Gallery: World Cup - Day 15

Updated / Thursday, 26 Jun 2014 23:07
Day 15 of the World Cup saw the end of the Group stage in Brazil, as four matches decided the final standings of Groups G and H
Day 15 of the World Cup saw the end of the Group stage in Brazil, as four matches decided the final standings of Groups G and H

The best pictures from Day 15 of the World Cup, as the final standings in Groups G and H were decided, with USA v Germany and Portugal v Ghana kicking off at 1700 and Algeria v Russia and South Korea v Belgium at 2100.  

One of the first two matches on the day brought the USA and Germany to rain-soaked Recife, which had experienced heavy flooding in the days leading up to the clash
One of the first two matches on the day brought the USA and Germany to rain-soaked Recife, which had experienced heavy flooding in the days leading up to the clash
The match was obviously fated to be quite a glamorous affair
The match was obviously fated to be quite a glamorous affair
The German team walked onto the pitch, needing a win or a draw to advance to the Round of 16
The German team walked onto the pitch, needing a win or a draw to advance to the Round of 16
Germany coach Joachim Loew and the rest of the side's bench looked on during the opening formalities
Germany coach Joachim Loew and the rest of the side's bench looked on during the opening formalities
As Loew's one-time mentor and boss - former Germany and current USA coach Juergen Klinsmann - did the same
As Loew's one-time mentor and boss - former Germany and current USA coach Juergen Klinsmann - did the same
Germany started off the match dominating possession for the first 25 minutes or so. Midfielder Mesut Ozil created a few chances, but USA forward and captain Clint Dempsey helped his side stand their ground
Germany started off the match dominating possession for the first 25 minutes or so. Midfielder Mesut Ozil created a few chances, but USA forward and captain Clint Dempsey helped his side stand their ground
USA midfielder Jermaine Jones helped the Americans play their way into things, following a silly moment where Jones ran smack into the head referee and, frankly, got flattened
USA midfielder Jermaine Jones helped the Americans play their way into things, following a silly moment where Jones ran smack into the head referee and, frankly, got flattened
The enthusiasm of USA fans was not deterred...
The enthusiasm of USA fans was not deterred...
... even as Germany midfielder and captain Phillipp Lahm continued to threaten DeMarcus Beasley and the entire USA defence
... even as Germany midfielder and captain Phillipp Lahm continued to threaten DeMarcus Beasley and the entire USA defence
The only notable events of the first half came in two yellow cards. Here, USA defender Omar Gonzalez was booked at 37'
The only notable events of the first half came in two yellow cards. Here, USA defender Omar Gonzalez was booked at 37'
Going into half-time, the USA fans looked gloomy at the drab play on the pitch
Going into half-time, the USA fans looked gloomy at the drab play on the pitch
And the Germany fans looked similarly thrilled
And the Germany fans looked similarly thrilled
Meanwhile, Portugal and Ghana - the two bottom teams of Group H -faced off in quite a different environment in sunny Brasília
Meanwhile, Portugal and Ghana - the two bottom teams of Group H -faced off in quite a different environment in sunny Brasília
The Ghana fans banded together to cheer on their controversy-ridden squad
The Ghana fans banded together to cheer on their controversy-ridden squad
While Portugal fans supported Ronaldo and soaked up the sun
While Portugal fans supported Ronaldo and soaked up the sun
Ronaldo himself played with much more presence and intensity than he had previously at this World Cup. Midway through the first, he narrowly missed the goal on a header, which was saved by Ghana keeper Fatawu Dauda
Ronaldo himself played with much more presence and intensity than he had previously at this World Cup. Midway through the first, he narrowly missed the goal on a header, which was saved by Ghana keeper Fatawu Dauda
Ronaldo reacted to his very near chance to give Portugal the lead
Ronaldo reacted to his very near chance to give Portugal the lead
Just a few minutes later, however, Ghana defender John Boye did the job for him, when Boye knocked in a clumsy own goal at 31'
Just a few minutes later, however, Ghana defender John Boye did the job for him, when Boye knocked in a clumsy own goal at 31'
Ronaldo and midfielder Joao Moutinho walked off the pitch into the break, to rest briefly on their 1-0 lead
Ronaldo and midfielder Joao Moutinho walked off the pitch into the break, to rest briefly on their 1-0 lead
To start the second half, fans watching on in Berlin cheered for their side across the sea...
To start the second half, fans watching on in Berlin cheered for their side across the sea...
