U.S. Advances To Knockout Stage Despite Loss To Germany

(Recife, Brazil)  --  The U.S. is moving on to the knockout stage of the World Cup despite a 1-nil loss to Germany in its final match of group play.  The Americans finished second in Group G but advance on goal differential.  Thomas Muller scored the lone goal of the match in the 55th minute for the Germans, who win Group G with seven points.  The U.S. and Portugal tied for second with four points each after Portugal beat Ghana 2-1. The Americans advance with a three-match goal differential of zero, while Portugal was minus-three in its three matches.  The U.S. hopes to have striker Jozy Altidore back for the Round of 16.  He's missed the last two matches with a hamstring injury.  Team USA will take on Group H winner Belgium Tuesday at 3 p.m. Central.

FIFA Disciplinary Committee suspended Luis Suarez of Uruguay nine matches following a biting incident that occurred during the World Cup match between Italy and Uruguay on June 24. Suarez was also banned from taking part in any kind of football-related activity for four months. The suspension was handed down Thursday, just two days after the world watched Suarez bite Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini. FIFA launched an investigation, and an independent disciplinary panel confirmed the  punishment ahead of Uruguay's round of 16 meeting with Colombia in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday.

                                      
Midfielders Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Ali Muntari were handed indefinite suspensions by the Ghana Football Association and ordered to leave the World Cup. The GFA announced the news in separate statements on their website, just hours before the nation's final Group G game against Portugal in Brasilia on Thursday. Both players had their World Cup accreditation withdrawn.