World Cup GDT: July 8th - Brazil vs Germany 2:00 PM

[SebC]

Tuesday, July 8th

Semifinal:

2:00 PM Brazil (Group A winner, 2-1-0, 2) vs. Germany (Group G winner, 2-1-0, 3) (match video link)

Numbers in brackets are group stage finish, and W-D-L in the group stage, and FIFA ranking.

Bracket:

Spoiler!

(from CBC)

[polak]

So happy that I get to watch this one in primetime at home instead of being stuck at work.

Entschuldigung Brasilien, Deutschland über alles!

[Itse]

This is a true test for Fred and Hulk, they need to do more than just create space now.

[Luder]

Auf gehts, Deutschland, auf gehts!

[M*A*S*H 4077]

I'll be trying to watch parts of the game during work this afternoon. I'm too impatient to try and avoid the score until tonight. 11 vs 80,000. This will be a very hostile environment towards the Germans. I'd like to see the same lineup as the quarterfinal, perhaps with Schurrle starting in place of Oezil. I also think Klose makes history today. Should be a doozy of a game. Deutschland!

[Burke Salad]

You just know that Brazil is going to get some favourable calls in this one.

[Locke]

I think Neuer is going to have to earn his money today.

[PeteLFan]

Nervous for this game. Think Brazil will pump Germany, just need that first goal so the Germans don't suck the life out of the game like a Italian team would.

I think the Neymar injury is going to force the forwards to play better today, and more of a cohesive game instead of sending long balls to Neymar. As mucha s it sucks having Neymar out, this might be good for the team to play more of a Brazil type game of passing and attacking instead of find Neymar he will do it himself.

The big issue is Silva out, the guy is a monster. Hopefully Dante can fill his shoes enough to get us through today.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Burke Salad

You just know that Brazil is going to get some favourable calls in this one.

Considering that it's the well-studied effect of a home crowd in pretty much every sport, yeah, it is to be expected

[Senator Clay Davis]

Germany would do well to try and leave no doubt at the end, being up 3-0 would be a good place to be. And really they should win 3 or 4-0. They're the best team left and it doesn't even feel like they've played their A game yet.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Germany would do well to try and leave no doubt at the end, being up 3-0 would be a good place to be. And really they should win 3 or 4-0. They're the best team left and it doesn't even feel like they've played their A game yet.

I doubt that. It would be nice to see, but they're playing the hosts. This is likely going to be a very tight game.

Besides, the Germans were always going to have trouble scoring after losing most of their strikers before the tournament.

[GirlySports]

The key thing to see in the first 5 minutes. Does Fernandinho kick someone? If so what does the ref do about it? It's happened the last 2 games.

Against Chile, he kicked Sanchez in the first minute and referee Webb called a foul but didn't show a yellow. It allowed the Chileans to get in a free shot and that's how Neymar got his first injury (knee). In the Colombia game, he kicked James right away and the Spanish ref called nothing which turned the game into a foul fest and the Colombians finally got fed up and broke Neymar's back.

Germans are not South Americans...what happens when Fernandinho kicks someone today?

[Ark2]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Germans are not South Americans...what happens when Fernandinho kicks someone today?

If he kicks Muller, prepare to see the biggest temper tantrum ever thrown on the world stage.

Coming into this tournament, all I wanted was for neither Germany or Brazil to win, now one of these slimy teams is guaranteed to make it to the finals. Guess I will cheer for Brazil on this one...

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by PeteLFan

Think Brazil will pump Germany

Pump = easily beat? Out of curiosity, what makes you think that?

Even with Neymar and Silva this has been the most underwhelming and least intimidating Brazilian team in my memory. If they weren't the home team the Germans would be hot favourites for this one.

As it is, this game for me is a complete coin flip.

[PeteLFan]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Pump = easily beat? Out of curiosity, what makes you think that?

Even with Neymar and Silva this has been the most underwhelming and least intimidating Brazilian team in my memory. If they weren't the home team the Germans would be hot favourites for this one.

As it is, this game for me is a complete coin flip.

They are playing with the emotion of the entire nation, and they will go hard and play for Neymar. Plus this team reminds of Team Canada at the Olympics which got picked on daily on how they won, but they won and it was dominating effort on the defensive end. The Brazil team has yet to dominate a team, but they have played well and won the games they have needed to.

The World Cup is coming home to Brazil.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Even with Neymar and Silva this has been the most underwhelming and least intimidating Brazilian team in my memory.

To me this is the strongest Brazilian squad since 2002, and certainly has been looking much better than they did in 2006 and 2010.

The Germans are still a bit of a question mark, but I think they're the favourites as long as Löw doesn't make a mess of the midfield again. Which is about 50/50 chance.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Itse

To me this is the strongest Brazilian squad since 2002, and certainly has been looking much better than they did in 2006 and 2010.

The Germans are still a bit of a question mark, but I think they're the favourites as long as Löw doesn't make a mess of the midfield again. Which is about 50/50 chance.

the 2006 team was incredible. It took a moment of magic from Zidane and Henry to beat them.

[SuperMatt18]

Without Silva this version of Brazil will be in trouble.

He really is the glue that holds that team together, he is so solid in the backline that it allows their wing backs and Luiz to push up which makes them effective. Germany may be able to take advantage of their back line without him.

[PeteLFan]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

the 2006 team was incredible. It took a moment of magic from Zidane and Henry to beat them.

The 2006 team had talent but it was far from incredible, and France dominated them in the game they mustered 1 shot on net.

This 2014 team has the strongest backline in the tournament, the midfield is probably a bit weaker, but Klberson was a nobody as well, Gustavo has been pretty solid along with Fernandhino. Oscar had a moment of brilliance against Croatia and has fallen back to earth and really not doing a lot since then.

Kaka was a one of a kind midfielder and he was unable to gel with the Brazilian squads in 2006 and 2010. I just think this is a better team then individuals. Hulk and Fred wouldn't crack any Brazil team from 2006 and 2010 or any other squad for that matter. They have to step it up today thats for sure.

[GirlySports]

Maybe. Ronaldo and Adriano up front. Droooool.

This team builds from the back out.