German Goals Galore, Brazil Embarrassed

 1-7 

The story coming into today's World Cup semi-final is the absence of Neymar and Thiago Silva for Brazil as they face Germany.  Brazil have been carried into the semi-finals by the spirit of the nation and the overwhelming support from the home crowds.  Meanwhile Germany reached the semi-final with a dynamic offense and a confident keeper.  Neymar has been a shinning star for Brazil, but today the absence of Thiago Silva played a much bigger role in the outcome of the match.

Brazil came out with a very high tempo and looked to use speed to get past the German defense.  However, it was their defense that slow and, more importantly, hopelessly disorganized.  Germany scored early in the match on a poorly defended corner-kick.  Toni Kroos played the cross into the box and Müller was left unmarked at the far-post.  With a free volley, Müller hit the cross first-time to beat the keeper (11').

Brazil had no chance to get back into the game as their defense completely collapsed and Germany took them to school.  First Klose scored an historic goal for Germany when Müller set him up in the box.  Klose had time to shoot twice, the first shot saved by Julio César and the second finished on the rebound (23').  This goal puts Klose at the top of the all-time World Cup scoring leaders with sixteen.

Then in the blink on an eye Kroos scored two more for Germany.  Lahm played a cross into the box that came to Müller.  He whiffed his shot though, and the ball continued on to Kroos who did not miss and found the net (24').  Immediately after Brazil's Fernandinho gave away possession and Kroos came away with the ball.  He linked up with Khedira who set him up with a return pass for another easy finish (26').

Khedira scored one himself shortly after when Hummels made a run out of the back.  Hummels passed to Khedira who then passed to Özil.  Özil gave the ball back to Khedira in space and he finished the last goal of the first-half (29').

By half-time the match was essentially over as Brazil were looking at a five goal deficit.  Hulk and Fernandinho were taken out for Ramires and Paulinho in the second-half.  The two gave Brazil a bit of a spark and soon after coming into the match Paulinho forced German keeper Neuer to make two good saves.

Germany further stretched the lead when André Schürrle came in for Klose later in the half and scored two more goals.  Lahm played a square-pass across the face of goal and Schürrle hit the shot first-time for his first goal of the match (69').  He scored again when Müller played a ball for him inside the box.  Schürrle had to control a tricky pass which he did well to setup a shot.  His shot was also taken well as it caught the crossbar on its way to the net (79').

Brazil, who had nothing working for them today, scored a consolation goal at the very end of the match.  A long ball over the top put Oscar behind defender Boateng.  With just the keeper to beat, Oscar scored rather easily for the last goal of the match (90').

The result of today's match is not surprising, though the actual score is a bit shocking.  Brazil have not been very convincing leading up to this semi-final and loosing Neymar's spirit as well as Thiago Silva's leadership was a recipe for disaster.  Germany will wait and see if it is Argentina or the Netherlands that face them in the final.  They should be full of confidence after this blowout, but surly their next opponent will put up more of a fight.

Hummels Returns, Scores For Germany

 0-1 

The first quarter-final of the 2014 World Cup was a meeting between European neighbors France and Germany.  France took care of Nigeria in the round of 16 to reach the quarter-finals, while Germany had a tougher match against Algeria that was decided in extra-time.

Mats Hummels returned to the line-up for Germany after missing the match against Algeria due to illness.  His presence was quite influential as the centerback kept Benzeman quiet in the first-half and scored an early goal to give Germany the lead.  Toni Kroos played a free-kick into the box and Hummels won the header at the far-post for the goal (13').

Miroslav Klose was also in the starting line-up for Germany with Özil and Müller as the two other attacking players.  Müller was active in the offense as always, but Klose was less impressive.  The veteran striker scored an important goal against Ghana in the group stage, but has not been as effective in the knock-out rounds.

Benzema was the lone striker for France with Valbuena and Griezmann on the outside.  Benzema had a pretty good game and was on the ball often in the German box.  However Hummels and keeper Neuer had his number and kept Benzema off the score-sheet.  Giroud came into the match late for France as a goal was the only way to stay alive in the World Cup.  He was not given much time though, and he was also unable to score.

Germany were much better today against France than they were against Algeria.  The return of Hummels was a big part of that, but today we also saw for the first time in the tournament Philipp Lahm  starting at rightback.  Previously he has been playing defensive midfield with Boateng in the rightback position.  We will have to wait and see where he plays in the semi-final match against either Brazil or Columbia.

