FIFA World Cup notes: Jozy Altidore to miss U.S.-Germany game

Jozy Altidore will miss the United States’ World Cup game against Germany on Thursday in Recife, Brazil, because of his strained left hamstring.

The forward was injured in the Americans’ opening 2-1 win against Ghana on June 16 and didn’t play in Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Portugal.

“Jozy is recovering really well,” U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said Tuesday. “This game comes still too early for him. But we’re working on him. We’ll get him back in this tournament, as we said, so once this game hopefully is done successfully, we’ll have a good chance to have him back then in the team.”

Germany has four points and leads Group G on goal difference over the United States. Portugal and Ghana, who also play Thursday, have one point apiece.

Defender Matt Besler said he felt pain in his right hamstring when he stretched during a clearance Sunday but said it was less painful than during the opener, when he came out at halftime.

“Matt Besler is no problem at all,” Klinsmann said.

Tiki-taka

Colombia goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon became the oldest player to compete at a World Cup when the 43-year-old came on as a late substitute in a 4-1 win over Japan. … Ivory Coast coach Sabri Lamouchi will quit after his squad narrowly missed qualification in the World Cup. … FIFA has picked Ravshan Irmatov of Uzbekistan to referee United States vs. Germany to decide who wins Group G of the World Cup. Irmatov, a star referee at the 2010 World Cup, will have his third appointment in this tournament at Thursday’s match. … Italy coach Cesare Prandelli says he is resigning after his team was eliminated from the World Cup following a 1-0 defeat to Uruguay. … Injured defender Bruno Martins Indi returned to training for the Netherlands.