... which must have worked, as veteran Germany forward Thomas Mueller rocketed one through from the edge of the box at 55'
... which must have worked, as veteran Germany forward Thomas Mueller rocketed one through from the edge of the box at 55'
Mueller celebrated putting his side up 1-0 early in the second and scoring his fourth goal of the tournament
Mueller celebrated putting his side up 1-0 early in the second and scoring his fourth goal of the tournament
Yet, USA fans were still determined to see their side through the Group
Yet, USA fans were still determined to see their side through the Group
And a stalemate followed on the pitch. Veteran German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger made his voice heard next to USA defender Fabian Johnson
And a stalemate followed on the pitch. Veteran German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger made his voice heard next to USA defender Fabian Johnson
Early in the second, Jones and USA midfielder Alejandro Bedoya collided, giving each other a couple bruises and bloody noses
Early in the second, Jones and USA midfielder Alejandro Bedoya collided, giving each other a couple bruises and bloody noses
USA fans contemplated their country's inability to score and the fate they might face
USA fans contemplated their country's inability to score and the fate they might face
But, the Americans held the Germans from scoring again, even though midfielder Toni Kroos and company supplied a constant attack
But, the Americans held the Germans from scoring again, even though midfielder Toni Kroos and company supplied a constant attack
USA President Barack Obama watched on aboard Air Force One
USA President Barack Obama watched on aboard Air Force One
And by the end of it, soggy German fans celebrated their team's 1-0 victory and their topping of Group G
And by the end of it, soggy German fans celebrated their team's 1-0 victory and their topping of Group G
The Americans celebrated as well, though, as their side slid through the Group as runners-up. This marked the first time in US World Cup history, that two successive teams have advanced to the Round of 16
The Americans celebrated as well, though, as their side slid through the Group as runners-up. This marked the first time in US World Cup history, that two successive teams have advanced to the Round of 16
Back at the Estadio Nacional, the sun continued to shine as Portugal and Ghana re-took the field
Back at the Estadio Nacional, the sun continued to shine as Portugal and Ghana re-took the field
Early on, Ghana evened things up, with a slick header from forward Asamoah Gyan that got past Portugal keeper Beto
Early on, Ghana evened things up, with a slick header from forward Asamoah Gyan that got past Portugal keeper Beto
Ronaldo was clearly not pleased at the 57' minute knock that levelled the score
Ronaldo was clearly not pleased at the 57' minute knock that levelled the score
He found his revenge, though, at 80' with a strike that Dauda couldn't save in time
He found his revenge, though, at 80' with a strike that Dauda couldn't save in time
Ronaldo celebrated his only goal of this World Cup and his side's 2-1 victory over Ghana, although Portugal will now head home after finishing third in the Group
Ronaldo celebrated his only goal of this World Cup and his side's 2-1 victory over Ghana, although Portugal will now head home after finishing third in the Group
And in one of the final two matches of this World Cup's Group stage, Algeria and Russia travelled to Curitiba, where Algeria needed a draw to advance and their foes needed a win
And in one of the final two matches of this World Cup's Group stage, Algeria and Russia travelled to Curitiba, where Algeria needed a draw to advance and their foes needed a win
Fans of Algeria were prepared for any sort of weather that came their way
Fans of Algeria were prepared for any sort of weather that came their way
And the Russians brought a... flag. How original lads
And the Russians brought a... flag. How original lads
Russia coach Fabio Capello remained composed during his side's national anthem
Russia coach Fabio Capello remained composed during his side's national anthem
But, the country erupted merely 6' into the match, when phenom forward Alexander Kokorin drove a gorgeous header into the top left corner of the net
But, the country erupted merely 6' into the match, when phenom forward Alexander Kokorin drove a gorgeous header into the top left corner of the net
Algeria keeper Rais M'Bolhi dejectedly retrieved the ball from the back of the net
Algeria keeper Rais M'Bolhi dejectedly retrieved the ball from the back of the net
While Kokorin - known at home as 'The Russian Justin Bieber' - dashed away to celebrated and attempted to quiet the crowd with a single signature 'smoulder'
While Kokorin - known at home as 'The Russian Justin Bieber' - dashed away to celebrated and attempted to quiet the crowd with a single signature 'smoulder'
Algeria fans, meanwhile, were not impressed with their side's early deficit
Algeria fans, meanwhile, were not impressed with their side's early deficit
Eventually, Russia decided to sit back on their lead, which forced keeper Igor Akinfeev to maintain a vigilant guard against Algeria forward Islam Slimani and his fellows
Eventually, Russia decided to sit back on their lead, which forced keeper Igor Akinfeev to maintain a vigilant guard against Algeria forward Islam Slimani and his fellows
