Semi-Final 1:Brazil vs. Germany

[One World]

No Neymar and no skipper but still rooting for the host. Good luck .

[al-Sagar]

khela besh jome uthbe asha kori

[Sohel]

With Neymar out, Brazil must apply the 1962 formula to win this match and the final.

7+9+11=10

It was Garrincha(7), Cutinho(9), and Pepe(11) stepping up to compensate for an injured Pele(10) back then. This time Hulk(7), Fred(9), and Oscar(11) must step up for the injured Neymar(10). Of course Hulk is no Garrincha in terms of finessed finishing but Oscar is better than Pepe was and it's a now-or-never situation for Fred. I think InshAllah he'll find his form the way Higuain did after a pitiful start. All are due a couple of great games to help Brazil lift the Cup at home.

Defensively Luiz needs to be a little less adventurous until Thiago Silva returns to lead his team again. The Brazilian midfield with Gustavo coming back should allow him to do that with its solid two-way game.

Ar dadosh bekti-to achhei. Viva Brasil!

Injured Neymar says Brazil World Cup 'dream' not over

... "They took away my dream of playing in a World Cup final, but the dream of being world champion has not ended," Neymar said in remarks released by the Brazilian football federation.

"There are two games left and I am sure my teammates will do everything to lift the trophy," he said ...

... Pele said on Saturday his heart ached for Neymar after Brazil's star player was ruled out of the rest of the World Cup but noted that the team lifted the 1962 trophy despite his own injury.

The football legend, recalling that Neymar had played at Santos like him, wrote on Twitter that "it hurts our hearts to know that he can no longer defend Brazil in the World Cup."

"I was also injured during the 1962 World Cup in Chile, and I was out for the rest of the tournament," he wrote in English and Portuguese.

"But God helped Brazil continue on to win the Championship. I hope the same will happen with our Selecao in this World Cup."

Four years after winning their first World Cup, the Selecao had to play without Pele in the tournament in Chile after he was injured against Czechoslovakia in the second game.

But they managed to win their second World Cup thanks to the dribbling skills of another legend, Garrincha.

READ MORE

[NoName]

Really cool facts Sohel, hopefully history repeats itself

[NoName]

http://www.cbc.ca/sports-content/soc.../video/1271250

[al-Sagar]

World Cup 2014: Brazil have little flair, says Joachim Low

Germany coach Joachim Low believes the current Brazil side have little of the flair traditionally associated with the country's national team.

Low said he was expecting a physical encounter when the teams meet in the World Cup semi-final on Tuesday, which is live on BBC1 and BBC Radio 5 live.

Luiz Felipe Scolari's side have committed 96 fouls at the tournament, picking up 10 yellow cards.

"They're playing more robustly than any other team here," said Low.

"There's little left of that traditional Brazilian style of football. At the end of the day it's up to the referee to come up with the correct punishment."

Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger agreed with his manager's assessment.

The Bayern Munich player also feels some of the Brazilian's tackles have gone too far.

"I am all for a healthy hardness but some of Brazil's fouls were over the limit," he said.

"Brazilians are not only football magicians. Hard tackling is part of their game.

"We have to be careful and so does the referee.''

FULL STORY

[Jadukor]

Felt really bad for Neymar. That tackle was horrifying to see on television. Hope he gets back to full fitness soon. Will be rooting for Brazil this game.

[iDumb]

Originally Posted by Jadukor
Will be rooting for Brazil this game.

thumbs down..

sure a brazil vs argentina final would be great.. even more festive for people in BD...I would like to watch that too to be honest.

But then I want Germany to win the cup... this is the best german side that never won a world cup i think. they deserve one.

Germany vs argentina Final. With Germany winning.

[Tigers_eye]

Originally Posted by iDumb
....

But then I want Germany to win the cup... this is the best german side that never won a world cup i think. they deserve one.....

Just because of this? huh!!

The best Dutch teams (74,78) deserved two WCs. The Best Brazilian (82) team deserved a WC. It didn't happen.

[al-Sagar]

I am confused who to support .... most probably I will support the german, but I also feel it would be nice to see a brazil vs argentina final.

so hoping for a good football match and the best team win

[al-Sagar]

two days wait is over ... and now it is game day ........ 6 and half hours left

[al-Sagar]

TEAM NEWS

Brazil captain Thiago Silva is banned, so Dante will deputise, but they have Luis Gustavo back from suspension.

