:26:22. > :26:29.in the USA side, Fabian Johnson, also born in Munich, Jermain Jones,
:26:30. > :26:32.who played three times for Germany, Tim Chandler on the bench is another
:26:33. > :26:41.one, spent all of his life in Germany.
:26:42. > :26:49.Asamoah Gyan is forced to bundle that one out of play. There is
:26:50. > :26:57.another link as well, Klinsmann's special adviser on his team is one
:26:58. > :27:04.Berti Vogts. The USA fans were watching the earlier game as well,
:27:05. > :27:06.hardly getting behind Germany will stop -- heartedly getting behind
:27:07. > :27:20.Germany. I have been very impressed with
:27:21. > :27:26.Beckerman. He has interchanged with Bradley, they have both wanted the
:27:27. > :27:32.ball, they have looked to play forward. Unless you watch the MLS
:27:33. > :27:36.regularly, you might not know much about Beckerman, he has spent his
:27:37. > :27:46.entire career in the domestic league. You can't mistake. Great
:27:47. > :28:19.hair! When you going to do that? You are the only one of us who can.
:28:20. > :28:22.There seems to be a little bit of extra effort put into that from
:28:23. > :29:27.Daniel Opare. Brooks thought he was fouled, the
:29:28. > :29:36.whistle did go. You can hear what the Ghanaian fans think of that. It
:29:37. > :29:39.was a mistake by Brooks initially. He has just come on. He then showed
:29:40. > :29:47.great strength. Possibly a bit harsh. The referee decided in favour
:29:48. > :29:54.of Brooks. This is his fifth cap coming is only 21. Left out of the
:29:55. > :30:01.Hertha Berlin side in April after having a large factor too, had to
:30:02. > :30:07.avoid contact and perspiration for a week and he had a game that weekend.
:30:08. > :30:09.The USA do take the award of the most heavily tattooed squad at the
:30:10. > :30:21.World Cup. I once had a tad too, it was
:30:22. > :30:48.absolutely horrendous. I had it removed. -- I once had a tattoo.
:30:49. > :30:51.Ghana, spending almost all the second half in the USA half. They
:30:52. > :31:05.going to create something? They keep getting the ball to Atsu,
:31:06. > :31:10.in one-on-one situations, but his end product is not good enough.
:31:11. > :31:15.Great in the build-up, but his decision-making is wrong. There is a
:31:16. > :31:24.shot from outside the box on his left foot,
:31:25. > :31:31.22-year-old who will want to have a future with Chelsea come he is their
:31:32. > :31:36.player officially. He says he wants to have another year with Vitesse
:31:37. > :31:51.Arnhem in the Dutch league first. He did well for them last season.
:31:52. > :31:55.Beckerman knew exactly where he was, he took to Ghanaian players out of
:31:56. > :32:19.the equation. As soon as they lose the ball, they
:32:20. > :32:39.go back into that shape, two banks of four.
:32:40. > :32:51.Grain the game is crying out for Kevin-Prince Boateng. When is he
:32:52. > :32:54.going to introduce him? The only players going through any stretches
:32:55. > :33:45.are the USA substitutes at the moment.
:33:46. > :33:52.Howard pulled his arms away, he knew it was going wide. But Ghana are
:33:53. > :34:01.looking like they will be a force in this game before the game is done.
:34:02. > :34:11.That was a speculative effort. Tim Howard had it covered. The US will
:34:12. > :34:19.mind if Ghana are forced to shoot from there, but it only needs one.
:34:20. > :34:25.Ghana are much more positive, and that was a good ball. Asamoah Gyan
:34:26. > :34:33.just couldn't hang in the air long enough to finish. A bit of
:34:34. > :34:38.uncertainty now. They are missing Beasley. He performed very well
:34:39. > :34:46.first half. No communication. First-time ball in the box, Asamoah
:34:47. > :34:54.Gyan has got to do better. All of a sudden, it is a nervous looking USA.
:34:55. > :35:03.Ghana will try to seize on that. They will feed on it. Asamoah Gyan,
:35:04. > :35:39.will we see him start to go forward more?
