Hello everyone.
To start with the obvious: Germany is through to the final after beating Brazil 7-1 (!)
You know, whatever I expected from the game, this was not it. If you allow me to quote myself, that's what I said three days ago, while talking up Germany as the favourites to win this World Cup:
Just look at how both teams fared prior to this game. Both qualified with seven points, both had only one group stage game when they were a lot better than the opposition. Both teams had very decent opponents in the play-off and both had only just made it to the semis. Yes, I've stated quite a few times that the manner was different, that Germany played a lot better than Brazil, but the results were nearly the same. In the end, it's the results that go down in history and in our memory, not the way the team played. Yet, though I still insist that a big scoreline rarely reflects the way things stand, the difference between Germany and Brazil was laid in plain sight yesterday for everyone to see.
Brazil was forced to play on the front foot the entire tournament without really having the potential to demonstrate that style of play. When Sandro Mazzola was asked why Russia failed so miserably and whether Kapello was at fault he said Russia didn't demonstrate anything because they didn't have enough talent up front. Strikers (or attacking midfielders) who can turn the game on it's head, create a moment out of nothing and gift a team, that's otherwise not much better than their opponents, a win.
See, that's exactly Brazil's problem during this tournament. While likening them to Russia is a bit too much, the problem itself remains. Apart from Neymar (and, sporadically, Hulk) Scolari's side doesn't have anyone capable of creating chances in the final third. Honestly, who can do this? Bernard? Young and raw. Oscar? See above. Jo? Please. Fred? The best he can do is grow a moustasche. George? Oh, wait...
This weakness was only further exposed by the fact that Brazil had to play the entire tournament on the front foot. As the hosts, the favourites and so on, a team much supported from the stands, Scolari's side had no choice but to take matters into their hands and take the game to the opponents. They've scraped through group stages largely thanks to Neymar (who, for all his shortcomings, was in terrific form), but,as soon as Neymar's form dwindled down, encountered serious problems. Chile? A win on penalties, perhaps the luckiest bounce in this tournament. Colombia? Two goals from set-pieces. TWO. And while the first goal went in due to Colombia's failure to mark Silva, the second was just a touch of class from Luiz. A defender scoring from free-kicks. He does so brilliantly, no doubt about it, but the fact that he takes these free-kicks in the first place tells you all you need to know about Brazil's attacking potential. Just ask yourselves, would Luiz be taking these kicks playing for Argentine or Holland or Germany?
Oh, and about Germany. First off, congratulations on a brilliant performance. However weak and disjointed Brazil looked much of this was down to simply brilliant play from Die Mannschaft. I've always admired how the Germans worked with the ball at their feet and how good they are offensively, but when five (!) different players score (including a 36-year-old Klose (well done on setting a new World Cup record), a DM and a sub), that's just astounding.
And all of this was in stark contrast to Brazil. You think Germans weren't talked up as favourites? They are prompted to win the World Cup every four years. You think they didn't have to play on the front foot because of that? They had to do this every game.
And yet they've succeeded so far. They had to break down organised defences every single time. Even France put a lot of men behind the ball in the quarter-final. But Lowe's side succeeded time and again. Ghana was probably the only team that (realistically) could have beaten Die Mannschaft. That I write down to physique. Ghanians were just physically better ready. Yet even all this physicality could have been in vain, as the persistent Germans were a whisker away from snatching the three points. So well done Germany, see you in the final. Hope for a win, cause you deserve it more, than anyone else in this tournament.
As for Brazil, hard times indeed. They will now battle either Holland or Argentine in a fight for third place. And I think it'll be just if they get that consolation prize.
It's hard not to feel sorry for them, really. As I watched children crying uncontrollably in the stands, or Scolari nearly having a heart attack, I myself was on the verge of tears (while my mom was on the verge of a heart attack). For the duration of this World Cup Brazil had to fight not only against physical opponents, but also to carry the huge weight of expectation and, as Arsenal fans, we can tell them a lot about this weight. At the end of the day, it was just too much for Brazil. They are (let's be realistic) a mediocre team with title aspirations. I take my hat off for them, as they've fought tooth and nail against unfavourable circumstances and wish them luck in their last game. The players, the fans and everyone else in some way connected to Scolari's side need that third place, that minimum requirement.
In other news, we are nearing to the end of Sanchez saga and the resolution seems to be a happy one. Wenger has told talkSPORT (I'm pinning a different url, as it's more interesting, but it contains a link to talkSPORT, just in case you need it), that Sanchez deal is "almost done". And I couldn't be happier that it is. Sanchez is genuinely exciting, played greatly during the World Cup and should fit in our overall style of play. However, I've already said a lot about him, so I'll stop here and will say nothing before he is signed. If you still feel like reading a bit more about him, here you go.
Finally, the article on Arsenalstation mentions Debuchy and, while I've talked about him earlier, I've stumbled upon a very good piece, which examines his strengths and weaknesses (and, more importantly, his abilities in comparison to Sagna and Aurier), so give it a try. Fascinating stuff.
Phew, that's it for today. Tonight it's Holland vs Argentine and this time I'm for South American side. The lesser evil, you know.
Back tomorrow with fresh goodies
Until then
To start with the obvious: Germany is through to the final after beating Brazil 7-1 (!)
