Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng says he and team-mate Sulley Muntari were "joking around" before they were sent home from the World Cup.

Boateng told German magazine Sport-Bild: "Sulley Muntari and I were just joking around and the coach [Kwesi Appiah] stopped the session and sent us back to the changing room.

"Afterwards I went to the him and asked what he had against me and he started yelling. He insulted me."

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

Boateng said he accepted his suspension but seemed to dispute the reasons the Ghana FA gave for it.

"No one should think I insulted the coach," he said. "I'm travelling now and I wish my colleagues all the best for the match against Portugal."

Image source, @StanCollymore

A few hours to go in Recife, where Germany are due to face USA in Group G (17:00 BST) and the weather has taken a turn for the worse.

Former Liverpool forward, now broadcaster, Stan Collymore on Twitter:, external "2ft of water on the streets of Recife. Hammered it down all morning."

After his hat-trick for Switzerland against Honduras last night, Xherdan Shaqiri on Twitter:, external "I dedicate this Hattrick my lovely Family! Thank you all for the support from Switzerland, Kosovo, Albania."

Image source, AP

South Korea need to reproduce some of the form they showed in 2002 if they are to beat Belgium and give themselves a chance of qualifying for the next round.

They reached the semi-finals of the World Cup on home soil after famous victories over Spain and Italy.

Ahn Jung-Hwan's headed winner - a golden goal in extra time - arrived in the 117th minute of their last-16 tie against the Italians but came at a price for the midfielder.

Ahn left his club, Italian side Perugia, in the aftermath after a fall-out with owner Luciano Gaucci, who was outspoken and critical of his player's role in Italy's World Cup demise.

Marcus Christenson, football editor of the Guardian and Observer newspapers, on Twitter:, external "Kevin-Prince Boateng: 'No one should think that I insulted the manager. I'm now leaving & wish my team-mates best of luck for the game."'

Well, it wouldn't be a World Cup without one squad going into meltdown. Didn't think it would be Ghana, though.

I guess we should have seen trouble brewing back in March when it was revealed their World Cup budget would be half of what it was in 2010, when the Black Stars reached the quarter-finals.

Gary Lineker
BBC Sport in Brazil

On Twitter:, external "Having been so brilliant against Germany what a shame for Ghana and their supporters. Madness!"

Wesley Winegarden:, external Before you ask if Rooney should be the next England captain, you should ask if he should even be in the squad.

Ryan Malone:, external Cahill has to be next England captain. Only outfield player assured of his starting place and he has years ahead of him.

Jimi Walsh:, external No, Steve Gerrard will stay another year and steer the ship.

Now, Muntari is reported to have slapped a senior GFA official during a heated meeting, while Boateng "verbally abused" coach Kwesi Appiah, said the GFA.

The Ghana FA has added: "The decision was taken in the wake of his unprovoked physical attack on an executive committee member of the GFA and a management member of the Black Stars, Mr Moses Armah on Tuesday 24th June, 2014 during a meeting.

"The GFA has approved coach Kwesi Appiah's decision to suspend Kevin-Prince Boateng indefinitely from the Black Stars.

"The decision was taken following Boateng's vulgar verbal insults targeted at coach Kwesi Appiah during the team's training session in Maceio this week.

"Boateng has since showed no remorse for his actions which has resulted in the decision."

Ghana need to beat Portugal in Brasilia and hope Germany beat the United States. However, the build-up to the crucial game has been blighted by a dispute over appearance fees.

In the end, the Ghana government arranged for $3m (£1.8m) to be flown out to Brazil.

To clarify, Muntari would have been suspended for today's game against Portugal anyway because of two yellow cards picked up in the first two group games. He has previously earned 83 international caps, scoring 21 goals.

Both AC Milan midfielder Muntari, 29, and Schalke's Boateng, 27, have been sent home from Brazil with immediate effect.

Image source, Reuters

A statement on the Ghana FA website reads: "The decision was taken in the wake of his unprovoked physical attack on an executive committee member of the GFA and a management member of the Black Stars, Mr Moses Armah on Tuesday 24 June 2014 during a meeting."

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has suspended Sulley Ali Muntari and Kevin Prince Boateng indefinitely, meaning the pair are out of the decisive game against Portugal on Thursday.

Paul Scholes has once once again been outspoken in his Paddy Power blog, saying England will struggle to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, let alone hit Greg Dyke's target of winning it.

"I fear England are going the way of the Republic of Ireland, Wales and Scotland," said Scholes., external

"Roy Hodgson is a likeable man who's very good with the press. But if this was Fabio Capello he'd be getting pelters."

Image source, Getty Images

Right. So what's the scenario tonight?

Let's start with Group H because, frankly, that's a bit more straightforward.

Belgium are already into the next phase, and a point from their meeting with South Korea will guarantee they win the group.

Algeria will make it into the knockout stages for the first time if they beat Russia, though a draw will be enough as long as South Korea do not thrash Belgium to improve their goal difference and finish on four points.

Russia will qualify if they beat Algeria and South Korea fail to beat Belgium.

As for Group G, well ... anything can happen.

It's probably best if you just visit our page dedicated to explaining the World Cup ins and outs.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque insists he has no regrets about his World Cup squad selection, despite the defending champions exiting the tournament in the group stage.

"We could have included maybe two or three different players, but I don't think it would have changed the fundamentals very much," Del Bosque told Spanish newspaper ABC.

"We trained well, we worked well, and the players conducted themselves magnificently. This ending was unthinkable, I don't think anyone said this would happen."

Giles Kirby:, external No, I do not think Rooney should be captain of England. He is not constant enough. We need a player who is constant and reliable.

Caroline Harris:, external Maybe although I think Cahill or Jagielka would be good choice.

Tim Eaton:, external Gary Cahill not in with a shout of being England Captain? Main CB, resembles John Terry.. Wears his heart on his sleeve.

Even Andy Murray has had his say on the Luis Suarez controversy.

"You don't look at the as a football fan, it's just wrong," said the Wimbledon champion. "I just think it looks really weird."

If you're in the UK, you can watch Murray speaking on Suarez here on the BBC Sport website.

Fabian Johnson says USA will not play for a draw against Germany tonight - even though a point would guarantee both teams a place in the last 16.

American Johnson, who represented Germany at youth level, having been born to a German mother and an American father, said: "We want to win this game. It's just not in our nature to play for a draw.

"I think we're just all excited to have this chance to play against Germany. I know a few players, I've played with them."