DETERMINED: Following Monday's 4-0 thumping of Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal, Germany know another victory would leave them on the verge of the last 16. Photo: AFP
Historically, the Germans have a tradition of winning their opening group match at World Cup finals, only to struggle in their second game.
At the 1994, 1998 and 2002 World Cup finals, they drew their second matches, piling on the pressure for the final group game in order to qualify.
They endured a nervy 1-0 win over Poland in 2006, but four years ago, they suffered a shock defeat to Serbia in their second match.
It left the Germans needing to beat Ghana in their final group match and memories of that nervy night in Johannesburg, when a Mesut Ozil goal put them through, still linger.
"That's warning enough for us," said Arsenal centre-back Per Mertesacker, who will win his 100th cap for Germany.
"We know what we have to do and will go into the second game with all seriousness."
They will qualify for the knock-out phase if they beat Ghana and then the US avoid defeat against Portugal on Sunday in Manaus.
Germany may be forced to reshuffle their back-four as Mats Hummels struggles to recover from a thigh injury. Should the Borussia Dortmund star miss out, right-back Jerome Boateng will move across to partner Mertesacker in the centre.
Boateng brothers square up
Ghana's Berlin-born midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng, who faces his half-brother Jerome in the German defence, has turned up the heat by describing the Fortaleza clash as a gladiatorial-style 'fight to the death'.
A former German youth international, Kevin-Prince Boateng has made a habit of criticising Joachim Loew's side and his latest comments left the Germany camp cold.
"Kevin-Prince always has loose expressions on his lips," said reserve goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller. "He's trying to get a reaction, but we're not tempted, we're staying calm."
Meanwhile, Ghana's footballer of the year, Kwadwo Asamoah, has begged coach Kwesi Appiah to put him back in a more attacking role for the Fortaleza clash.
"I'm not a left back and I'm finding it difficult because I'd like to show what I'm capable of and show that I can do more," said the Juventus midfielder.
Messi wants more offensive Argentina
Argentina captain Lionel Messi believes coach Alejandro Sabella has to back his side's attacking capabilities and include him among a front three when they face Iran on Saturday in Belo Horizonte.
Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain is expected to return to Sabella's starting line-up as the two-time winners look to seal their place in the second round of the World Cup with a victory over Iran.
And Messi said he feels more comfortable playing with both Higuain and Sergio Aguero in attack.
"I think we need to concentrate on ourselves without fixating on who we are playing," said the four-time World Player of the Year.
"We feel more comfortable with two up front and me behind because it makes it easier to counter-attack and, because we have more people in attack, we have more possibilities."
Along with Higuain, Fernando Gago could return in midfield at the expense of Maxi Rodriguez as he too made a positive impression as a second-half substitute against Bosnia.
Meanwhile, the third fixture of the day will see World Cup debutants Bosnia-Herzegovina face off against Nigeria, with the former team having lost their opening match 2-1 against Argentina and the African side drawing theirs with Iran.
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