Germany Dream As Brazil Have Seven Nightmares in Belo Horizonte

Fans left shocked at Belo Horizonte.
(Pic Courtesy of FIFA.com)

One of the most brilliant minds to ever live, Albert Einstein, said, "Gott wurfelt nicht" or "God does not play dice." Well, Germany does not play nice. In years gone by, whenever 'football' is brought up among friends and colleagues, minds have a tendency to go on a 'Wanderlust' and look at the yellow of Brazil, the green lining on those remarkably striking outfit, donned by many of the greats of this game. From Pele to Zico, Carlos Alberto to Romario, Rivaldo to Garrincha, and most recently Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. There was an aura of invincibility about maestros who put on that jersey. But as is usual with all great things, it must come to an end. 

Picture says it all.
(Pic Courtesy of FIFA.com)

And what an end was it last night. Prior to the game, 200 million in Brazil, and millions more watching were waiting in excitement similar to Christmas Eve. Little did they know, the Grinch was coming in the form of Germany to give them seven wonderful presents which had little tags on them stating, "Once scored, not reversible." On a night when the 5-time champions disappeared in 6 minutes allowing the German Meisters to end up with 7 goals, Brazil and their fans were left dazed, with many still are. It could have been much worse. 

'Do we need an ambulance?'
(Pic Courtesy of FIFA.com)

In a match where the defence and midfield had to put on the performance of their lives, they actually did. But it was the worst, unlike what was actually required. From the moment Thomas Mueller put the Black, Red and Yellow ahead, Brazil's players went berserk. David Luiz was lost, Dante was Germany's best player and both full backs left gaps wide open. Fernandinho and Luiz Gustavo never had any fight in them, allowing Germany to fully impose to perfection the Blitzkrieg. Some of Brazil's players may never recover from this.

Fans who said this was due to Neymar and Thiago Silva not playing were clearly not watching the same game. Neymar could not have possibly have helped reduce the goals conceded. As good as Germany was on the night, Brazil were absolutely disastrous with it being a complete annihilation. They practically handed the game to Die Manschaaft, who gladly obliged. And Wunderbar they were. 

A really superlative lot, but can the better the Spanish achievement?
(Pic Courtesy of FIFA.com)

Brazil need to go back to the drawing board, as for all their might, Selecao have only triumphed twice since 1970. Germany though, have been in at least the semifinals four World Cups running. Tonight, Munich and Berlin will be elated in Schadenfreude as Rio and Sao Paolo mourn the end of Brazil being Kings in football. The Dutch or Argentina had better be afraid or be in line for another vernichtungsgedanke. (It is ver-nich-tungs-ge-danke.)

Argentina v Netherlands

Messi ran the show against Belgium.
(Pic Courtesy of FIFA.com)

Both teams have got to forget about the prospect of facing Germany and deal with what faces them tonight. I do not for one moment think there will be eight goals tonight unless one of them do a doppelganger of Brazil. The pressure will firmly be on Argentina and Lionel Messi, for him to run the orchestra like he did against Belgium. There was more than a bit of Maradona in him that evening, as he picked the ball from deep, ran at one, then two defenders, past a third aiming at a fourth, and laid the ball off to a teammate. 

Alejandro Sabella got the game plan bang on against Belgium.
(Pic Courtesy of FIFA.com)

But Louis Van Gaal and his Oranje troops will be wary of that, and have some sort of plan to stop him, and stifle Argentina. Di Maria will be out today, but Sergio Aguero is slated to be drafted in after recovering from a thigh strain. Alejandro Sabella's group have had the most possession of any team in the World Cup to date, and that could play into the hands of the Dutch. With Robben, Sneijder and Huntelaar (RVP might be injured), they are set up perfectly to act on the counterattack, similar to what went on against Spain. 

It will certainly be a tight game and for the sake of football and Latin America, my heart is going with Argentina on this one. My head though, says it could be an all-European final. 

My take: Argentina 0-1 Netherlands.