In the aftermath of Team USA's unfortunate 2-2 draw against Portugal in Manaus on Sunday, pundits are left wondering how US coach Jurgen Klinsmann would be ensuring that his team would win over Germany on Thursday considering the opposing team's coach is his friend and former colleague Joachim Low. The Guardian said the two had worked together for Germany in their quest for the 2006 World Cup championship. Germany managed a third place finish that year, with Klinsmann coaching the Germans with Low as the team's assistant coach.
When he was asked about how his next conversation with Low, which would probably be on the field at least in Recife, would be, he said, "There is no time for friendship calls. This is all about business now. There will be no such call."
Klinsmann appeared to be dead serious. No thanks to substitute winger Silvestre Varela's goal at the 95th minute, the Americans were unable to snag an automatic move up the second round of matches of this year's World Cup. The Guardian postulated that the question might have been brought up considering that a draw between the US and Germany on Thursday could secure both teams' progress to the knock-out rounds. The paper said that Germany has a history when it comes to dubious results in the World Cup.
Another journalist asked Klinsmann whether the World Cup would be expecting another "Gijon" on Thursday. The term refers to the West Germany match against Austria at the 1982 tournament in its final group match, wherein the 1-0 victory for the Germans cast rumors of match-fixing.
Klinsmann dismissed the theory and said, "You are talking about a game that happened decades ago," he said. "It is part of German history, not United States history. "If you look at our history, we make things happen. If we didn't, then Mexico wouldn't be at this World Cup (because we beat Panama to help them qualify.) We have that fighting spirit and energy and determination to do well in every single game. So I don't think it will be a game for draws. Both teams will go into the game and want to win the group. We want to go at Germany, win the game, get seven points and be in the drivers' seat for the next round. We could have been through already, but there is a lot of respect for our opponents and in two days from now, we will head to Recife and prepare for that match. I am very confident that we will do well in the game."
