Brazil vs Germany Semi-Finals World Cup 2014

Match Details:

Brazil vs Germany Live

Date: , 08, July, 2014

Kick-off Time: 22:00

Status: Live

World Cup

The FIFA World Cup 2014 has moved into the semi-final stage, pitting the final four teams left—Brazil, Germany, Argentina and the Netherlands—against one another for a spot in the coveted Maracana final.

Here we take a look at the first tie on offer: the Selecao vs. Die Mannschaft.

Brazil

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few days, you'll be well-aware of the issues Brazil are facing ahead of their semi-final tie.

Neymar is out for the tournament, and Thiago Silva is suspended for the match against Germany. In case you're keeping count, that's your best player and your best centre-back (and captain!) out for your biggest match so far.
It opens up a number of questions regarding team selection: Will Dante step in and partner David Luiz in defence or will Henrique? Does Bernard step in on the left of the 4-2-3-1 or is a rejig set to occur?

Dante and Bernard will be the favourites, especially with Willian struggling with an injury. The team will need to re-calibrate and move away from the "it's all about Neymar" playing method and begin sharing the ball out.


Germany
Germany, finally, are beginning to move through the gears and put in their best showing so far against France in the quarter-final—the drubbing they gave 10-man Portugal aside.

Mats Hummels came into the side and seemingly fixed everything, leading a deeper defensive line, getting help from Philipp Lahm at right-back—his correct position—and switching to a far more productive 4-2-3-1 formation.

Of the two sides competing, Joachim Low's is further ahead in its progression, and that makes it the favourite for the tie despite home advantage. No key players are injured, and they seem to be finding their feet.

"We desperately want to play in the Maracana in Rio again, on July 13," Low told reporters ahead of the game (h/t ITV.com). "We're not done yet."


1. Luiz Gustavo vs. Toni Kroos
In switching to the 4-2-3-1 formation, Low managed to take Die Mannschaft back to basics and succeed using more obvious movements, attacks and defensive mechanisms.

The key to their enhanced attacking play was Toni Kroos in the No. 10 slot, receiving passes between the lines and linking superbly with those around him. Thomas Mueller in particular was brought into play early and often by Kroos and worked France's defensive line very well.

It's up to Brazil, and more specifically the returning Luiz Gustavo, to quell this as quickly as possible. He's been the tournament's best anchor so far, and he'll need to be right on top of his game to stamp this out.

2. Sharing the Load

Brazil have been entirely focused on Neymar: Give the ball to Neymar, create space for Neymar and force the ball into Neymar's feet to see if he can spark the difference.

Without him the Selecao must share the load, giving Hulk, Oscar and Bernard equal touches and attacking each of the pitch's thirds equally.
You can't hang your hat on any of Brazil's other players—none of their attackers is, like Neymar, a top-five in world football—but the formula can come together with some tweaks.

Utilise Bernard's guile, Oscar's positional brilliance and Hulk's long-range shooting.