US, Germany, Algeria go through

NATAL (Brazil), June 27 (AFP): The United States' dream of an unprecedented last four place at the World Cup remains on track, but after a scrappy 1-0 defeat to Germany the Americans admit they must do far better if they are to get past Belgium.
Germany dominated proceedings at a washed-out Arena Pernambuco where the US were restricted to only two chances in a startlingly one-sided game settled by Thomas Mueller's second-half strike.
Mueller's 55th minute goal, his fourth of the tournament, kept the Germans undefeated and top of Group G to set up a last 16 clash against Algeria, who got the point they needed with a 1-1 draw with Russia, while the US, who finished second ahead of Portugal and Ghana, will now meet Group H winners Belgium.
Belgium rounded off their group campaign with a 1-0 win over South Korea to end with a perfect nine points from three games.
The gulf in class between Germany and the US means the latter could struggle if they are to go one step further than their quarter-final appearance in 2002.
Meanwhile, Algeria progressed to the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time in their history as Islam Slimani's second-half header was enough to earn them a 1-1 against Russia in Curitiba.
Alexander Kokorin had put the Russians in front after just six minutes with an accurate header into the top corner.
However, Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev's nightmare tournament continued when he tried to claim Yacine Brahimi's free-kick on the hour mark and missed the ball completely allowing Slimani the easiest of tasks to nod home his second goal of the tournament.
Belgium topped the group with a maximum nine points from three games after they beat South Korea 1-0 in the other game.
Algeria had gotten off to the worst possible start as with Sofiane Feghouli off the field receiving treatment for a head injury, Russia used the extra space afforded to them down Algeria's right to open the scoring.
Left-back Dmitry Kombarov sauntered forward and his cross was expertly nodded into the top corner by Kokorin.
Feghouli immediately tried to make amends with a bustling run past a host of Russian defenders, but the Valencia man was eventually crowded out and the ball cleared to safety.
Russia continued to push for a winner, but when Aleksei Kozlov's header sailed wide in stoppage time their last chance was gone.
Defeat means Russia have still yet to qualify for the last 16 since the dissolution of the Soviet Union and continues coach Fabio Capello's poor record at the World Cup after he oversaw England's 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Germany in the last 16 four years ago.