<p>Ghana became the first African team to win a World Cup game on African soil when it beat Serbia 1-0 in its Group D opener. Now it can ensure that Germany exits at the group stage for the first time ever.<br /><br />Going into the decisive final round, Ghana leads the group on four points, Germany and Serbia have three and Australia is on one, meaning all four have a chance of progressing and all are at risk of missing out.<br /><br />A win over Ghana would see Germany through, and a draw would be enough for the Germans if Serbia fails to beat Australia.<br /><br />Both sides will be eager to improve on their previous performances: Germany suffered a surprise 1-0 loss to Serbia, while Ghana failed to capitalize on an early red card to the Australians and was held to a 1-1 draw.<br /><br />The Germans remained optimistic despite an unconvincing display against Serbia. Coach Joachim Loew and captain Philipp Lahm have both said Germany will advance "100 percent."<br /><br />"We know our qualities and have no doubt that we'll make it," striker Cacau said Monday.<br /><br />The Brazil-born Cacau is likely to start up front, as Miroslav Klose is suspended after being sent off with two yellow cards against Serbia.<br /><br />"I can see that my teammates have the confidence that we'll win," Cacau said.<br />Central defender Arne Friedrich also exuded confidence.<br /><br />"We all believe we will make it, from coach Loew down. The loss to Serbia was a blow but we still believe we'll go through," Friedrich said.<br /><br />"We are in the kind of situation when we have to prove ourselves and if we get rid of mistakes we made against Serbia, we'll be fine. They have good forwards but if we put pressure on them we'll cause them to make mistakes."<br /><br />Germany has been in similar situations before -- two years ago it needed to beat host Austria in the final group match to advance at the European Championship and it did, then went all the way to the final.<br /><br />But the winning goal against Austria came from captain Michael Ballack, who was forced out of this World Cup by an ankle injury, contributing to Germany having the second youngest team in World Cup history.<br /><br />Kevin-Prince Boateng, the man whose tackle in the English F.A. Cup final took Ballack out of the World Cup, will be on the opposite side tomorrow.</p>
<p>Ghana became the first African team to win a World Cup game on African soil when it beat Serbia 1-0 in its Group D opener. Now it can ensure that Germany exits at the group stage for the first time ever.<br /><br />Going into the decisive final round, Ghana leads the group on four points, Germany and Serbia have three and Australia is on one, meaning all four have a chance of progressing and all are at risk of missing out.<br /><br />A win over Ghana would see Germany through, and a draw would be enough for the Germans if Serbia fails to beat Australia.<br /><br />Both sides will be eager to improve on their previous performances: Germany suffered a surprise 1-0 loss to Serbia, while Ghana failed to capitalize on an early red card to the Australians and was held to a 1-1 draw.<br /><br />The Germans remained optimistic despite an unconvincing display against Serbia. Coach Joachim Loew and captain Philipp Lahm have both said Germany will advance "100 percent."<br /><br />"We know our qualities and have no doubt that we'll make it," striker Cacau said Monday.<br /><br />The Brazil-born Cacau is likely to start up front, as Miroslav Klose is suspended after being sent off with two yellow cards against Serbia.<br /><br />"I can see that my teammates have the confidence that we'll win," Cacau said.<br />Central defender Arne Friedrich also exuded confidence.<br /><br />"We all believe we will make it, from coach Loew down. The loss to Serbia was a blow but we still believe we'll go through," Friedrich said.<br /><br />"We are in the kind of situation when we have to prove ourselves and if we get rid of mistakes we made against Serbia, we'll be fine. They have good forwards but if we put pressure on them we'll cause them to make mistakes."<br /><br />Germany has been in similar situations before -- two years ago it needed to beat host Austria in the final group match to advance at the European Championship and it did, then went all the way to the final.<br /><br />But the winning goal against Austria came from captain Michael Ballack, who was forced out of this World Cup by an ankle injury, contributing to Germany having the second youngest team in World Cup history.<br /><br />Kevin-Prince Boateng, the man whose tackle in the English F.A. Cup final took Ballack out of the World Cup, will be on the opposite side tomorrow.</p>