Germany Wins, but US Advances to Round of 16

It may not have been the glorious triumph some fans were hoping for, but the US is advancing out of its group and into the round of 16, after a 1-0 loss to Germany today. Thomas Mueller scored his fourth goal of the tournament to give the Germans the win, knocking home a side-footed shot in the 55th minute. The win gives Germany top honors for Group G, which had been touted as the tournament's "group of death."

But the US will be moving on, too, because Portugal defeated Ghana by a score of 2-1 in another game happening simultaneously. While Portugal and the US each end group play with one win, one draw, and one defeat to their names, the US has a much better goal differential—the first tie-breaker—because Germany crushed Portugal 4-0. (More 2014 World Cup stories.)