OK, now we finally get down to brass tacks. Brazil, Germany, Argentina, and the Netherlands -- four great powers, one of which will come away with the Big Trophy. Today Brazil and Germany meet for only the second time in World Cup history. The Brazilians beat Germany 2-0 in the 2002 final, and they are home today. But they are without Neymar, the brilliant striker who has been the heart of their offense, because he suffered a broken vertebra near the end of Brazil's quarter-final win over Colombia.
The British oddsmakers see this game as a toss-up; they'll give you odds of 10 to 11 if you want either Brazil or Germany to advance.
That's all for the preview -- don't have time for team lists.
Uniform watch. Brazil are the home team in their yellow shirts and green numerals. Apparently someone at FIFA thought that there would be problem if Brazil were in yellow and Germany were in white, as the Germans are wearing their alternate jerseys, which are in a striking pattern of black and red horizontal stripes. I could see Louisville (or Mayfield) breaking out this jersey for a soccer match.
ReplyDeleteWell, that didn't take long: after about 10 minutes Thomas Muller is left alone in the box and he bangs home a goal to put Germany up 1-0.
ReplyDeleteIf this game were being played in any other country, by the way, Germany would have been strong favorites. Now we'll see if Brazil's home field advantage is enough to get them back in the game.
And now it's 2-0 to Germany! Brazil pressed forward after that early goal, opening themselves up at the back. And in the 23d minute, Germany tore them apart. Miroslav Klose scored the 16th goal of his World Cup career, giving him the all-time record.
ReplyDeleteAnd now 3-0! Only a few minutes after the last goal, Germany tear through Brazil and end up with another easy goal. This time Toni Kloos is left alone, and he whacks home the goal.
ReplyDelete4-0! This was laughable. Only a few minutes after the last goal, Germany steals the ball from Brazil in the middle of the field, charges down, and scores again! That was another for Toni Kloos.
ReplyDeleteAnd now 5! In all my years of watching soccer, I have never seen a team score faster than I can type. Germany again steals the ball in the middle of the field, again runs down like they're on a fast break, and again bangs in an easy shot. They have scored in the 11th, 23rd, 24th, 26th, and 29th minutes. I don't remember ever seeing anything like this in any soccer match, much less a World Cup match.
ReplyDeleteOh, my!
DeleteSomewhere the French are saying, "See, this is why we didn't attack after Germany scored that early goal against us."
ReplyDeleteHalftime:
ReplyDeleteBrazil 0 - 5 Germany
The last time any team scored five goals in the first half of a World Cup match was in 1974, when Poland beat Haiti 7-0.
And there's six. In the 69th minute, Germany carves open the Brazilian defense yet again. As usual, the Germans make the extra pass, taking what appeared to be a good shot from an angle to an easy shot right in front of the goal. Brazil has been poor, but Germany has been magnificent.
ReplyDelete70 minutes:
ReplyDeleteBrazil 0 - 6 Germany
75 minutes:
ReplyDeleteBrazil 0 - 6 Germany
In the 78th minute, Germany again tore Brazil apart and got their seventh goal. In the 88th minute, Germany almost made it 8, but a wide open shot just missed the goal.
ReplyDeleteAnd in the 90th minute, Brazil finally got a goal of their own, as Oscar tapped in from the penalty box.
Full Time:
ReplyDeleteBrazil 1 - 7 Germany
Whatever happens in the 2014 World Cup, this will be remembered as one of the most famous soccer games ever played.
By the way, this ends a 62-match unbeaten streak for Brazil in competitive matches on home soil. They had not lost a competitive match at home since 1975.
ReplyDelete