After Germany dismantled Brazil in yesterday's first semi-final, tonight a magnificent contest took place between the Netherlands and Argentina, two perfectly balanced teams which probed and tested for ninety minutes, pitting their stars against one another, then went into extra time. Penalties... Argentina!
In this document you have all the phases of the world cup, through to the semi-finals.
Brazil and Netherlands play for third place on Saturday; Germany and Argentina play in the final on Sunday.
Semi-Finals
Netherlands 0 Argentina 0
After 90 minutes
Extra time: 0-0
Penalties Argentina wins 4-2
Netherlands
Cillessen, Kuyt, Blind, Martins Indi (Janmaat), Vlaar, de Vrij, Wijnaldum, de Jong (Clasie), Sneijder, van Persie (Huntelaar), Robben
Coach: Louis van GAAL
Yellow card: Martins Indi, Huntelaar
Argentina
Romero, Zabaleta, Rojo, Mascherano, Demichelis, Garay, Pérez (Palacio), Biglia, Higuaín (Agüero), Messi, Lavezzi (Rodríguez)
Coach: Alejandro SABELLA
Yellow card: Demichelis
Ball possession: Netherlands 56% Argentina 44%
Shots/on target: Netherlands 7/1 Argentina 8/4
Corners: Netherlands 4 Argentina 4
Fouls committed: Netherlands 15 Argentina 10
Brazil 1 Germany 7
Müller (11'), Klose (23'), Kroos (24', 26'), Khedira (29') Schürrle (69', 79')
Oscar, 90
A nightmare fist half for Brazil... more exactly a six-minute spell of Hell when four goals were scored by an organized Germany against a disorganized Brazil.
The opening phase of the game heightened the expectations of the crowd in Belo Horizonte, Brazil gaining a corner in the first minute, Marcelo shot wide on 3'. After 4 minutes, Germany took control. By 8', there was a dangerous shot on goal and the scoreline says the rest.
In the second half, Brazil had strung together three decent chances by minute 52, and on another day could have scored but Germany gradually began controlling the game. Two more goals ensued against a Brazil that was growing more and more (what would have happened if the game had started at 46'?) until Oscar scored Brazil's goal of honour right at the end of the game.
Conclusion: Brazil was not 6 goals worse than Germany but at crucial moments of the game, the Germans were playing on another level. Brazil has a respectable third place to play for, Germany awaits the next victim in the final. Spain sonceded five goals against the Netherlands, Portugal conceded four goals against Germany, Brazil was on the day just another victim.
Not a disgrace for Brazilian football, not a disgrace for the career of Scolari, just one of those afternoons. Tomorrow, Brazil could win the game 2-1.
Brazil
Julio Cesar, David Luiz, Fernandinho (Paulinho), Marcelo, Hulk (Ramires), Fred (Willian), Oscar, Dante, L. Gustavo, Bernard, Maicon
Coach: Luiz Felipe SCOLARI
Yellow card: Dante
Germany
Neuer, Höwedes, Hummels (Mertesacker), Khedira (Draxler), Schweinsteiger, Özil, Klose (Schürrle), Müller, Lahm, Kroos, Boateng
Coach: Joachin LOEW
Yellow card: -
Ball possession: Brazil 47% Germany 53%
Shots/on target: Brazil 18/8 Germany 14/10
Corners: Brazil 7 Germany 5
Fouls committed: Brazil 11 Germany 13
Quarter Finals
https://english.pravda.ru/sports/127969-quarter_finals/
https://english.pravda.ru/sports/127938-fifa_last_eight/
Group Phase
https://english.pravda.ru/sports/127907-fifa_groups/
Timothy BANCROFT-HINCHEY
PRAVDA.Ru
(timothy.hinchey@gmail.com)