By Tam Nguyen, Nguoi Viet
Home team Brazil had hoped to celebrate a berth into the World Cup final on Tuesday, but an injury to top player Neymar and a one-game suspension of captain Thiago Silva have made the task more difficult. The winner of Tuesday’s match that pits Brazil against Germany will meet either the Netherlands or Argentina on Saturday.
Neymar of Brazil will miss Tuesday’s semifinal match against Germany ― and a potential final game this weekend ― after sustaining a broken vertebra against Colombia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Kickoff: 1 p.m. PDT, ESPN
Players to watch
BRAZIL: The back injury will sideline Neymar for the rest of the World Cup and beyond, so that means David Luiz will have to step up and lead the team to a win if it is to play in the final. For a defender, Luiz can score goals when it really counts with his striking ability. Luiz has three goals in the tournament, including the game winner against Colombia.
GERMANY: Mats Hummels is another defender who is a striker. Hummels notched one in past the goalkeeper against France for a 1-0 win to reach the semifinals. Hummels is a sneaky defender who can get into scoring position with the other team not noticing him; his head is a deadly weapon if the ball is crossed to him in the air.
Keys to victory
BRAZIL: Brazil needs to take the early lead and score often; a one-goal lead is never safe playing against the Germans. The Brazilians need to set up their strikers in the box for the crosses to the wings or the middle to keep the German defenders guessing where the ball is headed. Brazil must go for the fast strikes once connected with the crosses.
GERMANY: Attack, attack and attack is the only way to wear down the Brazilians. Germany must bring everyone to the net and equip the front with forwards who can strike from both in and outside of the box. Germany needs to use speed and short lead passes to get into the open area of the field to set up plays and drive the ball in the box.
Prediction: Both teams will put everything on net, and the result will be a hectic game. The offenses and defenses are evenly matched. The strikers on both teams are dangerous, and it can be either a scoring affair or a saving clinic between the two goalkeepers. It is going to be a close game from the start and all the way to the final whistle.
Final score: Brazil 1, Germany 0, added extra time
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