Germany Fends Off Algeria

 2-1 

Germany and Algeria played the second round of 16 match today for a place in the quarter-final against France.  Nigeria were dispatched earlier in the day and Algeria would be the only African team left if they could knock out the European giants.

Algeria had a much better start to the game and had the German defense scrambling to cover their counter-attacks.  Germany did not look sound in the back, but did enough to stop the Algerians.  The German offense eventually settled into the match late in the first-half, but could not break through.

André Shürrle was introduced after half-time in place of Mario Götze who started the match.  Shürrle was more effective offensively and more willing to help defend.  Germany as a whole played better in second-half with Shürrle on the field and his influence was crucial later in the game.

Algeria's offense started to look less and less threatening as Germany started to build momentum.  Neither scored in regulation though, and extra-time was required for the third time in six matches.  The first two extra-time matches did not produce a winning goal and were settled by penalties.

However Germany were quick to score in extra-time when Müller linked up with Shürrle.  Müller rolled into the path of Shürrle inside the box that was played just a bit behind the substitute.  Shürrle was able to drag his back leg and get his back heel on the ball to beat the keeper (92').

Mesut Özil added another goal near the end of extra-time to reinforce Germany's victory.  Algeria could not afford to keep numbers in defense and Shürrle pushed forward with Özil to get behind that weakened defense.  First Shürrle fired a shot on goal that was blocked.  The rebound fell to Özil who smashed the shot in from close range (119').

That second goal proved to be huge for Germany as Algeria surprisingly had a late goal in them.  With their last effort Algeria pushed forward and a cross to the far post was played right into the path of Abdelmoumene Djabou who scored (120 +1').  There simply wasn't enough time to even try to get a second goal and Algeria will follow Nigeria out of the World Cup.

Germany will face France in the quarter-finals and will need to sort out some defensive problems.  Mertesacker is getting beaten offen by faster players and keeper Neuer was forced off his line time and time again to snuff out attacks.  It is likely the Hummels will return to the line up for the next match after missing today's game which will be an improvement.  But will Klose be involved is another question that remains uncertain.

Bayern Munich Road to Repeat, Crush ManCity

1-3

In Champions League play, defending title winner Bayern Munich travelled to England to face the toughest Group D opponent Manchester City.  Last season Bayern Munich soundly won the Bundesliga before winning the all-German Champions League final.  Today they proved they are again serious contenders in the tournament with a decisive win over Manchester City.

Franck Ribéry got the German club started early when he was able to cut the ball inside to his right foot and beat keeper Joe Hart to the near-post (7').  Bayern Munich were around Manchester City's goal often which prevented City from building much on offense.

After half-time Manchester City had too many breakdowns that lead to more scoring for the visitors.  Thomas Müller made a well timed run behind defender Gaël Clichy who missed his clearance on long ball into the box.  Müller was able to take touch around the keeper before finishing the goal (56').  Moments later Müller created a turnover in Manchester City's defense and played Arjen Robben forward into space.  Robben beat defender Nastasić to work the shot for a third Bayern goal (59').

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini used all three substitutes in the second-half and the changes worked in his favor.  Álvaro Negredo replaced Edin Džeko and scored a late goal for the home club.  Negredo made a nice turn to get space for a shot on his left foot and he curled the shot just enough to get the deflection off the post and into the net (79').  

City then had a great chance to score another late goal when Yaya Touré was tackled from behind just outside the penalty area.  Defender Boateng was the last defender and missed his tackle earning him a red card.  David Silva hit the ensuing freekick well but off the crossbar.  Fortunately for Munich the ejection came with only a few minutes left and they were able to hold on with ten men.

Manchester City will get a chance to return the favor of a home defeat later in December when the two replay in Germany.  City need to see a lot of improvement though, if they wish to challenge the German giant.  

Bayern Munich Lift Champions League Trophy

1-2 

The all-German Champions League final promised to be exciting with rivals Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund squaring-off in London.  Bayern Munich already ran away with the Bundesliga title, a staggering twenty-five points clear of Dortmund in second-place, and had the added motivation after losing to Chelsea in last years final in their own stadium no less.

From the start of the match, Dortmund put the pressure on Munich and create all the early chances.  Lewandowski, Blaszczykowski, Reus, and Bender all had shots on goal that Munich keeper Neuer had to deal with.  Munich did start to work themselves into the match, but by half-time neither side were able to score.

