Germany beat Ghana 1-0 after a second-half goal from Mesut Oezil to win Group D and set up a second-round World Cup clash with traditional rival England.

Ghana also advanced despite Wednesday's loss at Soccer City and became the first African team to make the round of 16 at the first World Cup held on the continent.

Germany won the group with six points and Ghana was second with four, going through on goal difference thanks to Australia's 2-1 victory over Serbia in the other match.

Oezil rifled a left-footed shot from outside the area into the left corner of the net to break the deadlock in the 60th minute after both teams had wasted a number of chances.

Once the scoreboard had flashed the result of the other match, Ghana players celebrated their progress, waving the country's flag and running to the corner where their supporters were.

The Black Stars went through thanks to their 1-0 win over Serbia and a 1-1 draw with Australia.

England finished second in Group C behind the United States and will now face the Germans in Bloemfontein on Sunday. Ghana will play the United States.

Germany had been in danger of failing to advance from the group stage for the first time but the three-time champions had the upper hand throughout the match, without taking unnecessary risks.

Ghana also had some chances and Kwadwo Asamoah ran through in the 51st minute but shot weakly at goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

German playmaker Mesut Oezil was clear in the 25th but Ghana goalie Richard Kingson blocked his shot.

In the first half, Ghana's Asamoah Gyan had a header from a corner cleared at the post by Philipp Lahm, and Kevin-Prince Boateng's header was wide.

Jerome Boateng, Kevin-Prince's half brother, played for Germany. The two had little contact during the game.

It was Kevin-Prince's foul in the English FA Cup final that forced Germany captain Michael Ballack out of the tournament with an injury.

Loew had said before the game that Germany would not target Kevin-Prince. Jerome Boateng, who was making his World Cup debut, had said before the game that the two half brothers had not spoken to each other since the start of the tournament.

The two players have the same Ghanaian father and different German mothers. They were born and grew up in Germany, and Kevin-Prince played for Germany's junior teams before switching allegiance.

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Lineups:

Ghana: Richard Kingson; Hans Sarpei, Jonathan Mensah, John Pantsil, Jonathan Mensah, Anthony Annan, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Andre Ayew (Dominic Adiyiah, 90), Kwadwo Asamoah, Prince Tagoe (Sulley Muntari, 64), Asamoah Gyan (Matthew Amoah, 81).

Germany: Manuel Neuer; Philipp Lahm, Per Mertesacker, Arne Friedrich, Jerome Boateng (Marcell Jansen, 72), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Toni Kroos, 81), Sami Khedira, Thomas Mueller (Piotr Trochowski, 67), Mesut Oezil, Lukas Podolski, Cacau.

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