The World Cup 2014 is about to hit a climax as we enter the semifinal stage of the competition and trust me the four teams left were made to work hard to get to this level. I am sure football lovers are not happy the World Cup is drawing to a close but we can’t also wait to know what team would be crowned World Champions for another 4 years at the least. When the World Cup ends we would be bored for a while but I think the already on going transfer buzz should keep us busy and wondering what the new season will look like. And as we all know the new season kicks off next month so we can try to endure and wait till then. While some Managers are busy spotting their transfer targets some are having fun in Brazil touring the beaches and the one that always come to mind is the elder whose pictures have gone viral in his outdated Speedos #OkBye.
Back to the World Cup gist. We have 5 time World Champs and hosts Brazil and they are also the team to have won the World Cup the most, there is Germany the 3 time winners and the most consistent side over the last 4 tournaments with this being their 4th straight semifinal appearance (Germany have always made the semifinal of all the World Cups they have participated in except on these occasions; 1994 and 1998), we also have 2 time winners Argentina whom are just gracing the semifinal for the first time in 24 years and finally The Netherlands who were runners up in 2010 and have been also been runners up on two other occasions (1974 and 1978) making up the Semifinalists. So there you have it Brazil, Germany, Argentina and Netherlands are into the last four stage with only 3 countries assured of medals, though 1st position is the ultimate. Good grief.
Brazil take on Germany in the first semifinal on Tuesday night with scores to settle obviously. Remember Brazil beat the Mannschaft of Germany to the trophy in 2002 and they haven’t met at the World Cup ever since. I would ordinarily have tipped Brazil to nick this but it’s a tough call for me. I will still have to do it though. Brazil would be without their Golden Boy Neymar Junior which is surely a big blow to the Selecao judging by his string of good performances. Not a big a Neymar fan but I have noticed he plays extremely well whenever he dons the Brazilian jersey. Neymar was injured during the quarter final clash against Colombia with a fractured bone injury at his back. The Brazilian skipper Thiago Silva too is going to be another big name set to miss out of this clash due to suspension.
It doesn’t look like the Germans have any injury worries and this could be their year. There isn’t much to say about this German team other than to be wary of them. A good squad, fantastic manager and most importantly they have got experience in depth. Phillip Lahm always comes to mind whenever this team is mentioned. This is his 3rd World Cup appearance and in each of the 3 appearances he has played as a left back, right back and most recently as a midfielder. A very industrious player you say? I figured too.
Conclusion
I can’t conclude this post without mentioning the name Louis Van Gaal, the Dutch coach. I see him as a Manager who takes nothing for granted. It was clear he prepared for penalty shoot outs against Costa Rica when he decided not to make all 3 substitution in regulation time reserving goalkeeper Tim Krul for the occasion. For me it simply meant he respected Costa Rica. Tactical nous is what I call it but Nigerians be like Kadiri Ikhana/Okey Imordi did same when Enyimba won the African Champions League always bringing on Dele Aiyenugba for Vincent Enyeama whenever it looked like penalties were in the offing. I see Brazil beating Germany by the odd goal (1-0). There wouldn’t be too much goals at this stage of the competition with all teams expected to approach the games cautiously. I see the Netherlands versus Argentina game ending in a draw (0-0) after regulation time but what happens afterwards I cannot guarantee.
Trivia
Before today’s game Brazil have played 102 World Cup matches with Germany playing two games more (104) but both teams have met only once at the World Cup which was in the 2002 final in South Korea/Japan. Will the Germans be fooled twice? We shall see.
Please attack the comments box with your opinions and make stuff interesting.
Thanks guys and have a fabulous week ahead.
Dipo Writes 
I don’t expect you to argue here, and especially not now, but if Germany do win, which is my prediction for this game, I’ll like to see your comments afterwards concerning my predictions at the beginning of this competition. However, if Germany lose, it doesn’t matter what your comment would be, I already figured that out. Either way, let’s hope for a fantastic game between real contenders and not pretenders waiting for another world war before they turn up. Before you respond to that remember the number ‘4’. Nice write up though, keep it up, I’m learning! Chao!!!
Argue? Hmmmm. Seem selfish tho, you want to hear what I would say if Germany won but not have any of my rants if they lost? Well as for the pretenders, they left same day 4 left. Thanks for reading…….. Bless
“…I see Brazil beating Germany by the odd goal (1-0). There wouldn’t be too much goals at this stage of the competition with all teams expected to approach the games cautiously.”
Hehehehehe…I raff. To be a soccer pundit is not easy 🙂
On hindsight, I think the team that rightfully should have knocked out the Selecao is Chile.
They brought the weakness of the Brazilian team to the fore. And all the Germans needed to do was not to first reapect their opponent’s name before their game.
7 – 1 loss is not a defeat, it’s absolute annihilation!
My prediction, Scolari will resign after the tourney. That seems obvious anyway 🙂
Expose toh bad. hahahaha. thanks for reading bro.
Netherland – Costa Rica (Q-Final)
It was quite expected that LvG would prepare for the penalty shootouts.
Netherland, hitherto, had been a team with a not-too-strong pedigree for penalty taking. And there they were, coming up against a team (Costa Rica) that qualified for the Quarters as a result of the victory they had in the shootouts over another team (Greece).
Even during yhe match, both teams were somehow playing to their perceived areas of strength. The Dutch wanted to round it off in the full match while the C-Ricans played like they wanted it to drag into the shoot outs.
That’s not to take the shine off LvG.
The tactics he employed in preparing the two keepers was phenomenal.
Krul had long been told that he would likely be called upon for penalties while the first-choice keeper was completely oblivious of that plan!
Then, he went ahead to select players who were top choice penalty takers in their respective clubs.
Dipps, that was completely phenomenal!
My respect for him went up by several notches!
Hahahaha. LVG for me is a good manager but his radical side is my issue. He can’t be perfect tho.