Brazil has come to a standstill.
The hosts nation is 90 minutes away from reaching the World Cup final on home soil, but their toughest test of the World Cup awaits them as they face Germany in the semifinal.
Star attacker Neymar had his World Cup ended by Juan Zungia’s knee into his back during Brazil’s quarterfinal, so the players and fans are motivated to win the whole damn thing for their injured bright spark and top scorer. As if being cheered on by the home supporters wasn’t enough...
As for Germany, they are in their fourth-straight World Cup semifinal and have breezed into the final four. Joachim Low’s men have failed to get out of second gear and somehow they are within one game of the final. Germany don’t believe Brazil possess the flair they once did. They could well be true.
However the passion, spirit and belief of a nation is driving the Brazilian players on. This semifinal promises to be a nerve-jangling classic.
[ MORE: Brazil edge out Colombia in QF | Germany scrape by France ]
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Lineups
Brazil: Julio Cesar, Maicon, David Luiz, Dante, Marcelo; Bernard, Fernandinho, Luis Gustavo, Oscar, Hulk, Fred
Germany: Neuer, Lahm, Boateng, Hummels, Hoewedes; Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Kross; Ozil, Klose, Muller
Talking points
How will Brazil cope without Neymar?
The inclusion of Bernard into the lineup means that Scolario has gone for a creative genius instead of the speed of Willian in Neymar’s place. If Bernard, Oscar and Hulk can link up and create chances for Fred then they can give Germany’s defense plenty of problems. Brazil will be hoping the baby-faced man they call Bernard can come up with the goods.
Expectation
With Brazil’s lineup, it seems as if they will try to possess the ball and keep this game very tight. Germany will also do the same, with a 4-3-3 formation often becoming a 4-5-1. Let’s see how this one plays out, but this could go all the way to extra time and penalties, folks. We need an early goal to make this a barnstormer.
One blogger’s prediction
I think Brazil will just nick this one, I really think so. With the passion of the home fans, the spirit and belief of the team to ‘win it for Neymar’ and the fact that Germany just haven’t quite got going and have ground out results. Brazil haven’t been world beaters thus far, far from it. However when it comes down to it, I fancy Fred, Oscar or Hulk to come up with the goods on the biggest stage of all. 2-1 to Brazil.