The World Cup Diaries
Brazil 1 : 7 Germany
Oh, boy, what a game! Now this is what one expects to see when they are watching the World Cup. Not players showing their impressive scuba diving skills or crazy biting skills, but two of the best national teams in the world playing a game, winning and loosing because of how they play, without the help of the referee. Pure, beautiful football, just like we all like it.
Before this game everyone assumed that the Brazilian team will play on the Big Final this Sunday. It seemed completely reasonable and more than possible. After all, they are playing at home.
On the other hand we have Germany - an old dog when it comes to playing in the World Cup. However, the World Cups since the beginning of the Millennium haven't been too successful for them - the came second in the 2002 Mondial, and third in the 2006 and 2010 ones. This year it seems they are in it to win it.
The Brazilians seemed rather disorganised and disconnected without their stars - Thiago Silva and Neymar. The former was out due to two yellow cards in previous games, and the latter is suffering a pretty nasty back injury. So far the team has relied on these two players pretty heavily and had based their tactics on the old motto - "Attack is the best form of defense". With them out for this game this tactic has proofed to be unsuccessful.
Before they knew it, the results escalated from 0:0 to the impressive 5:0 by the end of the first half. The magical German machine did what it does best - score, with four consecutive goals in the 23', 24', 26' and 29'. Oh, and did I mention that they already had one in the 10'? After the break, Brazil, the fans and anyone watching that Brazilian team had lost their joy and passion for the game. They were like victims of a rather sad storm that blew away all their hopes and dreams of winning this Championship. This resulted in two more goals for Germany, as it was possible for the team to be any more humiliated at Bello Horizonte's stadium.
Finaly, in the 90' minute Oscar managed to score one goal for Brazil. Not that this changes anything but at least it might bring some solace to the team and their faithful crowd.
I'm not expert on tactics but I can say this - the Brazilians like to make a show, to play around with the ball, to pass to each other sever times, to fool around, and to try to shine as bright as possible. They are playing like birds - trying to show each and every of their bright colours. On the other hand, Germany is playing as one might expect Germany to play -well organised, visible structure, very much to the point. It's a well working machine, that does not play to make a show but plays to win. And it works, it bloody damn works!
Before they knew it, the results escalated from 0:0 to the impressive 5:0 by the end of the first half. The magical German machine did what it does best - score, with four consecutive goals in the 23', 24', 26' and 29'. Oh, and did I mention that they already had one in the 10'? After the break, Brazil, the fans and anyone watching that Brazilian team had lost their joy and passion for the game. They were like victims of a rather sad storm that blew away all their hopes and dreams of winning this Championship. This resulted in two more goals for Germany, as it was possible for the team to be any more humiliated at Bello Horizonte's stadium.
Finaly, in the 90' minute Oscar managed to score one goal for Brazil. Not that this changes anything but at least it might bring some solace to the team and their faithful crowd.
I'm not expert on tactics but I can say this - the Brazilians like to make a show, to play around with the ball, to pass to each other sever times, to fool around, and to try to shine as bright as possible. They are playing like birds - trying to show each and every of their bright colours. On the other hand, Germany is playing as one might expect Germany to play -well organised, visible structure, very much to the point. It's a well working machine, that does not play to make a show but plays to win. And it works, it bloody damn works!
You can't get lost if you don't know where you're going...
