Germans will be step too far for limited Brazil
And in a tournament of exceptional goalkeeping, calm Neuer stands out
NEYMAR DA SILVA SANTOS NTOS Jr is injured. Two-hundred dred million Brazilians wailed ed in unison when they witnessed essed Juan Zuniga’s clumsy msy challenge towards the end nd of their team’s match against st Colombia.
Winning 2-1, why did Luiz Felipe Scolari not withdraw the mercurial striker to protect him? The match had become frantic as Colombia launched a last bid to stay in the tournament.
There was always the danger that someone would take a dull one amidst the chaos. That it was s the player most important both th creatively and symbolically to the nation who was the victim m is devastating for the Brazilians.
As for the protege, I could cry y for him. His once-in-a-lifetime opportunity unity gone in one catastrophic collision. n.
How will his absence affect t the hosts’ prospects of winning the W World ld Cup? Without doubt they will miss the player who has been their talisman throughout this brilliant show.
If he had been injured in a groupstage match I doubt they would still be in the competition. At this stage though, I’m not so sure that they will miss him quite to the same extent.
Regardless of how unconvincing they have been, they have acquired a momentum and a self-belief that even the absence of Neymar will be difficult to undermine.
The names of this present Brazilian squad trip off the tongue, Fred, Hulk and Thiago Silva more due to their simplicity than as a result of memorable bl performances f on th the field. Even if they do lift the cup, they won’t resonate into the future like Jairzinho, Eder, Rivelino and Pele.
They have progressed further than I believed they would, but now I think their time is up. The imperious Germans will see to that on their way to the Final. Even with Neymar, I think this would have been true.
The efficiency the Germans have exhibited has been awesome. Not win at all costs but win regardless of performance. Win when not playing at their best.
They have the organisation and mentality to do this.
In Manuel Neuer they possess a keeper at the very top of his game. Neuer has also effectively performed as the Germans’ 11th outfield player, whether that’s through sweeping outside his box or launching an attack with a piercing long pass.
The Germans have a word they use to describe the type of goalkeeper they like: Ruhig. Roughly translated it means quiet or calm, the way the very best goalkeepers should be.
The very opposite, in fact, of the demeanour displayed by England’s Joe Hart during the tournament. I thought Hart was panicky, tense and nervous, everything Neuer is not.
The standard of goalkeeper at this tournament has been exceptionally high, with superb performances from Mexico’s Guillermo Ochoa, Keylor Navas of Costa Rica and Belgium’s Thibaut Courtois.
Neuer’s save from Karim Benzema at the end of Friday’s quarter-final win over France looked effortless but displayed perfect positioning and incredible strength in the right arm to block the ball. Yet his body language after the save screamed — ‘what else did you expect me to do’. The very definition of ruhig.
The Germans are a unit, prepared for every scenario.
Vorsprung durch technik — advantage through technology. Or in the case of the German Football Federation (DFB), through preparation.
Their purpose-built training ground, Campo Bahia, in the north east of Brazil has been the cornerstone of this World Cup campaign and, within the luxurious complex, an army of staff have worked to ready Joachim Low’s players for action.
Attention to detail is key. The goal scored by Mats Hummels against France came from a set-piece, but you can bet Low’s men entered the match with a complete understanding of where the weaknesses in the French defence lay and how to punish them with the right delivery to the right player.
These are the little things that make the difference.
If Germany reach the Final then they can trace the journey all the way back to 2006 when Matthias Sammer joined the DFB as technical director. They have worked at every level to give themselves a shot at winning this World Cup.
I think they may succeed.