Kevin Prince-Boateng has dismissed any suggestion that his Ghana side have cause to fear the Germans.
The striker has instead admonished his Group G opponents for lacking a "tough-guy" leader to carry them through tight matches.
He will likely feel well-placed to make a judgment. Born in Berlin, Boateng could also play in direct opposition to his brother, Jerome, this evening. They already became the first siblings to face one another in a World Cup finals, when their respective sides met in the group stage in 2010.
Germany were comfortable winners of their opening group game this summer - against Portugal - but Boateng is adamant that they still lack something vital. "In really tight matches for Germany in the past there was never anyone who stepped up to take charge," said the forward. "It's not just an opinion of one player; a fundamental truth."
None the less, the Germans will be expected to triumph tonight to progress from the group. "We need to take the teamwork, confidence and enthusiasm we had in the opening match into the Ghana match," said Phillip Lahm, the Germany captain.
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