Rio de Janeiro: When Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari spoke about attaining heavenly bliss by winning the country’s sixth crown in the World Cup on home soil he wouldn’t have imagined that his team would miss their guardian angel in the semifinal. Brazil must beat Germany without the injured Neymar in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday to keep the collective dream of Big Phil and his 200 million compatriots alive. In his absence, the hosts resemble a toothless tiger.
Belo Horizonte means beautiful horizon in Portuguese and Scolari would like to believe that a new star is at hand for Brazil ahead of their sternest test in the tournament. When Scolari last met Germany in the final of the 2002 World Cup, his team won 2-0 with Ronaldo completing his redemption by scoring both goals.
Brazil hadn’t been a one-man team 12 years ago, even though Ronaldo was a central figure. Rivaldo and Ronaldinho were capable of turning a match around on their own. In 2014, Scolari doesn’t have players with the X-factor in his squad that appears to be the most clerical in their history.
But Scolari, who has never lost in 12 World Cup matches, is smart enough to know that the trophy needn’t necessarily go to the best team here. He would be hoping to galvanise his players with the spirit of Neymar. Sometimes a misfortune can inspire an ordinary team to extraordinary deeds. Mind you Brazil haven’t lost a competitive match at home since 1975.
The hosts must also cope with the suspension of their captain and central defender Thiago Silva. Dante is expected to take Silva’s place. Chelsea’s Willian is likely to replace the irreplaceable Neymar. Scolari may not go for a change in style because 4-2-3-1 has been fruitful for him.
Brazil’s biggest hope in Belo Horizonte would be the lung power of their passionate supporters. You can bet your house on an emotional evening. Who knows? Fred and Hulk, figures of parody now, could emerge as Brazil’s heroes.
Germany, the antithesis of Brazil in their dispassionate appro-ach to football, are hungrier than ever. Joachim Loew’s boys can play as beautifully as some of the Brazilian teams of yore. But Germany have had enough of playing to the gallery and the semi-finals. For them, there is no time to lose in ending their title drought. They are desperate to beat Brazil in only the second World Cup meeting between the two powerhouses and have a crack at the superb, little trophy on July 13.
Loew may restore Mario Goetze to the starting XI after dropping him in favour of Miroslav Klose in the quarterfinal. The coach has hurt the ego of Goetze and he can expect a fitting response from the creative player. Against a counter-attacking team like Brazil, Germany would like to have more men in midfield in the same formation like their opponents. Thomas Muller, one of the most intelligent contemporary footballers, would be Loew’s trump card. He already has four goals here and it’s not a surprise that a player with the surname has a knack of finding the net. Muller’s off-the-ball running and ability to be in the right place at the right time could prove decisive in the end.
Key Battles
Luiz vs Mueller
With Neymar injured and captain Thiago Silva suspended, David Luiz is Brazil’s best player in the lineup against Germany. Defensively Luiz has showed a discipline he rarely did in three years at Chelsea before sealing a $85 million transfer to Paris Saint-Germain last month.
And he is also Brazil’s top goalscorer after Neymar, having netted against Chile in the last 16 and won the quarter-final against Colombia with a stunning free-kick.
His toughest test yet awaits, though, in preventing Mueller from extending his stunning World Cup record of scoring nine times in 11 games.
Mueller will be keen to make amends for missing the semifinal in 2010 through suspension and has had previous success against Luiz. He outjumped the Brazilian to score for Bayern against
Chelsea in the Champions League final of 2012, although Luiz emerged the victor on that occasion as Chelsea won on penalties.
Gustavo vs Kroos
Old Bayern Munich teammates Luis Gustavo and Toni Kroos symbolise the contrast in styles between Brazil’s physical nature and Germany’s ability to keep the ball.
Gustavo missed the quarter-final against Colombia due to suspension, but is certain to return and will look to knock Kroos out of his rhythm in the same way Fernandinho and Paulinho ganged up on Colombia’s James Rodriguez in the quarter final.
With captain Philipp Lahm having returned to his traditional right back role in Germany’s the quarter-final victory against France, Kroos has become a midfield reference point around which the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mesut Ozil feed.
One area in which Gustavo may not be able to stop Kroos, though, is his excellent set-piece delivery which proved key in the last eight. Mats Hummels headed home the only goal of the game from his free-kick.
Hulk vs Hoewedes
Without star man Neymar due to a broken vertebrae, Brazilian hopes will fall on the broad shoulders of Hulk to carry his side to the final of their World Cup.
The Zenit St Petersburg striker is yet to score in the tournament and missed a penalty in his side’s shootout victory over Chile in the last 16.
However, he was a constant menace in his side’s 2-1 win over Colombia in the quarterfinals and was only denied by fine saves from David Ospina.
The steady Benedikt Hoewedes has been deployed at left-back throughout the tournament despite normally playing in the centre of defence by his club Schalke.
Hoewedes should be able to physically compete where most defenders struggle against Hulk, but may not have the pace to prevent Brazil’s man mountain cutting onto his dangerous left foot to shoot.
