Brazil vs Germany - Competition: World Cup Semi-finals
Brazil earned a 2-1 win over Colombia in the quarter finals. Thiago
Silva opened the scoring in the 7th minute on a corner and David Luiz
scored an incredible free kick from far out. The hosts remain unbeaten
having taken seven points from three group stage matches before edging
Chile on spot kicks (1-1 90 minutes) in the Round of 16. The hosts also
were unimpressively during the group stage agains Croatia, Mexico and
Camerun.
Neymar has been ruled out for the rest of the World Cup after suffering a
fractured vertebra. Thiago Silva is also out after picking up his
second yellow card in the QF’s. Bayern Munich's Dante is expected to
come in alongside David Luiz at centre-back. Luiz Gustavo returns from
suspension and should take Paulinho's place in midfield, while Bernard
should start in the absence of Neymar.
Germany needed extra time to see off Algeria 2-1 (0-0 90 minutes) and then edged past France 1-0 in the quarter finals thanks to an early goal from Hummels. Joachim Loew’s team started fantastically with a 4-0 routing of Portugal. But Germany struggled to maintain that level of intensity, and in subsequent Group G games against Ghana – a 2-2 draw – and the USA – a 1-0 win, they didn’t look nearly as impressive. Joachim Löw will certainly implement some changes in his team, especially in the front, where Müller will probably occupy Klose’s place in the box and Mario Götze should again be part of the team’s starting line-up. Mustafi is injured and will miss out while Per Mertesacker has been laid low with flu, which affected a total of seven Germany players.
Brazil’s record on home soil is quite staggering, they have not lost a competitive home match since the mid 1970’s but despite making the semi-final they have not thrilled many with their performances in this World Cup. Brazil and Germany have only played once before at the World Cup, Brazil winning that one 2-0 in the 2002 Final. Since then, they have gone up against each other three times, resulting in one win for each and a draw. Germany did take a 3-2 win in the most recent meeting in 2011.
Possible Lineups:
Brazil Starting XI (4-2-3-1): 12 Cesar, 23 Maicon, 16 Ramires, 4 David Luiz, 6 Marcelo, 5 Fernandinho, 8 Paulinho, 11 Oscar,15 Henrique, 7 Hulk, 9 Fred.
Germany Starting XI (4-5-1): 1 Neuer, 16 Lahm, 5 Hummels, 20 Boateng, 4 Howedes, 8 Ozil, 18 Kroos, 7 Schweinsteiger, 6 Khedira, 13 Muller, 11 Klose.
Brazil Starting XI (4-2-3-1): 12 Cesar, 23 Maicon, 16 Ramires, 4 David Luiz, 6 Marcelo, 5 Fernandinho, 8 Paulinho, 11 Oscar,15 Henrique, 7 Hulk, 9 Fred.
Germany Starting XI (4-5-1): 1 Neuer, 16 Lahm, 5 Hummels, 20 Boateng, 4 Howedes, 8 Ozil, 18 Kroos, 7 Schweinsteiger, 6 Khedira, 13 Muller, 11 Klose.
Brazil last 5 matches:
12/06/14 Brazil 3 – 1 Croatia
17/06/14 Brazil 0 – 0 Mexico
23/06/14 Cameroon 1 – 4 Brazil
28/06/14 Brazil P 1 – 1 Chile
04/07/14 Brazil 2 – 1 Colombia
12/06/14 Brazil 3 – 1 Croatia
17/06/14 Brazil 0 – 0 Mexico
23/06/14 Cameroon 1 – 4 Brazil
28/06/14 Brazil P 1 – 1 Chile
04/07/14 Brazil 2 – 1 Colombia
Germany last 5 matches:
16/06/14 Germany 4 – 0 Portugal
21/06/14 Germany 2 – 2 Ghana
26/06/14 United States 0 – 1 Germany
30/06/14 Germany E 2 – 1 Algeria
04/07/14 France 0 – 1 Germany
Match Date: Tuesday, 8 July
Kick Off Time: 17:00 Local / 21:00 BST
You can watch the match here: Link 1 , Link 2 [Live Scores]
16/06/14 Germany 4 – 0 Portugal
21/06/14 Germany 2 – 2 Ghana
26/06/14 United States 0 – 1 Germany
30/06/14 Germany E 2 – 1 Algeria
04/07/14 France 0 – 1 Germany
Match Date: Tuesday, 8 July
Kick Off Time: 17:00 Local / 21:00 BST
Venue: Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
You can watch the match here: Link 1 , Link 2 [Live Scores]
