No conspiracy: Klinsmann guns for win, not draw

MANAUS—American players still were showering off the sweat from the steamy Amazon night when the first questions about a possible conspiracy were asked:

Would the United States and Germany try to play to a tie Thursday that would ensure World Cup advancement to both nations?

Following Portugal’s 95th-minute goal in a 2-2 draw Sunday, the Americans and Germany both have four points. Portugal and Ghana have one apiece.

A draw on Thursday in Recife would clinch first place in Group G for the Germans, who have a superior goal difference, and second for the US.

Add in that US coach Jurgen Klinsmann helped West Germany win its third World Cup in 1990. And that he coached Germany to third place in the 2006 tournament. And that his top assistant then was Joachim Loew, who is now their homeland’s coach.

It’s more than enough to send the suspicious into overdrive.

“I don’t think that we are made for draws, really, except if it happens like tonight—two late goals, last seconds,” Klinsmann said. “I think both teams... want to win the group.”

Now the US may need a point against Germany to advance. The Americans could clinch with a loss, depending on the result of the Portugal-Ghana game on the same day.

Some thought back to the 1982 World Cup in Spain, where West Germany opened with a 2-1 loss to Algeria and beat Chile, 4-1. Austria beat Algeria, 2-0, then bested Chile 1-0.

When West Germany and Austria played the following day at Gijon’s Estadio El Molinon, a German victory by one or two goals would ensure both teams advanced.

After Germany scored, 1-0, players spent the rest of the night passing to their teammates without threatening the enemy goal. The game became known as the “Nonaggression Pact of Gijon” and “Disgrace of Gijon.”