Group A Leads the Way

As Group A completes its opening round, it's the unusual suspects who are making a name for themselves...

Germany Opens with Dutch Drubbing

The group stage would begin as qualifying had ended, with Holland losing to nil. Germany ran riot, scoring four in the first half through Per Mertesacker, Mario Gomez, Thomas Müller, and Lukas Podolski. L. Prüitt then rang the changes following Gomez's injury, swapping the latter two goalscorers for Sidney Sam and Marko Marin, respectively. Mario Gotze then replaced Mesut Ozil following his second assist of the evening.


Former captain, Michael Ballack scored his first group stage goal, and Gotze calmly finished from 17 yards shortly thereafter. Germany never looked properly tested, with Neuer having next to nothing to do the entire match.

England Squeak by Plucky Holland

Cushing's men took no time to dwell upon their thumping defeat in Berlin, but rather put in an inspired display against England, losing by a solitary goal and forcing the Three Lions into panic stations late on.

A man of the match performance from forgotten man, Joe Cole, would be enough to gain Burns the three points. The Liverpool fringe player accounted for all three of England's goals, scoring one and assisting two. Wesley Sneijder would be the thorn in England's side, however, scoring twice and putting Burns under the kosh for the last ten minutes.

Germany Cruise Past Toothless England

It was smooth sailing yet again for Manuel Neuer, as he and his untested squad coasted to another routine win. With Mario Gomez injured, Prüitt called upon veteran Miroslav Klose to start up top in London. The DFA and DFB legend duly delivered, forcing Rob Green's error to force the first and icing the cake with the third goal late on.

A Michael Ballack trademark powerful finish would come sandwiched between Miro's hard work, earning the 'larger than rod' once Speilenführer his second man of the match award of the evening.