FIFA World Cup: No talk of dirty deal this time in Germany vs USA clash

Jurgen Klinsmann insists there won't be a repeat of the infamous 'disgrace of Gijon' episode when USA clash with Germany today

Recife: The spectre of one of the most infamous episodes in World Cup history looms over Germany and the United States as they clash for a place in the last 16.

 
Germany's main man Thomas Muller in training. Pic/Getty Images

The two teams each have four points heading into their final Group G match and a draw would see both qualify at the expense of Portugal and Ghana.

The match scenario has evoked memories of a notorious 1982 World Cup game between Austria and West Germany. That match in the Spanish city of Gijon ended in controversy after the two sides effectively conspired to secure a 1-0 victory for the Germans, allowing them to qualify ahead of Algeria.


Jurgen Klinsmann 

FIFA subsequently changed the rules, ordering that all final games in the group phase of the World Cup should kick-off simultaneously. "You're talking about a game that is decades ago," Klinsmann said when asked about the match known as the 'Disgrace of Gijon.'

"That is only a part of Germany's history and not part of the United States' history," he added. "It would be unsportsmanlike to do that and not fair, besides we want to win the game," said German defender Mats Hummels. A draw would see Germany finish on top of Group G.

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