Former Scotland defender Alan Hansen
MOTD analyst

"I think the Germans have to get back on track today. Against Portugal we saw ruthless German efficiency, but against Ghana they were all over the place. They don't have any superstars - it will have to be a collective effort.

"If Germany get the ball down and play they will win this game comfortably."

Image source, PA

Germany forward Thomas Muller wasn't born until seven years after that controversial 1982 game between West Germany and Austria in Gijon - but he was still asked about it this week.

"How do you pronounce that word, Chi-con?, Gich-on? Gigon?" the 24-year-old said.

"I know what that's all about from reading the newspapers, but anyone who knows me, especially after the Ghana match, and looks at me can see that there is no way on earth we'd play for a draw."

I've seen a guy dressed as Captain America, I've seen a small child dressed as Luis Suarez, complete with cartoon fangs and fajke blood from the corners of his mouth.

We are almost ready for game time.

BBC World Service reporter John Bennett in Brasilia:

"I was at yesterday's Ghana training session and Kevin Prince Boateng did not look happy. I asked head coach Kwesi Appiah whether they had a "fall-out" but he assured me that all had been resolved.

"Now Boateng was told to bag his bags for a "vulgar, verbal assault" on the coach earlier this week.

"Muntari meanwhile has been sent home for a "physical attack" on a Ghana FA member.

"He was leading the singing and dancing in training yesterday. Off the pitch, Ghana are in a mess. Question is, how will it effect them on the pitch here in Brasilia?"

Former United States goalkeeper Brad Friedel
MOTD analyst

"It is completely fair. Fifa acted swiftly. There was a lot of furore in our neck of the woods but here they did not it was that big a deal. Fifa reacted and have handed out the punishment which is the longest and severest in a World Cup. And I would agree with it."

Former England defender Phil Neville
MOTD analyst

"Fifa have got the punishment spot-on. Speaking to the locals here in Brazil they actually can't believe it has been made so dramatic in England. He needs to start learning that he can't do that on the football pitch."

Former Liverpool defender Alan Hansen
MOTD analyst

"I think the punishment's fair, Obviously, the worrying thing for any Liverpool supporter was that there was very little or no provocation, and the question is: Will he do it again? Liverpool have got to draw a line under this and say: 'One more indiscretion and it's over.'

"It's terribly sad for Suarez, who after the Branislav Ivanovic incident, won the hearts of everybody in United Kingdom with the way he played. But it's a case of: 'Here we go again.'"

Watch live coverage now in the live coverage tab.

Image source, AP

Just in case the USA side are not pumped up enough, wrestling superstar Hulk Hogan has tried to get the adrenalin flowing with a - frankly, barking-mad - good luck message.

"I have been hanging and banging all day long because I'm so pumped up about the US men's soccer team," rages the Hulkster.

"All I have to say is good luck Germany when the US men's soccer team pound you down to the ground. All I've got left to say is USA is the greatest country in the world and the US men's soccer team is going to wipe out Germany.

"And, by the way, whatcha gonna do Germany when the US men's soccer team runs wild on you?"

The States will progress this afternoon if they avoid defeat, but were moments away from being through in the last game until Portugal forward Silvestre Varela headed in a last-gasp equaliser.

So losing points, but gaining friends. That 2-2 draw in Manaus was 'probably' the most viewed football match in US history. Well, soccer anyway.

An average of 24.7 million watched the World Cup thriller on ESPN and Univision, said data firm Neilsen.

That matched figures for the 2010 final, but ESPN said an additional 490,000 people streamed coverage.

It's a noon kick-off in Washington DC for this one. How many will be skipping work...?

BBC World Service reporter John Bennett in Brasilia:

"I'm not so sure that the Ghana players will be feeling too depressed going into this game, despite Boateng and Muntari being sent home.

"This morning, Ghana defender Jonathan Mensah sent me a video of the players signing and dancing before the Portugal game.

"For the most part, the Black Stars have excellent team spirit, despite Boateng and Muntari's indiscretions."

Ghana's chaotic build-up then hit a new low just a few hours ago, when midfielders Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng were sent home after a scuffle.

A statement on the Ghana Football Association website said both players had "been suspended indefinitely".

