Muller and Boateng Injuries Only Minor

Two Bayern stars were in the wars during Germany’s hard-fought 2-2 draw with Ghana in Brazil on Saturday evening: Thomas Müller sustained a cut on the face and Jérome Boateng felt a muscle go tight. Müller, the top scorer from the 2010 World Cup and already on three goals in Brazil, suffered the cut above his right eye in an aerial challenge seconds before the end of the Ghana match. The wound was stitched in the dressing room at Estádio Castelão immediately afterwards. “I don’t think it’s too bad,” coach Joachim Löw reported.

‘No risk’ of not facing USA

Boateng completed the first half of the match but remained in the dressing room at half-time. The FCB centre-back felt his left hamstring tighten, but himself sounded the all-clear later on: “We’ll have to wait and see, but I don’t think there’s a risk for the next match,” the 25-year-old said, “it’s nothing particularly serious.” The German FA (DFB) said in a statement that both players were expected to be available for selection against the US in Recife next Thursday.

Boateng Brothers Set for Battle

In a potential head-to-head with his half-brother Kevin-Prince, Bayern star Jérôme Boateng seems likely to move from right-back to centre-half in the Germany team to face Ghana on Saturday. “It’s not far-fetched to imagine Boateng might move to the centre,” commented coach Joachim Löw in the build-up, “[Benedikt] Höwedes will definitely stay out on the left.” Löw is covering for the contingency whereby Mats Hummels fails to recover from a thigh injury in time. Apart from Boateng the Bayern men who started the 4-0 victory over Portugal - Manuel Neuer, Philipp Lahm, Toni Kroos, Mario Götze and Thomas Müller – are likely to make the team again. “There won’t be many changes,” the coach stated.

Kroos: We Need to Maintain Our Focus

The Hofbräuhaus, Munich’s most famous tavern, is not only to be found in the Bavarian capital. There is also one in Fortaleza, the most northerly World Cup venue in Brazil. The Hofbräuhaus do Brasilserves everything to suit German tastes: roast pork, meat platter, pork knuckle, Bratwurst... and they even have an Oktoberfest once a year. Optimum conditions for the Germany squad with its seven FC Bayern pros as they prepare to take on Ghana in their second group match in Fortaleza on Saturday (9 pm CET).

“It will be a completely different game,” declared Manuel Neuer after the brilliant 4-0 opening victory over Portugal that saw Thomas Müller bag a hat-trick. “The first plan was a success. Now we've got to make sure we get through to the last sixteen,” said the three-goal hero. Skipper Philipp Lahm said: “Now it's a matter of taking the cohesion, confidence and joy from the first game and focusing on the next game against Ghana.”

Belgium's Big Brother

Daniel van Buyten often knocks on a few doors in the evening at the Belgium team hotel in Mogi das Cruzes. The FC Bayern veteran is keeping a watchful eye on his many inexperienced team-mates at the World Cup. “I’m like a big brother who talks to the young lads as much as possible,” said the 36-year-old. The exciting young Belgians are widely tipped as potential dark horses for the trophy, “so it could be a long tournament for us, and it’s not good if players carry things with them that might make them anxious,” the FCB centre-back commented.

Van Buyten speaks from experience. He is the only player in the Belgium squad who was also present the last time the Red Devils had a tilt at the biggest prize in football, in Japan and South Korea 12 years ago. “I often found myself sitting alone in my room,” the defensive colossus recalled, “I was nervous and worried.”

In his recently-published biography Big Dan, the model pro remembers: “The flight there was the first time I’d been in a big Boeing. I slept badly. I was very nervous. I didn’t play well and I was worried that my parents and wife would suffer from what was written about me in the Belgian papers. The stress was nearly the end of me.”