11/05/24
July 08, 2014
Brazil Faces Germany for Spot in World Cup Final: In the worst World Cup loss by Brazil in the country's history, the host nation lost 7-1 to Germany in the semi-final after goals by Thomas Mueller, Miroslav Klose, Toni Kroos, Toni Kroos, Sami Khedira, Andre Schuerrle and Andre Schuerrle. Oscar scored for Brazil.
Not the only thing one has been stunned by today, presumably.
posted by holden at 04:31 PM on July 08, 2014
Germany waxing Brazil 5-0
posted by tommybiden at 04:52 PM on July 08, 2014
That's'a samba joke there, eh boss?
posted by kokaku at 04:55 PM on July 08, 2014
Don't worry, I'm sure Brazil's coach gave an epic, Disney-level speech to inspire an incredible comeback in the second half.
posted by Bonkers at 04:56 PM on July 08, 2014
I thought ESPN were showing this game, but they seem to be rerunning The Red Wedding.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 05:04 PM on July 08, 2014
Someone's gotta say it...
Germany is up by a touchdown in the 85th minute.
Wow. Just, wow.
posted by jjohn24680 at 06:00 PM on July 08, 2014
Germany is up by a touchdown in the 85th minute.
Brazil got a rouge at the end.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 06:02 PM on July 08, 2014
The poor host bastards have to play another game on Saturday. Unmerciful. Lord knows what will happen to the country if the opponent is Argentina and Brazil gets crushed again. Civil disorder at the very least.
posted by beaverboard at 06:22 PM on July 08, 2014
Argentina need to lose tomorrow to make sure we have two important games left, not one.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 06:25 PM on July 08, 2014
I thought ESPN were showing this game, but they seem to be rerunning The Red Wedding.
Dude, spoiler alert...
posted by MeatSaber at 07:33 PM on July 08, 2014
The post-game crew seemed to be crediting Germany as much as criticizing Brazil for the loss. I think that's way too generous to Brazil. They were a disaster on defense, leaving multiple players wide open.
posted by rcade at 08:16 PM on July 08, 2014
The Red Wedding was a soccer match? No way!
posted by jmd82 at 08:32 PM on July 08, 2014
The post-game crew seemed to be crediting Germany as much as criticizing Brazil for the loss. I think that's way too generous to Brazil. They were a disaster on defense, leaving multiple players wide open.
Germany methodically chews up opponents that fail to execute their defensive responsibilities. To beat them will require sustained offensive pressure on the German weakness which this year is also the defenders. Germany does execute a slick defensive system employing their keeper, who is second to none in this role, but opponents speed on the front line is their poison.
Brazil historically has relied upon their speed and athleticism advantages to subdue opponents. They had neither this year and would have been better off employing the same strategy Klinsmann did against the Germans.
posted by cixelsyd at 09:36 PM on July 08, 2014
Germany methodically chews up opponents that fail to execute their defensive responsibilities.
True, but during this tournament they've been nowhere near as good as Brazil made them look. How many of the goals were scored by brilliant play against a well-placed defense? I can only think of one -- Schurrle's second goal where he just blew the ball near corner over the keeper from a sharp side angle. Maybe the shot Kroos bent during the barrage.
I think the Klose goal to go up 2-0 sent Brazil into the total emotional breakdown they've been holding off for weeks, and from then on they played like a team that had no idea where to be at any given moment. Some of it looked like pros playing keep away from amateurs, which is a trend that filled me with dread when the U.S. fell into it at low moments against much better teams in past years.
posted by rcade at 09:49 PM on July 08, 2014
Less talented teams can be successful. For years the Italians suffered on the front line because of ratios in their professional leagues that resulted in most of the "talent positions" being staffed by foreigners. The Italians weakness was offense. But in World play they realized this and adjusted their game to control the ball and allow their opponents virtually no opportunities. No matter how limited the Italians were they were never considered out of any contest, and they actually won a World Cup with said limitations.
In any sport you need to address the strengths and weaknesses of your squad and adjust accordingly. I believe Brazil had far more talent than many squads this year (including the US), but dependency on legacy rather than focus on reality did them in.
Did Brazil's coach actually make it to the press conference?
Do you think the talent on that squad loses 7 - 1 with Klinsmann at he helm? I think US soccer is in good shape for the next Cup. A few more athletes is all that is missing.
posted by cixelsyd at 10:25 PM on July 08, 2014
The best/worst name I've heard for this game?
"The Goalocaust"
posted by grum@work at 11:12 PM on July 08, 2014
posted by grum@work at 11:31 PM on July 08, 2014
Did Brazil's coach actually make it to the press conference?
He almost didn't, but then he went around his goalie.
posted by Etrigan at 08:30 AM on July 09, 2014
The whole tournament when on attack the other players looked for Neymar and otherwise stood around aimlessly waiting on his moves, without Neymar they just stood around on attack and the Germans simply walked up and took the ball off their feet. Without Silva at the back they were exposed as a backline that only knows how to attack--Dante is an excellent center half but he had no integration with the team.
Scolari wanted one magician--Neymar-- and nine thugs and never imagined his one magician would miss a single minute of play, or maybe didn't want him thinking there was anyone challenging his place, so Scolari didn't bring a backup magician.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:02 PM on July 09, 2014
The more I view the footage of Silva running into the Colombian keeper, the more suspiciously intentional looking it appears to be.
posted by beaverboard at 12:47 PM on July 09, 2014
What's suspicious about it? If he did it on purpose, it only hurts his team.
posted by rcade at 01:38 PM on July 09, 2014
That is my concern. It caused me to have an Oliver Stone follow-the-money moment. Silva had to know he was going to get booked for doing it.
Not a bit of protest from him or anyone else over the call. He just matter of factly headed back up the field. And didn't look at or speak to any of his teammates. Nor did he look devastated over making such a foolish, avoidable mistake that carried such huge consequences.
I would have considered fatigue as a factor causing unintentional contact with the match being past the 60th minute, were it not for the amount of effort Silva put into the interference.
posted by beaverboard at 02:37 PM on July 09, 2014
That is my concern. It caused me to have an Oliver Stone follow-the-money moment. Silva had to know he was going to get booked for doing it
As I saw mentioned on another site, anyone thinking that the Brazilian players would throw a game are crazy. All of them are highly paid players (unlike their African opponents who are always suspects, it seems) and winning the World Cup this time would have made them legends in Brazil. I don't think there is enough money to get one of them to throw the game.
I took his move as a boneheaded attempt to get the ball from the keeper, and the lack of protest simply being the case that everyone could see what he did and there was no (legitimate excuse) for doing it. His coach could be seen face-palming and shaking his head immediately after it happened.
posted by grum@work at 03:39 PM on July 09, 2014
Occam's Razor would say his teammates had been getting away with murder for 60 minutes so why would he expect his act to result in a yellow card?
posted by yerfatma at 04:57 PM on July 09, 2014
The countries met once before in the 2002 World Cup final, which Brazil won 2-0.
I was stunned by this. Given how many titles (and SF/QF) appearances these teams have had, the fact that they've only faced each other once before is amazing.