:35:40. > :35:47.Johnson felt he was being impeded, but the free kick has gone to
:35:48. > :35:54.Ghana, hence his reaction. Jonathan Mensah gets the decision. It is a
:35:55. > :36:34.very harsh free kick. Asamoah Gyan, that was better. But
:36:35. > :36:42.it needed to go in. Fantastic save. USA can't get onto the ball. I think
:36:43. > :36:55.the ball was going wide. Tim Howard had to go for it. Here is your man,
:36:56. > :37:00.Robbie. A great time to introduce Boateng into the game. Get on the
:37:01. > :37:13.ball, make things happen. He has great feet to. Kevin-Prince
:37:14. > :37:22.Boateng, formerly of Tottenham 's Portsmouth -- Tottenham and
:37:23. > :37:23.Portsmouth. What an awful corner. This set piece taking has been
:37:24. > :37:42.diabolical. The USA cannot get out for any of
:37:43. > :37:46.long periods. Tim Howard has taken charge again. He has been
:37:47. > :37:53.magnificent tonight. Not a lot to do, but everything he has done has
:37:54. > :37:57.been spot on. Boateng is going to a forward edition. They are going to
:37:58. > :38:23.four 4-2 position. Now that it is a quick game, it is
:38:24. > :38:29.suiting Ghana. Yes, space and gaps are opening. Much more controlled
:38:30. > :38:33.play, Ghana. They are starting to believe in themselves more. It was
:38:34. > :38:40.going wide, but Tim Howard couldn't take that chance.
:38:41. > :38:50.Asamoah Gyan, chances for him developing. He will take one
:38:51. > :38:55.eventually. He's used to taking goals -- scoring goals. Asamoah
:38:56. > :38:58.Gyan, he moved from Sunderland. That was an upset. He played well in the
:38:59. > :39:16.league. Tim Howard with the goalkick. USA
:39:17. > :39:26.fans have sensed that their side needs a little bit more support now.
:39:27. > :39:28.1-0, but the USA are hanging on a little bit more. They are on the
:39:29. > :39:45.back foot. Johannsson hasn't got the pace. They
:39:46. > :39:57.are missing Altidore. They don't have that outlet. That was
:39:58. > :40:07.miscommunication from Brooks for the Asamoah Gyan chance.
:40:08. > :40:15.Expect a little bit more dynamism and flicks and tricks from Ghana now
:40:16. > :40:24.that Boateng is on the pitch. Here he goes.
:40:25. > :40:31.Not far away, but Tim Howard knew where he was going. Again, the wrong
:40:32. > :40:38.decision. Other players have acres of space. He was trying to get it in
:40:39. > :40:49.the top corner. He is raw, isn't he? Yes, but he makes the wrong
:40:50. > :40:55.choices. Free kick for the USA. They can't afford another injury, but it
:40:56. > :41:09.looks like they might have got one. Johnson is the player that is hurt.
:41:10. > :41:21.There are a lot of tattoos in the USA side. That is a foul, nothing
:41:22. > :41:47.more than that. Johnson has done well, he has done some good runs.
:41:48. > :41:58.They have been strong in the midfield area. Jones coming in from
:41:59. > :42:11.that side. And it was a decent save. Asamoah Gyan, it was blocked. It was
:42:12. > :42:18.such an important block. Boateng Mackie has created a spark. Drums
:42:19. > :42:26.being banged. They've got to take one of those chances. The Stoke City
:42:27. > :42:36.man has been excellent. They've got to continue to be. That is miles
:42:37. > :42:42.from the target. Take a touch, bring it down to your right side. It was a
:42:43. > :42:44.good ball to the back post. Just take a touch, you've got space. But
:42:45. > :43:02.he has created a buzz. Tim Howard is marshalling fatback
:43:03. > :43:04.four, trying to keep them in check and reduce the number of shots that
:43:05. > :43:18.are coming into his goal. Another one for the USA might
:43:19. > :43:23.relieve their tensions but only Ghana look like they're going to
:43:24. > :43:31.score. What a difference Boateng is making! Boast of Jones' game has
:43:32. > :43:36.been so discipline tonight, but he was too eager. They are creating
:43:37. > :43:46.positions in between the lines. Great skill by Boateng. Asamoah Gyan
:43:47. > :43:56.is lining up for the shot-mac. -- for the shot. It looked an easy
:43:57. > :43:57.save, but I bet it wasn't so simple. They just need to keep their heads.
:43:58. > :44:30.The USA needs to stay disciplined. They are switching play. Atsu come
:44:31. > :44:38.when he gets the ball, he has to be better with it. That's nice to see
:44:39. > :45:18.between Klinsmann and Essien. The whistle has gone. The ball was
:45:19. > :45:22.out for a Ghana throw. Bradley, making some great runs. But he
:45:23. > :45:29.doesn't need to. Stay in your position, stay disciplined. Your
:45:30. > :45:32.team is coming under pressure. As a midfielder, is the someone you're
:45:33. > :45:38.particularly looking at? I must admit, he's not caught my eye. He's
:45:39. > :45:45.been making some great runs. But he doesn't need to. He needs to stay in
:45:46. > :45:50.his position. Stay next to Beckerman because he doing well there. With
:45:51. > :45:52.Boateng now on, he's going to pop into the spaces behind them. So they
:45:53. > :46:16.need to take care of him. Adam Kwarasey needs Boateng to come
:46:17. > :46:22.and get this. Surely not. Given it again, he wouldn't have done that.
:46:23. > :46:24.That is what is frustrating. Sometimes people with immense talent
:46:25. > :46:34.they can look brilliant, but sometimes they try things... On that
:46:35. > :46:40.occasion, no need at all. But long made players try this otherwise we
:46:41. > :46:45.wouldn't see goals like Robin van Persie scored the other day. What a
:46:46. > :46:48.header that was! I've never seen a goal like that. It's just the way he
:46:49. > :47:11.looked before the ball came to him. Good defending. He didn't dive in
:47:12. > :47:15.until the right opportunity. Cameron is coming up for it, Brooks has also
:47:16. > :47:43.made his way forward. Everybody missed it. The keeper was
:47:44. > :47:52.all over the place. Great delivery. There, he has completely missed the
:47:53. > :48:37.ball. Good job for him that he didn't rebound off Asamoah.
:48:38. > :48:41.Playing the sort of passes we didn't see from any Ghana play until his
:48:42. > :49:17.introduction, Boateng. Good tackle from Jones, it is a goal
:49:18. > :49:22.kick. Brilliant defending from Jones they are on the left-hand side.
:49:23. > :49:29.Didn't let the quick play get past him. Used all his experience.
:49:30. > :49:36.Talking of which, Michael Essien is going to come on for Ghana, straight
:49:37. > :49:42.swap in midfield with Rabiu. Essien missed the last World Cup with a
:49:43. > :49:47.knee injury, he played three games in 2006. He returned to the national
:49:48. > :49:56.team in September after a three-year break. The former Chelsea man, now
:49:57. > :50:02.of Milan. He will try and a Ghana in their efforts, such an important
:50:03. > :50:09.game, with Germany and Portugal the next two fixtures for this side. His
:50:10. > :50:15.introduction, it might let Muntari push on a little bit. Maybe he can
:50:16. > :50:58.have more influence going forward. That was well timed by Beckerman, he
:50:59. > :51:25.wasn't budging. It will be a USA free kick. You just
:51:26. > :51:29.wonder if the coach of Ghana is maybe inside just ruing his decision
:51:30. > :51:41.not to put Essien and Boateng in his starting line-up tonight. We have
:51:42. > :51:46.seen the influence that Boateng has. He can run at the defensive pair of
:51:47. > :52:24.Brooks and Cameron, with Gyan making runs off him.
:52:25. > :52:36.Met by a well timed Bedoya tackle, but it will be a Ghana corner.
:52:37. > :52:44.The delivery, not of the desired quality, though. Ghana still have
:52:45. > :52:50.plenty of time. In those years at Chelsea, he was
:52:51. > :53:13.unplayable at times. Every chance the USA get to run the
:53:14. > :53:17.clock down a little bit more, they will do it. They are going to put
:53:18. > :53:24.Graham Zusi on here, the Sporting Kansas City winner. He has proved to
:53:25. > :53:28.be a very effective player since making his debut couple of years
:53:29. > :53:30.ago. He had a trial with West Ham last summer but it didn't lead to
:53:31. > :53:57.any move. He has been terrific down there,
:53:58. > :54:06.Cameron. A few players are going down with cramp now. I think it was
:54:07. > :54:14.likely that Graham Zusi was coming on for Bedoya.
:54:15. > :54:18.It was a good ball in for once! It seems to catch Andre Ayew by
:54:19. > :54:40.surprise. He has become more of a threat now,
:54:41. > :55:03.Asamoah. Gyan just couldn't get on the end of it, missed opportunity.
:55:04. > :55:12.Beckerman always seems to be there. The humidity is now starting to
:55:13. > :55:16.affect some of these USA players. Here we go. Bedoya is getting the
:55:17. > :55:24.hook. He is from Florida, Graham Zusi, he
:55:25. > :55:41.will be used to these conditions. It is important he fills in and does
:55:42. > :55:46.exactly the same. You can tell how popular he is. A change for Ghana as
:55:47. > :55:54.well, on will come the Middlesbrough player, Albert Adomah. He has been a
:55:55. > :55:59.squad regular over the last couple of years. He scored a dozen goals
:56:00. > :56:04.for Middlesbrough last season, there is a feeling in Ghana that he is
:56:05. > :56:11.perhaps a bit underappreciated in his country for the work that he
:56:12. > :56:16.does. He could change all that if he does something significant in the
:56:17. > :56:22.next few minutes. He has done well, worked hard, Atsu, but made the
:56:23. > :56:25.wrong choices at times. They are going to have to see at the game
:56:26. > :56:26.with the players they have on the field now, they have both made all
:56:27. > :56:49.their changes. It's too early to say that the US
:56:50. > :56:57.have managed to see Ghana. They just haven't been close to extending
:56:58. > :57:01.their lead in the second half. I think they have missed Altidore, his
:57:02. > :57:09.big, physical presence of day, his willingness to run the channels.
:57:10. > :57:58.Straight into the hands of Kwarasey. Looked as though there was going to
:57:59. > :58:00.be the best chance the USA have had for ages to make it 2-0 but it never
:58:01. > :58:11.really opened up will he wrote a challenge, and from just
:58:12. > :58:14.outside the area, couldn't get any power into his shot full stop in
:58:15. > :58:35.macro he wrote the challenge. He has given a free kick. He seemed
:58:36. > :58:40.to leave a pretty late before making that call.
:58:41. > :58:44.It's not a free kick. He has won the ball they are, Opare. Stayed on his
:58:45. > :59:13.feet. We talked about the conditions in
:59:14. > :59:16.Manaus, but the temperature is actually the same here tonight. And
:59:17. > :59:21.the humidity is a little bit thicker. So no wonder if players are
:59:22. > :59:27.starting to tire and cramp up a little. A lot of tired players out
:59:28. > :59:32.there. We saw Beckerman in the last attack, not committing too many men
:59:33. > :59:36.forward now, they don't need to. The onus is on Ghana to go and get that
:59:37. > :00:08.equaliser. On first impressions, too early to
:00:09. > :00:12.say after one game but it doesn't look to be a Ghanaian side with the
:00:13. > :00:19.same punch and star quality that we saw in South Africa four years ago.
:00:20. > :00:27.Quite laboured at times. Boateng should have started, gets in good
:00:28. > :00:32.areas. You have to fancy Portugal and Germany to go through. If
:00:33. > :00:37.Portugal can recover from the mental blow they had today. At least they
:00:38. > :00:44.won't have a play around to get in the way! -- won't have Pepe around.
:00:45. > :01:01.1-1! Brilliantly finished by Ayew! Ghana 's persistence pays off.
:01:02. > :01:05.Finally the US have been smashed open, and you wonder what lies in
:01:06. > :01:14.wait for them in the rest of this game. Brooks just switched off, the
:01:15. > :01:18.centre-half. The ball in between the lines, fantastic backheel, they just
:01:19. > :01:27.couldn't get out". Wonderful finish. Could Tim Howard stay up a
:01:28. > :01:34.bit longer? Does he need to go to ground? It is the first time they
:01:35. > :01:36.have got in. Can Tim Howard do better? His weight is on the wrong
:01:37. > :01:43.foot. Now we see a really interesting end
:01:44. > :01:52.to the game. That will really lift the Ghanaians,
:01:53. > :02:07.on and off the field. What a brilliant backheel it was to
:02:08. > :02:46.set up that equalising goal. ball, and Brooks couldn't close the
:02:47. > :02:54.ball down. They are still playing so far up the field. And they are open
:02:55. > :03:00.again. And it is Beckerman having to do the job of two or three. Johnson
:03:01. > :03:01.needs to stay in that right back position. Otherwise they are going
:03:02. > :03:14.to get beaten. You tell them! I think he has got the message. I
:03:15. > :03:32.was getting a bit carried away. I don't blame you.
:03:33. > :03:36.One of these games that we can describe as a slow burner. My
:03:37. > :03:45.goodness, it has come to life now. They have been going for about six
:03:46. > :04:17.hours. Fantastic support. Out it goes for a corner. He has
:04:18. > :04:24.forced that by pure endeavour. They believe they can get the winner, the
:04:25. > :04:25.USA. He's shown great tenacity and energy, but it is a corner, no doubt
:04:26. > :04:53.about it to. -- no doubt about it. It is in! John Brooks has headed it
:04:54. > :05:06.in for the USA! The biggest man on the field! Big heart shown.
:05:07. > :05:20.The Stars and Stripes are waving for his first goal for the United
:05:21. > :05:27.States. 2-1 to the USA. The tenacity of Johnson. The writeback took the
:05:28. > :05:36.corner, and Brooks cannot believe it! He got into space. And past the
:05:37. > :05:48.goalie. He can't believe it! He looks like he has got the winner. He
:05:49. > :05:52.met it is beautifully. Big harks for Klinsmann. Has the winning goal
:05:53. > :06:18.being scored by a player who wasn't born in the USA?
:06:19. > :06:25.Jones and Beckerman, they've gone through so many tackles. I was
:06:26. > :06:32.hammering him a few minutes before. He has won the corner, putting the
:06:33. > :06:45.corner, Brooks has got the goal. Fantastic.
:06:46. > :07:06.Muntari will take it. Ghana were level for two seconds short of four
:07:07. > :07:21.minutes. Mensah went for the spectacular. It
:07:22. > :07:26.looks as though the USA have had the Hollywood ending. Yes. Great
:07:27. > :07:40.character. To come back and get the winner.
:07:41. > :07:48.Essien appealing for handball, but no question of a handball. And there
:07:49. > :08:03.is the overhead kick by Mensah. Never going to score from there.
:08:04. > :08:09.Football really is on the rise in the USA, at long last. And it is in
:08:10. > :08:33.good hands. He is senselessly bundled over,
:08:34. > :08:44.drones. Calm, calculated play from Jones. Let's get a free -- a free
:08:45. > :08:53.kick from my team, let's get the job done.
:08:54. > :09:02.There have been some famous wins for the USA at the World Cup. The most
:09:03. > :09:08.recent one was back in 2002, 3-2 against Portugal when they were 3-0
:09:09. > :09:14.up at first half. And in 1950 against England. The way this has
:09:15. > :09:26.been won, if it is won, with five minutes added on, we'll put this one
:09:27. > :09:29.down in the annals, too. There are plenty of United States supporters
:09:30. > :09:40.to see it. They have travelled in huge numbers. Also, losing your
:09:41. > :09:46.centre-half, Altidore, in the opening minutes, great character
:09:47. > :09:53.from this USA side. Four more minutes of it to show.
:09:54. > :10:03.Muntari went crunching into Dempsey. Free. Anything more? It looks like a
:10:04. > :10:10.yellow card. Remember that flash point with Jones earlier in the game
:10:11. > :10:15.when he just about stopped himself? Yes. I thought he should have been
:10:16. > :10:19.booked in the first half on the tackle on Jones. He got away with
:10:20. > :10:29.it. You can pull faces all you like, it is a yellow card. Reckless.
:10:30. > :10:48.He is never getting that. Never. He got that as quick as he could.
:10:49. > :11:24.Johannsson felt he was hacked to the floor.
:11:25. > :11:40.Beckerman, he is all over the pitch. Cameron, Dempsey.
:11:41. > :11:51.That is over the bar by some distance. Very poor. Here is the
:11:52. > :12:00.goal. Very poor marking. Free header.
:12:01. > :12:14.A gap as wide as the misery. -- the Missouri. Or should that be the
:12:15. > :12:21.Mississippi? 2-1, three minutes of injury time played.
:12:22. > :12:27.Ghana might just fashion one last chance before the game is done.
:12:28. > :12:29.They've done all they can to get back into the game, as they
:12:30. > :12:57.eventually did in this second half. He has been magnificent. He is
:12:58. > :13:33.absolutely shattered! He put it to close to the Ghana
:13:34. > :13:46.team. Take the ball into the corner, Bradley!
:13:47. > :13:54.The USA just have to keep the ball and they win the game.
