71 World Cup rout like a ghost: Brazil coach Italy game chance for Dele Alli to stake claim and live up to billing
LOTS AT STAKE Tite says the 2014 World Cup loss against Germany adds significance to the friendly in Berlin
football team coach Tite says the “ghost” of their 7-1 mauling by Germany at the 2014 World Cup still haunts the ‘Selecao’, as the teams prepare to meet on Tuesday.
Brazil suffered their heaviest home defeat when Germany hit four goals in six devastating firsthalf minutes of the Belo Horizonte semi-final. Toni Kroos and Andre Schuerrle both scored twice over the 90 minutes as Germany’s attack ran riot en route to winning the World Cup title.
The teams meet in a friendly for the first time since at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium and Tite says Brazil still bear the scars.
“This has a huge psychological meaning - no one needs to fool themselves about that,” Tite said.
“The 7-1 from the World Cup is like a ghost.
“It’s present, people still talk about it, but the more you talk about it, the less this ‘ghost’ disappears.
“It won’t just be a sporting challenge, but a huge emotional challenge too.
“We are preparing to give our best performance, which will be important, but of course I also want a good result.”
Tite has been in charge of Brazil since 2016, but Felipe Scolari was head coach for the mauling by Germany at the last World Cup.
“I was watching the game at home in Sao Paulo with my wife and after the third goal went in, she started to cry,” said the 56-year-old Tite.
“That started me off. On Germany’s quality
“It was a moment of great inspiration for Germany, every shot was a goal - stuff like that doesn’t even happen in video games.
“Sometimes you get that in football, a team comes close to perfection and that’s what happened to Germany.
“The wound is still open and the match in Berlin is a part of the process of closing it.”
Germany lost to Brazil on penalties in the men’s final of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, but this is their first meeting at senior international level since the 7-1 rout.
Tite told Brazil reporters that Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho will replace Douglas Costa in the only change from the team which beat Russia 3-0 in Moscow on Friday.
Germany head coach Joachim Loew expects to make up to five changes from the starting line-up of Friday’s 1-1 with Spain.
Stars Mesut Ozil and Thomas Mueller have been released by Loew to rest while Ilkay Gundogan is expected to start in Germany’s midfield.
Tite explained in depth why he sees Germany as one of the favourites to defend their World Cup title this June in Russia.
“Not only because of the football, but because of something hard to attain: continuity in their performances,” said the Brazilian.
“It has been a process in the years under Joachim Loew.
“Tactically, Germany have a lot of options, you saw that at the Confederations Cup (which they won) with high quality young players.”
BERLIN:Brazil
On the semi-final in 2014
England approach Tuesday’s friendly against Italy grappling with a familiar set of recurring problems that seem to resurface whenever major football tournaments approach.
An injury to Harry Kane will deny them their most potent weapon at Wembley with concerns over the Tottenham Hotspur striker’s availability for the World Cup mirroring storylines from other build-ups when former linchpins Bryan Robson, David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and Ashley Cole all struggled for fitness.
Kane is expected to return to action next month and, if he stays fit, will be one of only a handful of players guaranteed a start in England’s World Cup opener against Tunisia in June, as manager Gareth Southgate struggles with issues throughout the team.
Kane’s club mate Dele Alli has long seemed a shoo-in as support striker but has struggled to live up to the praise from Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, who this month referred to him as the best 21-year-old in the world.
Alli again looked ineffectual when he came on as a substitute in England’s 1-0 victory over the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Friday and goalscorer Jesse Lingard made a strong case for inclusion in Southgate’s World Cup starting line-up.
Alli’s chances may be further restricted if England go into the tournament with the 3-5-2 formation employed in Amsterdam as Southgate might opt for Raheem Sterling alongside Kane on the back of the 23-year-old’s fine club season with Manchester City.
With time running out, Alli has the chance to make his case against Italy when Southgate is expected to name him up front with Jamie Vardy, whose pace and prolific goal-scoring record make him a certainty for the squad.
Tactically, Germany have a lot of options, you saw that at the Confederations Cup (which they won) with high quality young players. It was a moment of great inspiration for Germany, every shot was a goal stuff like that doesn’t even happen in video games. LONDON: