Germany will meet hosts and World Cup contenders, Brazil in Tuesday’s World Cup semi-final clash with the Selecao ready to win it for their talisman striker.
Germany will meet hosts and World Cup contenders, Brazil in Tuesday’s World Cup semi-final clash with the Selecao ready to win it for their talisman striker.
German coach Joachim Loew would want to avenge their 2002 final defeat to Brazil by knocking the hosts out in Belo Horizonte to reach Sunday’s final in Rio de Janeiro.
Brazil are forced into a reshuffle as such that sees them without play-maker Neymar and suspended captain Thiago Silva as they look to realise dreams of a sixth title on the home soil of the Maracana.
Both the sides have the mettle to prove it onto the big stage and either of them will look to avoid a defeat. Pundits and football analysts have called this game an ‘even Steven’ with both sides looking evenly matched on paper. So which team has the slightest edge going into this game? Does Neymar-less Brazil have a chance against a lethal German side? Here’s the preview of both the sides:
Germany
Strengths –
The Germans have the best midfield going into this match with the likes of Toni Kroos, Mesut Oezil, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Phillip Lahm (who can also play rightback), Mario Goetze and Sami Khedira to name a few. The defence looks strong as well with Mats Hummels providing the ultimate steel at the back as well as Bayern Munich stopper Manuel Neuer standing as the ‘Wall of Berlin’ between the posts.
Weakness –
Coach Joachim Loew will have a tough call to make whether to bench Mesut Oezil as the latter produced some mediocre performance throughout the World Cup. Thomas Mueller might feel the pressure to deliver upfront as Loew prefers him the lone striker ahead of Miroslav Klose. Will Per Mertesacker partner alongside Mats Hummels in defence or will it be the same side that beat France in the quarter-finals?
Brazil
Strengths –
Besides the screaming Brazilian fans behind their back, the Selecao have a dearth of talent to pick on. Even without their forward Neymar, coach Luis Felipe Scolari will have the likes of Willian, Bernard and Ramires to rely on. Also, if Brazil just decide to go a bit defensive, the likes of Luis Gustavo and Paulinho to do the ‘dirty work’.
Weakness –
Neymar will be sorely missed by the team as well as the fans in the stadium. Also, they will be without their inspirational skipper Thiago Silva who is out with a second booking. Losing a key player at such a key juncture can bear a psychological effect on the players and that might come into play as well.
Even if Germans might have the upper hand going into this game (Neymar is out), Brazil are slight favourites just because of the home conditions and the fans support.
Reckon, Selecao will just sneak this game in Extra Time.
