Sweet revenge for Brazil against Germany
● Gabriel Jesus first half header ends Germany’s 22-match unbeaten run
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 it 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."
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.
Referee Jonas Eriksson asked Brazil captain Dani Alves to calm his players down after Toni Kroos felt the effect of yet another robust challenge.
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.
Joshua Kimmich produced a vital interception to deny Coutinho, and Jesus missed an open goal from the resultant corner.
At the other end, Sandro Wagner twice headed good chances wide. It was as close as Germany got as Brazil adopted a 6-3-1 formation to protect its lead.
While the result will not erase the humiliation of one of Brazilian football's darkest nights, the nature of their performance suggests they are approaching their best as they look to land a sixth World Cup.