You know, whatever I expected from the game, this was not it. If you allow me to quote myself, that's what I said three days ago, while talking up Germany as the favourites to win this World Cup:
"If Germany doesn't win the goddamn thing, I'll lose faith in humanity".I can say that I expected Germany to win this semi-final (though I'm not saying they couldn't have lost it. Of course they could have). I can say I hoped the Bundesteam will thrash Brazil, but again I realised it would be an unlikely scenario. Simply because at this level the margins are so tight and the gulf in class is next to indiscernible, such big scorelines are rare.
Just look at how both teams fared prior to this game. Both qualified with seven points, both had only one group stage game when they were a lot better than the opposition. Both teams had very decent opponents in the play-off and both had only just made it to the semis. Yes, I've stated quite a few times that the manner was different, that Germany played a lot better than Brazil, but the results were nearly the same. In the end, it's the results that go down in history and in our memory, not the way the team played. Yet, though I still insist that a big scoreline rarely reflects the way things stand, the difference between Germany and Brazil was laid in plain sight yesterday for everyone to see.
Brazil was forced to play on the front foot the entire tournament without really having the potential to demonstrate that style of play. When Sandro Mazzola was asked why Russia failed so miserably and whether Kapello was at fault he said Russia didn't demonstrate anything because they didn't have enough talent up front. Strikers (or attacking midfielders) who can turn the game on it's head, create a moment out of nothing and gift a team, that's otherwise not much better than their opponents, a win.
See, that's exactly Brazil's problem during this tournament. While likening them to Russia is a bit too much, the problem itself remains. Apart from Neymar (and, sporadically, Hulk) Scolari's side doesn't have anyone capable of creating chances in the final third. Honestly, who can do this? Bernard? Young and raw. Oscar? See above. Jo? Please. Fred? The best he can do is grow a moustasche. George? Oh, wait...
This weakness was only further exposed by the fact that Brazil had to play the entire tournament on the front foot. As the hosts, the favourites and so on, a team much supported from the stands, Scolari's side had no choice but to take matters into their hands and take the game to the opponents. They've scraped through group stages largely thanks to Neymar (who, for all his shortcomings, was in terrific form), but,as soon as Neymar's form dwindled down, encountered serious problems. Chile? A win on penalties, perhaps the luckiest bounce in this tournament. Colombia? Two goals from set-pieces. TWO. And while the first goal went in due to Colombia's failure to mark Silva, the second was just a touch of class from Luiz. A defender scoring from free-kicks. He does so brilliantly, no doubt about it, but the fact that he takes these free-kicks in the first place tells you all you need to know about Brazil's attacking potential. Just ask yourselves, would Luiz be taking these kicks playing for Argentine or Holland or Germany?
Oh, and about Germany. First off, congratulations on a brilliant performance. However weak and disjointed Brazil looked much of this was down to simply brilliant play from Die Mannschaft. I've always admired how the Germans worked with the ball at their feet and how good they are offensively, but when five (!) different players score (including a 36-year-old Klose (well done on setting a new World Cup record), a DM and a sub), that's just astounding.
And all of this was in stark contrast to Brazil. You think Germans weren't talked up as favourites? They are prompted to win the World Cup every four years. You think they didn't have to play on the front foot because of that? They had to do this every game.
And yet they've succeeded so far. They had to break down organised defences every single time. Even France put a lot of men behind the ball in the quarter-final. But Lowe's side succeeded time and again. Ghana was probably the only team that (realistically) could have beaten Die Mannschaft. That I write down to physique. Ghanians were just physically better ready. Yet even all this physicality could have been in vain, as the persistent Germans were a whisker away from snatching the three points. So well done Germany, see you in the final. Hope for a win, cause you deserve it more, than anyone else in this tournament.
As for Brazil, hard times indeed. They will now battle either Holland or Argentine in a fight for third place. And I think it'll be just if they get that consolation prize.
It's hard not to feel sorry for them, really. As I watched children crying uncontrollably in the stands, or Scolari nearly having a heart attack, I myself was on the verge of tears (while my mom was on the verge of a heart attack). For the duration of this World Cup Brazil had to fight not only against physical opponents, but also to carry the huge weight of expectation and, as Arsenal fans, we can tell them a lot about this weight. At the end of the day, it was just too much for Brazil. They are (let's be realistic) a mediocre team with title aspirations. I take my hat off for them, as they've fought tooth and nail against unfavourable circumstances and wish them luck in their last game. The players, the fans and everyone else in some way connected to Scolari's side need that third place, that minimum requirement.
In other news, we are nearing to the end of Sanchez saga and the resolution seems to be a happy one. Wenger has told talkSPORT (I'm pinning a different url, as it's more interesting, but it contains a link to talkSPORT, just in case you need it), that Sanchez deal is "almost done". And I couldn't be happier that it is. Sanchez is genuinely exciting, played greatly during the World Cup and should fit in our overall style of play. However, I've already said a lot about him, so I'll stop here and will say nothing before he is signed. If you still feel like reading a bit more about him, here you go.
Finally, the article on Arsenalstation mentions Debuchy and, while I've talked about him earlier, I've stumbled upon a very good piece, which examines his strengths and weaknesses (and, more importantly, his abilities in comparison to Sagna and Aurier), so give it a try. Fascinating stuff.
Phew, that's it for today. Tonight it's Holland vs Argentine and this time I'm for South American side. The lesser evil, you know.
Back tomorrow with fresh goodies
Until then