Brazil end Germany’s unbeaten run
BERLIN (AP): BRAZIL DEFEATED Germany 1-0 yesterday to end the World Cup champion’s 22-game unbeaten run and restore some lost pride following the humiliating mismatch between the sides in their previous meeting.
Gabriel Jesus’ first-half header settled the friendly and provided his side with a welcome confidence boost some three months before the World Cup. Brazil didn’t concede during the international break as they also defeated Russia 3-0 in Moscow.
Though Brazil coach Tite said before the game in Berlin’s Olympiastadion that revenge for the side’s 7-1 loss in the 2014 World Cup semifinal was not in his players’ minds, he acknowledged there was no getting over the result.
“The wound is still open,” Tite told Kicker magazine in an interview. “My wife started crying after the third goal.”
BREAKTHROUGH
Jesus made the breakthrough seven minutes before the interval when Kevin Trapp flapped at his powerful but centrally positioned header and allowed the ball go in. Willian’s cross came in at pace and Jesus was just five meters from goal, but the goalkeeper was in position to make the save.
Jesus had missed a good chance minutes earlier when he left two Germany defenders sprawling on a counterattack and then fired over with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Ilkay Gundogan had the home side’s best chance beforehand when he miss-hit the ball after Julian Draxler pulled it back.
Brazil emerged with more intent after the break, with Antonio Ruediger blocking Willian and Paulinho drawing a good save from Trapp off the rebound, before Coutinho fired just over.
Other results yesterday. England 1 Italy 1; Belgium 4 Saudi Arabia 0; Japan 1 Ukraine 2; Russia 1 France 3; Swizerland 6 Panama 0; Denmark 0 Chile 0; Poland 3 South Korea 2.