:13:55. > :14:05.He doesn't have to run any more. The United States of America win their
:14:06. > :14:17.opening game of the 2014 World Cup. It is joy for Jurgen Klinsmann, all
:14:18. > :14:20.of his coaching staff, everybody. Appiah is dejected. They got back
:14:21. > :14:27.into the game, they gave all they could, but they were caught out. The
:14:28. > :14:38.Americans substitute, John Brooks, rising high in the Ghana penalty
:14:39. > :14:45.area to become the star. What a game. It built and built after a
:14:46. > :14:53.slow start. It is Ghana who win -- it is USA who win. They join Germany
:14:54. > :14:55.who also won on the opening day. What a night it will be for the USA
:14:56. > :15:02.fans. 2-1 to the USA. What about that? Didn't that get
:15:03. > :15:23.exciting? Germany and the USA are well placed,
:15:24. > :15:27.but it is early days. Tremendously exciting, Thierry Henry. You play
:15:28. > :15:29.your football in America, but this is the sort of thing that might get
:15:30. > :15:41.them into football. Yes. I want to comment on one of the
:15:42. > :15:51.moments. You can score some goals in friendly games, but the reaction of
:15:52. > :15:58.Brooks was priceless. Great emotion, great and important goals, there's
:15:59. > :16:02.nothing quite like it. I enjoyed it. It was all Ghana second half. But
:16:03. > :16:06.you see how mentality is so important.
:16:07. > :16:16.They kept their belief until the end. In the corner kick is... He
:16:17. > :16:24.can't believe it himself! That is the beauty. Enjoy that. I got goose
:16:25. > :16:30.bumps watching that. This is what it is about. He has come onto the
:16:31. > :16:36.pitch, as a substitute, you has come off as a hero. At that point, Ghana
:16:37. > :16:43.were the winners. The USA were happy to get the corner. Let's give some
:16:44. > :16:47.bonus to Klinsmann. He made some substitutions that definitely helped
:16:48. > :16:53.the team. Great delivery from Zusi. He is a great player.
:16:54. > :17:01.Great header, but what a delivery. Remarkably, it looked like if there
:17:02. > :17:09.was going to be a winner, it would have been Ghana. They were putting
:17:10. > :17:14.pressure on. I mean, it was a very well worked goal.
:17:15. > :17:21.What they did after they scored, they kept pressing and they looked
:17:22. > :17:27.like the winners. Thierry Henry, he thinks this is a lucky finish, but I
:17:28. > :17:30.think it is very good. They deserved that. Actually, over the course of
:17:31. > :17:38.the game, especially the second half, they were unlucky to lose.
:17:39. > :17:46.Lucky to finish this? Yes. Only he knows. You think he was trying to
:17:47. > :17:59.get it into the other corner? He cannot hit it with the other foot.
:18:00. > :18:09.It was top, not the back. Let's have another look. Show us what you mean.
:18:10. > :18:19.That's not exactly the surface that you hit the ball with. Also Asamoah
:18:20. > :18:31.played the ball so well. A lot on the outside. I concur! At that
:18:32. > :18:37.stage, Ghana fought to get back into it, but what did they do, switch of?
:18:38. > :18:44.The thing that amazed me was the mentality of the USA. Ghana were
:18:45. > :18:47.better in the second half, they created some chances, not clear
:18:48. > :18:54.chances but they were definitely looking for the win. The USA stayed
:18:55. > :18:58.there. They were focused, helping each other, and I thought they had
:18:59. > :19:03.more physical problems because when they scored the second goal, they
:19:04. > :19:11.were running again, Bradley all of a sudden was making a run of 40 yards.
:19:12. > :19:17.We discussed it for quite awhile, the preparation, you had things
:19:18. > :19:20.about that? Two guys with hamstring problems at the beginning of a
:19:21. > :19:27.tournament, you will question your staff, but they were up for it, they
:19:28. > :19:32.won, but it was also the way that Ghana conceded the corner kick. In
:19:33. > :19:36.this type of game, you just can't do that. Dempsey scored, it seems a
:19:37. > :19:47.lifetime ago, was at this game? ! It was an amazing start and it gave
:19:48. > :19:53.them something to hang onto. This is typical Clinton Dempsey. It is
:19:54. > :19:59.determination, creativity, his desire to score goals. What it did
:20:00. > :20:02.after that was it meant they didn't have to chase the game, they could
:20:03. > :20:08.set back a little bit stop they did it well but they did tire as the
:20:09. > :20:13.game went on. Some people say you can score too early, I don't think
:20:14. > :20:22.so. Maybe that was the problem in the second half, because they were
:20:23. > :20:26.just waiting for something... I will agree with that, I think they scored
:20:27. > :20:35.two early, because they sat back and waited. And then they considered the
:20:36. > :20:41.goal. We can hear from Juergen Klinsmann.
