2014 FIFA World Cup – Semifinals
Brazil vs Germany
Estádio Governador Magalhães Pinto – Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Tuesday, July 8, 2014, 4:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN, Univision
Money Line: Germany +180 / Brazil +175 / Draw +210
Point Line: Germany Pick -115 / Brazil Pick -105
Total: over 2 -120 / under 2 even
Odds to advance to the semifinals: Germany -114 / Brazil -106
All odds courtesy of Bookmaker
Brazil looks for their sixth World Cup and first since 2002. Brazil takes on Germany in the semifinals Tuesday in Belo Horizonte. The winner will face either Argentina or the Netherlands in the Final Sunday Brazil has not lost any match on home soil since 2002, or a competitive match at home since 1975. Germany is looking for their fourth World Cup title and first since 1990. Germany became the first ever team to make the semifinals of four straight World Cups. They lost in the final to Brazil in 2002 and came in third in 2006 and 2010.
The task for Brazil became a lot more difficult with the loss of two key players. Star striker Neymar Jr. suffered a broken vertebrae late in Brazil’s win over Colombia in the quarterfinals Friday after being kneed in the back by Colombia’s Jose Zuniga. He will not require surgery but he is out for the rest of the tournament. He scored 4 goals for Brazil in his World Cup debut. Captain Thiago Silva is suspended after accumulating his second yellow card in the World Cup against Colombia. Striker Willian was one of the candidates to replace Neymar but he is also doubtful with an injury. German defender Shkodran Mustafi will likely miss after missing the quarterfinal win over France Friday.
Brazil leads the series against Germany 12-4-5. Germany won the last meeting 3-2 in a friendly in 2011 in Stuttgart. Brazil won the only previous meeting in the World Cup by beating Germany 2-0 in the 2002 World Cup final in Yokohama, Japan.
Germany is making their 18th trip to the World Cup, and they have won it three times the last in 1990. They have also been the runner-up four times. Germany was placed in the Group G with Portugal, Ghana and the United States, widely considered the so called group of death. Germany opened with a 4-0 smashing of Portugal and then played Ghana to a 2-2 draw. Germany would clinch first place in the group with a 1-0 win against the United States.
Germany advanced to quarterfinals for the ninth straight time with a 2-1 win in extra time over Algeria in the round of 16. Germany beat France 1-0 in the quarterfinals Friday in Rio de Janeiro. Mats Hummels scored for Germany 13 minutes in. Neither team would score again, but both sides had several good chances to score. Germany would hold on for the 1-0 win to advance to the semis for the fourth straight time.
Germany had only 8 shots including 6 on goal. France had 13 and 9. Germany had 18 fouls to 15 for France. Each team had possession for 50%. France had 5 corners to 3 for Germany. Germany made 8 saves to 5 for France. France had 3 offsides and Germany had none.
Germany is coached by Joachim Low. Germany will use a 4-3-3 formation. Forward Thomas Muller has 4 goals and one assist in the World Cup. Only Colombia’s James Rodriguez has more goals with 6. Muller won the Golden Boot Award at the 2010 World Cup given to the top goal scorer. Forward Mario Gotze came off the bench earlier in the tournament but is expected to start against Brazil Midfielders Bastian Schweinsteiger and Philipp Lahm are also quality scorers. Miroslav Klose will come off the bench, and needs one more goal to become the career leader in World Cup goals with 16. He is tied with Brazil’s Ronaldo right now with 15. Keeper Manuel Neuer allowed 2 goals against Ghana and a very late goal against Algeria, but kept clean sheets against Portugal, the US and France.
Germany is outscoring teams 10-3 in the World Cup. They have 8 open play and 2 set piece goals. Germany has 73 shots including 51 on target. They have completed 29 of 111 crosses and have been called offsides 14 times. Germany has 16 blocks and 17 saves. The Germans have won 25 of 82 tackles. Germany has completed 2,938 passes.
Brazil is playing in their 20th World Cup, the only team to play in every tournament. They have made to the quarterfinals of the last six World Cups, but have been eliminated in this round in the last two Cups. Brazil was placed in Group A at the 2014 World Cup as the host nation always is. Brazil beat Croatia 3-1, played Mexico to a scoreless draw and beat Cameroon 4-1. Mexico and Brazil each had 7 points, but Brazil won the group with a better goal differential.
Brazil played South American rival Chile in the round of 16. Brazil beat Chile in penalties after the teams were tied 1-1 after regulation and extra time. In the quarterfinals, Brazil faced a another South American rival Colombia in the quarterfinals Friday in Fortaleza. Brazil took a 1-0 lead at 7 minutes on a goal from Thiago Silva. They would expnad that lead at 69 minutes on a beautiful free kick from David Luiz. Colombia scored a goal on a late penalty kick from James Rodriguez at 80 minutes. Brazil would hold on for the win to advance to the semis for the first time since 2002.
Brazil had 12 shots including 6 on goal. Colombia had 11 and 5. Brazil had 31 fouls to 23 for Colombia. Brazil had a slim edge in possession 51% to 49%. Colombia had 6 corners to 4 for Brazil. Each team had 4 saves. Colombia had the only 3 offisides calls in the match.
Brazil is coached by Luiz Felipe Scolari. Brazil will use a 4-2-3-1 attack. Brazil forward Neymar Jr. has four goals already in 3 World Cup games. The 22 year old was tied for second in goals before the unfortunate injury. Oscar, Fred Luiz and Fernandinho will look to pick up the scoring slack. Oscar also has 2 assists. Julio Cesar is a top flight keeper and has allowed just four goals in five matches.
Brazil has outscored opponents 10-4 so far in the World Cup. Brazil has three goals on set pieces so far and 7 open play goals. Brazil has 82 shots including 54 on goal. Brazil has completed 32 of 113 crosses. They have been called for offsides 11 times in the tournament. Brazil has made 6 saves and 14 blocks in the tournament. They have made 117 tackles winning 42 of them. Brazil has completed 1,816 passes.
Scolari has said Brazil will be playing for Neymar. However, even without Neymar and Silva, Brazil is loaded with talent. It will be a tough task against a German team that is just as deep. Both teams are hungry for a World Cup title and this match has a good shot of going to penalties. Brazil finds a way to win on home soil.
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