2014 FIFA World Cup: Germans Blank Team USA 1-0 As Both Teams Advance To Knockout Stage; Portugal, Ghana Eliminated; Draw With Russia Gains Knockout-Stage Berth For Desert Foxes; Belgium Finish Atop Group H

Four games were played in Brazil on Thursday as group-stage action in the FIFA World Cup concluded.

Group G:

At Recife:

Thomas Muller scored the only goal of the match in the 55th minute as Germany defeated the United States 1-0 to win Group G.  The Americans still advanced to the knockout stage (for the first time in back-to-back World Cups) thanks to superior goal differential vis-a-viv Portugal, who defeated Ghana 2-1.  Team USA's Clint Dempsey and Jermaine Jones salute the fans after the match.

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At Brasilia:

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winning goal in the 80th minute as Portugal defeated Ghana 2-1, thus ruining the West African country's hope of advancing to the knockout stage.  This game turned out to be the tournament swan song for both teams.  John Boye didn't help the Black Stars' cause with his own goal in the 31st minute, shown here.

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FINAL GROUP G STANDINGS:

1. Germany (GP: 3; GD: +5; PTS: 7)
2. United States (GP: 3; GD: 0; PTS: 4)
3. Portugal (GP: 3; GD: -3; PTS: 4)
4. Ghana (GP: 3; GD: -2; PTS: 1)

Germany and the United States advanced to the knockout stage.



Group H:

At Sao Paulo:

Jan Vertonghen scored the only goal of the match in the 78th minute as Belgium locked up top spot in Group H with a 1-0 victory over South Korea as the Taegeuk Warriors wrapped up an awful group-stage period for Asia as all four entries (Iran, Japan, and Australia as well) were eliminated in the group stage.  That's Jan, here, celebrating with fans after his score.
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At Curitiba:

Islam Slimani's equalizer in the 60th minute (that's him celebrating after scoring) lifted Algeria to a 1-1 draw with Russia as the Desert Foxes advanced to the knockout stage. Aleksandr Kokorin scored  in the sixth minute for the Russians, who were eliminated from the tournament.
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FINAL GROUP H STANDINGS:
1. Belgium (GP: 3; GD: +3; PTS: 9)
2. Algeria (GP: 3; GD: +1; PTS: 4)
3. Russia (GP: 3; GD: -1; PTS: 2)
4. South Korea (GP: 3; GD: -3; PTS: 1)

In the Round of 16, this coming Monday will see Germany take on Algeria at Porto Alegre with the United States will tangle with Belgium in Salvador on Tuesday.