The Algerians twisted into all sorts of shapes on their quest to even things. Here, forward Abdelmoumene Djabou became a starfish, let's say
The Algerians twisted into all sorts of shapes on their quest to even things. Here, forward Abdelmoumene Djabou became a starfish, let's say
And midfielder Yacine Brahimi tried his best to ninja the ball through the Russia defence
And midfielder Yacine Brahimi tried his best to ninja the ball through the Russia defence
By the end of the first half, though, Russia fans could celebrate their 1-0 lead, which would send them through to the knockout stages - if it stood
By the end of the first half, though, Russia fans could celebrate their 1-0 lead, which would send them through to the knockout stages - if it stood
At the same time, Group H leaders Belgium met up with South Korea in São Paulo
At the same time, Group H leaders Belgium met up with South Korea in São Paulo
South Korea came out playing for their pride with intensity. Defender Kim Young-Gwon kept close to Belgium midfielder Marouane Fellaini
South Korea came out playing for their pride with intensity. Defender Kim Young-Gwon kept close to Belgium midfielder Marouane Fellaini
And South Korea forward Kim Shin-Wook challenged Belgium defender Daniel Van Buyten
And South Korea forward Kim Shin-Wook challenged Belgium defender Daniel Van Buyten
Belgium's star midfielder Dries Mertens rued a huge miss midway through the first, which he surely should have scored to put his side ahead
Belgium's star midfielder Dries Mertens rued a huge miss midway through the first, which he surely should have scored to put his side ahead
South Korea continued to pressure Belgium throughout, as Shin-Wook continued to fly across the pitch, this time working against defender Nicolas Lombaerts
South Korea continued to pressure Belgium throughout, as Shin-Wook continued to fly across the pitch, this time working against defender Nicolas Lombaerts
The biggest moment of the first half came right at its conclusion, when midfielder Steven Defour was given a straight red card for stepping on the shin of Shin-wook
The biggest moment of the first half came right at its conclusion, when midfielder Steven Defour was given a straight red card for stepping on the shin of Shin-wook
Defour walked off the pitch in silence after the incident
Defour walked off the pitch in silence after the incident
And with that, South Korea fans celebrated holding Belgium to a scoreless draw with half of the match gone. They hoped that the Korean side would come out swinging again in the second
And with that, South Korea fans celebrated holding Belgium to a scoreless draw with half of the match gone. They hoped that the Korean side would come out swinging again in the second
By the time Algeria and Russia were ready to get underway once more, a crowd of Algeria fans had gathered in Paris to watch the match
By the time Algeria and Russia were ready to get underway once more, a crowd of Algeria fans had gathered in Paris to watch the match
Russia seemed threatening at first, with forward Alexander Samedov forcing M'Bolhi to make a quick save
Russia seemed threatening at first, with forward Alexander Samedov forcing M'Bolhi to make a quick save
Yet, Algeria found an equaliser at 60' when Slimani reached incredible heights to head one past Akinfeev
Yet, Algeria found an equaliser at 60' when Slimani reached incredible heights to head one past Akinfeev
Slimani and his team-mates celebrated the score, which brought Algeria level at 1-1
Slimani and his team-mates celebrated the score, which brought Algeria level at 1-1
And, that was all that Algeria needed to secure the draw they needed to advance beyond Group H. Algerian fans in the Arena da Baixada celebrated the 1-1 result
And, that was all that Algeria needed to secure the draw they needed to advance beyond Group H. Algerian fans in the Arena da Baixada celebrated the 1-1 result
Players proudly ran with their flag after the match, which represented Algeria's first trip to a World Cup knockout stage in their history
Players proudly ran with their flag after the match, which represented Algeria's first trip to a World Cup knockout stage in their history
And back in the Arena Corinthians, South Korea and Belgium were ready to finish up their contest
And back in the Arena Corinthians, South Korea and Belgium were ready to finish up their contest
Although defender Yun Suk-Young and South Korea faced a 10-man Belgium side, midfielder Adnan Januzaj and the rest of the Red Devils seemed to take control of the match after the break
Although defender Yun Suk-Young and South Korea faced a 10-man Belgium side, midfielder Adnan Januzaj and the rest of the Red Devils seemed to take control of the match after the break
Belgium forward Divock Origi made a shot on goal later on...
Belgium forward Divock Origi made a shot on goal later on...
But, a goal from defender Jan Vertonghen at 78' was all Belgium needed to pull ahead and claim a 1-0 victory
But, a goal from defender Jan Vertonghen at 78' was all Belgium needed to pull ahead and claim a 1-0 victory
Their 3-0 record through Group H marked the first time Belgium has ever earned 9 points at a World Cup
Their 3-0 record through Group H marked the first time Belgium has ever earned 9 points at a World Cup

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