:20:42. > :20:48.Such action Magic win, what were you thinking when Brooks scored? I
:20:49. > :20:55.said, we are going to get some chances still. So we are still in
:20:56. > :20:59.the game after the equaliser, we just need a push. We trained over
:21:00. > :21:06.and over the set pieces, he put it in, well-deserved. What does it say
:21:07. > :21:11.about your team, that they didn't give up and they scored after that
:21:12. > :21:15.equaliser? The US team always has a great spirit and fight until the
:21:16. > :21:22.last second. It was a bit of a shock that Altidore got injured, and also
:21:23. > :21:30.we didn't want to risk Besler in the second half. Do you have any update
:21:31. > :21:39.on Jay-Z Altidore's condition? No, we will later. Was it a great
:21:40. > :21:43.performance? There is undoubtedly stuff we need to improve. We had
:21:44. > :21:50.problems to keep the ball. Just to get a little bit more, simple, into
:21:51. > :21:57.the game, but also because of the merit of Ghana, they are a dam good
:21:58. > :21:59.team. It is what we expected. We got the three points with badly wanted
:22:00. > :22:05.and we can move on. He is very happy, and so he should
:22:06. > :22:19.be! Asamoah Gyan became a real threat in
:22:20. > :22:23.the second half, didn't he? Yes, Ghana were pushing forward,
:22:24. > :22:28.attacking with a lot of players. The moment that Boateng came on the
:22:29. > :22:32.field, it gave them that extra man, the right choices in passing,
:22:33. > :22:40.looking for the spaces, making the run to the side, giving options.
:22:41. > :22:44.Here, the most important player for Ghana, this is the only moment when
:22:45. > :22:51.he didn't make a run, he would have helped Stryker have a bit more
:22:52. > :22:58.time. But I think it is a mentality issue for Ghana. We talked about
:22:59. > :23:05.Atsu, he was influential committee live wasn't always great. No, but
:23:06. > :23:09.you had to admire the commitment and desire. He wasn't always great in
:23:10. > :23:18.terms of delivery, but you can admire somebody when they have great
:23:19. > :23:24.desire. But there, you have to put the ball wide. And they have
:23:25. > :23:30.too-macro chances to do it and I still don't. The right back is
:23:31. > :23:40.crying for it. If you see the guy in the middle, they need that all day
:23:41. > :23:48.long. Show we don't just use pieces of paper, there it is.
:23:49. > :23:54.The USA in good shape now. In this particular group, especially with
:23:55. > :23:59.Portugal getting walloped. It will give them belief going into the
:24:00. > :24:03.Portugal game, and the other thing is Portugal will have to come out
:24:04. > :24:07.and try and win, you would think that with Portugal's firepower they
:24:08. > :24:18.can do better stop, are in big trouble. Yes, the press have to pay
:24:19. > :24:24.the big dogs of the group, -- they both have to. I think Portugal can
:24:25. > :24:28.still manage to go through. I think the loss of today, mentally,
:24:29. > :24:34.psychologically, will be a big hit for Portugal. You don't think
:24:35. > :24:41.Ronaldo is going to try and make it happen? I think America will be
:24:42. > :24:49.confident against Portugal. We can give you an update on the fitness of
:24:50. > :24:54.Luis Suarez. My feeling is very good after the operation, I know the
:24:55. > :25:00.process is OK, every day is different and I think the medical
:25:01. > :25:08.staff, the Uruguay staff, they work very well and they try best to make
:25:09. > :25:19.me fit for this game and I know it is a little risk... Physical... For
:25:20. > :25:25.the second game, I am 100%. His last game was made 11, it is hard to be
:25:26. > :25:28.100% without having played a game. I didn't have to deal with that one
:25:29. > :25:33.but you would like to think he wouldn't be 100% but all he needs is
:25:34. > :25:40.one goal and one great ball. He is a vital player. He is massive. I think
:25:41. > :25:43.he's one player who can come back after a break and hit the ground
:25:44. > :25:49.running, his fitness levels are massive. I think the impact will be
:25:50. > :25:59.even more so on the English players. Good point, worth waiting
:26:00. > :26:01.for. America off to a winning start, or some! Have a nice day!