The locals are right. The Europeans are not having it their own way at this World Cup.
Europe’s finest, the Germans of all people, were tested to the limits by a determined, ambitious Ghana here, who matched them goal for goal, strike for strike. This was another upset in what is turning into the World Cup of upended expectation.
It was billed as the Battle of the Brothers, the match between the Boateng siblings. But after a 45 minute phoney war, it only sparked into life when the pair had been substituted around half-time. After Ghana’s Kevin Prince joined his hobbling German brother Jerome on the sidelines, a game which had been steeped in caution exploded. In 20 second half minutes, the teams traded four goals.
The first came on 51 minutes when Mario Götze stooped in on Thomas Müller’s cross to open things for Germany. Then Andre Ayew climbed above the German defence to connect with Harrison Afful’s searching cross and flick a delightful header past Manuel Neuer. Seconds later, Asamoah Gyan, the man prevented by Luis Suarez’s cunning handball from taking his country to the semi-final in South Africa, was not to be denied here. Philipp Lahm, suffering an uncharacteristically faltering game in possession, gave the ball away in midfield.
Striding in to snatch control, Milan’s Sulley Muntari played a brilliant ball through to Gyan who burst on to slam home past Neuer. It was a delightful goal, followed by an uninhibited team shuffle down by the corner flag. For a moment, it promised so much for the Africans. But these were the Germans the Ghanaians were facing. And just two minutes after coming on the pitch, Miroslav Klose equalised, stabbing home Benedict Hoewdes’ flick from a Toni Kroos corner. It was the 36-year-old’s 15th goal at World Cup finals, putting him level with Brazil’s Ronaldo as the most prolific striker of all time.