With Neymar injured, Brazil could field a central midfield three, or else pick an attack-minded replacement such as Willian or Bernard.

Germany coach Joachim Low must decide whether to recall centre-back Per Mertesacker, who was left out against France for tactical reasons.

Low has reported no fresh injury concerns ahead of the match.

Source

[al-Sagar]

MATCH FACTS


Head-to-head

•Brazil and Germany have played more World Cup matches than any other side (102 and 104 respectively), but have only met once before at the tournament. That was the 2002 final, won 2-0 by the Brazilians.
•Honours are even in the three subsequent meetings. The sides drew 1-1 in a friendly in 2004, Brazil won 3-2 in a Confederations Cup semi-final in 2005 and Germany recorded a 3-2 victory in a friendly in 2011. All those matches were on German soil.
•Brazil have scored in each of their last 10 meetings with Germany, averaging 2.2 goals per game



Brazil

•Brazil committed more fouls (31) against Colombia than they have in any other World Cup match since such data has been recorded (starting in 1966).
•Their only defeat in the last 26 games came against Switzerland last August (W19, D6, L1).
•They are unbeaten in 42 successive home matches, with their last defeat coming against Paraguay in August 2002.
•The Brazilians have reached the last four of the World Cup for the 11th time, although this will only be their eighth semi-final (because of different formats at earlier tournaments).
•The only semi-final they have lost was their first, against Italy in 1938. They have won five times and drawn once - with that draw followed by a penalty shootout win against the Dutch in 1998.
•Injured Brazilian striker Neymar has played a part in 50% of Brazil's 10 goals at this World Cup (four goals, one assist).


Germany

•Germany (including West Germany) have reached the last four for the 13th time at a World Cup, although this will be their 12th semi-final (they reached the 1974 final after coming through a second group stage).
•The Germans are the first country to reach four successive World Cup semi-finals.
•Their record in their 11 previous semi-finals is four wins, five defeats and two draws - both of which were followed by penalty shootouts which they won.
•Germany are unbeaten in their last 16 internationals (W11, D5), the best run of any side still involved at the World Cup.
•Germany (three) have kept the joint highest total of clean sheets at this World Cup. Only Ghana and Algeria have managed to breach the Germans defence so far.
•Miroslav Klose could make his 23rd appearance in a World Cup match, a total bettered only by Lothar Matthaus (25). Paolo Maldini also played 23 games at the tournament.

Source

[Tigers_eye]

Moment of truth awaits. We are divided in our house. My son picked Germany before the World Cup began. Lets go Brazil; crush Germany!!!!!!!!! This is your home turf. Defend it at all cost. Play for Neymar!!!

[Holden]

Hope Germany KO Brazil. I've not been impressed with Brazil. Hoping for a Germany vs Netherlands Final, if not that then Brazil vs Argentina. Either of those would mean a huge rivalry in the final, which should produce fireworks,

[Banglatiger84]

If Brazil starts kicking the Germans like they did the Colombians, they may be in for a nasty surprise

[al-Sagar]

Brazil: Julio Cesar, Maicon, Dante, Luiz, Marcelo, Gustavo, Fernandinho, Hulk, Oscar, Bernard, Fred.

Subs: Jefferson, Dani Alves, Paulinho, Maxwell, Henrique, Ramires, Hernanes, Willian, Jo, Victor.

[al-Sagar]

Germany: Neuer, Lahm, Boateng, Hummels, Howedes, Schweinsteiger, Khedira, Muller, Kroos, Ozil, Klose.

Subs: Zieler, Grosskreutz, Ginter, Schurrle, Podolski, Draxler, Durm, Mertesacker, Gotze, Kramer, Weidenfeller.

[al-Sagar]

national amthems

[al-Sagar]

kick off ....

[al-Sagar]

its only brazil ..... the firsy 3 mins

[Sohel]

What a start from Brazil! Joga Bonito at its best. Makes you fall in love with the game all over again. If Brazil play like this for all 90 minutes, they'll win InshAllah!

[al-Sagar]

high tempo start ....

[Sohel]

Lot of poise and ball skill from the Brazilians in all three zones MashAllah!

[al-Sagar]

marcelo, dante, luis ........... maicon er chul ektu kom hoye gese