Up next for U.S. at 2010 World Cup: 2006 World Cup opponents Ghana

i-08fabf7583266211aea59619c699b521-notingbutnetgermghana.jpgNothing but net: A shot by Germany’s Mesut Oezil beat Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson to secure the top spot in Group D (AP Photo).

The game is at 11:30 a.m. Saturday on ABC. Ghana, of course, beat the U.S. 2-1 at the 2006 World Cup to send the Americans home early.

Hot dog! These two happy puppies to the right were among a packed, enthusiastic crowd at Alpine Village near Torrance who watched Germany defeat Ghana 1-0 to win Group D.

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Australia defeated Serbia 2-1 in the other Group D game.

But for Germany, next up is England at 7 a.m. Sunday on ABC. Sounds like German Coach Joachim Low is already looking forward to that one.

It is the fifth World Cup duel between the teams. Those encounters have included such memorable clashes as the 1966 England World Cup win with its disputed winning goal and Germany’s revenge at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico.

But Germany won a penalty shoot-out in Turin to win the 1990 World Cup semi-final on their way to the title. And England missed a penalty at Wembley against Germany in the Euro ’96 semi-final before the Germans won the final.

The overall record between the two teams is England 15 wins, Germany 10, with six draws.

And if England gets past Germany, a potential clash against Diego Maradona’s Argentina awaits.

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