Soccer

5 things to know before the US vs. Germany match

Put down those frankfurters and hamburgers! Today, it’s unpatriotic to eat any food named after a German city. The USA besting Germany today at the World Cup is probably going to take either a superhuman effort on our part or some bad sauerkraut leading to food poisoning on theirs. As you prepare to duck out of work Thursday to watch the game, here are five facts about the German team to let you know what we’re up against.

The name of the team is longer than the game

German fans cheer at a public viewing in Berlin.Maja Hitij/EPA

With all the whimsy they’re known for, the Germans affectionately call their guys the “Fussballnationalmannschaft.” By the time fans are done chanting it, though, the players are hitting the showers.

Boogergate

Head coach Joachim Löw showed Portugal where to stick it.Lars Baron/Getty Images

Forget the blown calls. The biggest scandal of the World Cup — after Germany dismantled Portugal 4-0 — was caught on camera, with manager Joachim Löw picking his nose, then shaking hands with Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo.

Net monster

Philipp Lahm needs to be coddled.Jeff Mitchell/Getty Images

German defender Philipp Lahm trashed US coach Jürgen Klinsmann — Germany’s ex-skipper — in his 2011 memoir, revealing that Klinsmann’s halftime speeches consisted only of, “You have to score a goal.”

Umbrella … fella, fella

Rihanna is Miroslav Klose’s biggest fan.Kristin Callahan/ZUMAPRESS.COM; Matthias Schrader/AP

After German striker Miroslav Klose netted his record-tying 15th goal against Ghana, Rihanna paid tribute on Twitter. She posted a photo of her with Klose, writing, “Da German bae [sweetie],” and, “My [N-word] Klose.”

Gone fishin’

Mesut Ozil got the top honor from his German fans by being dubbed “Nemo.”Patrik Stollarz/Getty Images

Turkish-German player Mesut Özil, a midfielder, earned the nickname “Nemo” after a Spanish newspaper created a googly-eyed caricature of him as the lead fish from the animated movie.