After the break the game really started to open up, and Munich broke the deadlock when Mandžukić scored the first goal of the match.  Ribery played Robben into space at the end-line who then found the striker alone in front of the Dortmund goal for an easy finish (60').  The lead did not last long for Munich however, as a penalty was conceded when defender Dante made a sloppy challenge on Reus in the box.  Gündagon scored from the spot to level the score for Dortmund (67').

Though the score was now level, Munich were actually quite lucky with the call, or rather the lack of a call.  Dante had been booked in the first-half, and should have been booked again for the foul that led to the penalty.  For whatever reason he was not, and Munich were allowed to finish the match with all eleven players.

As regulation was about to expire, Robben came up big once again for Bayern Munich and scored the deciding goal.  A long-ball out of the back fell for Ribery who did well to trap and play Robben in-on-goal with a nice heel flick.  Robben finished comfortably to secure the Champions League trophy with almost no time left on the clock (89').

Not to say that Munich did not deserve the title, but allowing Dante to remain on the field was certainly a big factor in the final moments of the match.  There is no question that he should have been sent off with two yellow cards, which would have drastically helped Dortmund in the last twenty minutes of the match.

Barcelona Break-Down, Bayern Munich Coast

 7-0 

The all-German Champions League final is now assured as Bayern Munich easily handle Barcelona a second time.  Barcelona striker Messi played and scored over the weekend, but today he was left on the bench for the entire match.  True he was not very effective in the first game against Bayern Munich, but down four goals you expect the best finisher in the world right now to play.

Without Messi on the field, Barcelona were quite dull and rather predictable with their passing.  They also seemed to lack the spark that gives them confidence in these big games against top clubs.  Bayern Munich on the other hand were quite comfortable passing through the midfield and extremely organized in defense.

Barcelona were outplayed in the first-half and after the break Munich's lead further increased.  Robben was played into space wide right with a good pass out of the back by defender Alaba.  Cutting across to his preferred left foot, Robben was able to shake defender Adriano before curling his shot around the keeper and into the net (48').

As if the five goal deficit was not already insurmountable, a Barcelona own-goal completely killed their spirit.  Ribery was attempting to hit forward Mandzukic at the far-post, but defender Pique managed to get in-between the two Munich players.  However, his attempted clearance came off his shin awkwardly and settled in his own net (72').  Shortly after Müller scored a final goal for Bayern when Ribery played a cross to the far-post that he finished with a header (76').

Bayern Munich finished the semifinal round with an aggregate score 7-0 and advances to the Champions League final for the second straight year.  Munich are slight favorites against Borussia Dortmund and the two clubs play each other this weekend in the Bundesliga.  The outcome will have little effect on the league standings, but it should be a good preview of the upcoming final in London.

Bayern Munich Pummels Barcelona

  4-0

Barcelona travelled to Germany for the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich.  Barcelona's defense has been banged up over the course of the season and with Puyol and Mascherano out, Marc Bartra had to start at centerback.  The inexperience of Bartra was a real weakness as Munich were able to penetrate the visitor's back line often.

Müller and Robben were in top form today with at least one of them getting involved in every Munich goal.  First Robben played a high cross into the box for Dante at the back-post.  Dante won the header and played the ball back across the goal for Müller crashing the opposite post.  Müller finished with a header for the only goal of the first-half (25').

Barcelona, as expected, held the majority of possession, however the team only had one off-target shot during the first-half of the game.  After half-time things only got worse for Barcelona as the German club played with more confidence and scored shortly after the break on a corner-kick.  Robben played another cross to the far-post, this time met by Müller with a header, laying the ball down for Gomez in front of goal (49').  There were some questions about Gomez being offsides, but no call was made on the field and the goal counted.

Robben then scored himself following a counter-attack led by Ribery.  Robben managed to find space to shoot inside the box and curled the ball around the keeper with his preferred left foot (73').  Again Barcelona protested the goal, this time for a basketball style pick set by Müller that helped Robben loose defender Jordi Alba.  Again no call was made and Munich pulled ahead 3-0.

Munich put one more in the Barcelona net as Müller finished his big day with another goal.  Ribery worked the overlap with fullback Alaba who fired a low cross into the box that Müller finished easily for a final score of 4-0 (82').

Barcelona have one foot out the door and need a huge turn-around next week at the Nou Camp.  Munich sit with a comfortable lead and their fans have already started booking their tickets for the final in London.