It added that Boateng had used "vulgar verbal insults targeted at coach Kwesi Appiah", while Muntari delivered an "unprovoked physical attack on an executive committee member".

The Ghana FA statement said the incident involving AC Milan's Muntari took place on Tuesday and named Moses Armah, who is a member of the team management, as the man said to have been assaulted by the 29-year-old midfielder.

Amazing scenes.

Ghana's players were owed money. Appearance money at the World Cup.

We're not talking about a few quid here and there either. We are talking about £1.8m.

Now understandably the players were keen to secure that funding before today's game. What followed though was extraordinary, like a scene out of Die Hard, as a convoy of trucks carried the money in cash from a private plane to the team hotel.

Incredible. But there's more...

I once overslept for a Sunday League match, woke up hungover in a different town, not knowing where I was or how I was going to get back. As did several of my team-mates.

We turned up three men short, 15 minutes after we were supposed to kick-off. And we were still better prepared for the game than Ghana are for today's crunch game with Portugal.

They have had an almighty dressing-room bust-up over cash. It has gone off...

Image source, @USSOCCER

US Soccer on Twitter:, external The White House is watching today and we can't wait to see the support around the USA!

What's Chris Smalling doing?

Image source, AP

It's almost home time for Cristiano Ronaldo and the Portugal team then, while the United States could be heading through much to the delight of Will Ferrell and Hulk Hogan.

But after the massive downpours in Recife this afternoon we want to know:

What are the worst conditions you have endured because of football? Ever missed a game because of the weather? Ever been so hot, so wet or so cold that you had to retreat into the concourse? Suffered on the open terrace at Saltergate?

Let us know. You can text us at 81111 (UK Only), tweet us at #bbcworldcup, external or post on our Facebook page. , external

US football fans in Brazil have received a surprise visit from their team's 'substitute player' and alleged secret weapon - actor and comedian Will Ferrell.

The Anchorman star made the appearance at Wednesday's USA Fan HQ party in Recife, ahead of the match against Germany.

Watch Ferrell confess that he isn't "in the best shape" to play but offered to "bite every German player if I have to". That's one way to ensure he doesn't get picked for the next four months...

The clip is available for you to watch now in the Highlights tab above.

Playing for a draw in the final round of group games has long been a hot topic at the World Cup.

The most infamous moment came at the 1982 World Cup in a game between West Germany and Austria, when both sides knew that a slender win for the Germans would send both teams through to the second-round at the expense of Algeria.

The match in Gijon indeed finished 1-0 to West Germany, leading to Algeria and neutral fans claiming the game had been fixed - allegations that were never proven despite an official Algerian protest.

The controversy surrounding the match did lead Fifa to ensure that final group games would kick off simultaneously at future tournaments. Of course, there will be none of that today.

BBC commentator Alan Parry called it a disgrace back in 1982. Have a look at the video and make your own minds up. It wasn't exactly subtle...

BBC Sport's Ben Smith in Recife

"After three hours we have finally arrived at Arena Pernambuco and the playing surface looks remarkably playable, it has to be said. The two major concerns will be for those who are still scrambling to get to the ground, through the floods or stuck in the awful traffic that has built up as a result.

"Tim Howard and the US goalkeepers have just come out onto the field to warm up beneath me. No question that the US have the vast majority of fans here in Recife."

Image source, Getty Images

If you missed it, the big news this afternoon is that Uruguay striker Luis Suarez has been handed a four-month ban from football for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini. He will start a nine-match international ban during Saturday's second-round match with Colombia.

He will not be able to play for Liverpool until the start of November.

Read all the latest on Suarez - and leave your comments - in the developing news story.

Portugal make four changes from the side which drew 2-2 with the United States as Pepe comes back in from a ban.

Ghana are without the two men they sent home.

Portugal: Beto, Bruno Alves, Pepe, Miguel Veloso, William Carvalho, Ronaldo (c), Moutinho, Eder, Nani, Amorim, Pereira

Ghana: Dauda, Gyan (c), Atsu, Agyemang Badu, A. Ayew, Rabiu, Waris, Mensah, Asamoah, Boye, Afful