World Cup 2014 Semi Final match Brazil vs. Germany will be held on Tuesday, July 8, 2014. The Brazilian national team will be playing without their star striker Neymar and Captain Thiago Silva, but are expected to put up their best form with replacements from the host nation's pool of top players while bolstered by a nation as they clash against Germany. The match in the last rounds of World Cup 2014 will put the differing playing styles of each teams - Germany more mechanical and calculated, and Brazil more creative and passionate - to the test. The winner will then proceed to play against either Argentina or Netherlands in next Sunday's final.
The opening World Cup Semi Final game will begin at 1 p.m. PST, and will be televised live through ESPN network. The Brazil vs. Germany Semi Final match can be watched online through live stream (free for cable subscribers).
Brazil's Plight
Brazil's talisman Neymar, 22, fractured his third vertebra in the quarterfinal 2-1 win over Colombia, and is ruled out of the remaining World Cup games. The highly-talented Brazilian soccer player, who had scored four goals this World Cup, was carried off on a stretcher after a heavy challenge or a knee in the back from Colombia defender Juan Camilo Zuniga in the dying moments of the match. His departure from the tournament is a huge blow to the team and the fans of the host country.
"I won't be able to fulfill the dream of playing in a World Cup final," Neymar said, the AP reported, "but I'm sure they will win this one, they will become champions, and I will be there with them, and all of Brazil will be celebrating together."
However, Captain Thiago Silva will also miss the upcoming match due to suspension for picking up a needless second yellow card after challenging Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina. With Neymar gone, Silva would have been a critical player in maintaining the team's momentum and form.
With two critical players absent, Brazil's coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, former World Cup title winner, is searching for replacement players who can fill in the gaps and continue to run with the team at least in the next match against the Germans if not the finals held next Sunday, July 13.
Scolari hinted in training Sunday that midfielder Willian is his first option to replace Neymar, according to the Associated Press. The other options include Ramires, Bernard and Hernanes.
Influential midfielder Luiz Gustavo will return to the side after serving a one-match ban against Colombia.
Germany's Strategy
Germany coach Joachim Loew has been experimenting with the defense, moving Captain Philipp Lahm into the midfield and then back to his usual right back position.
"The team is improving from match to match," said Loew, who has led Germany to the semifinals since taking over eight years ago, according to AP.
Thomas Muller has four goals in five matches, and is expected to team up with Mats Hummels, Menzut Ozil and Mario Goetze in their offensive attempts to penetrate Brazil's defense.
Germany players acknowledges that Brazil will put out a super team even without Neymar, said Sami Khedira, Germany midfielder, told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper.
"They have two coaches in Scolari and (Carlos Alberto) Parreira who have won the title already, they have the home advantage and players with individual class," said midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Prior to the 1-0 win over France, seven Germany players were suffering from mild flu symptoms, and Defender Mat Hummels had missed the team's round of 16 match against Algeria on Monday due to a fever, but he returned on Friday and helped his team advance past France by putting in his team's only goal.
It is Germany's fourth consecutive time to have advanced to the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup.
If Brazil wins Tuesday's match, it will have a final chance to take hold of its nation's sixth World Cup title. The winner of Brazil vs. Germany will play against the winner of Argentina vs. Netherlands match in next Sunday's World Cup 2014 Final.
The Semi Final match will be televised on ESPN, and online free live stream can watch by clicking here.
ESPN is also allowing mobile users to watch the Brazil vs. Germany live stream here.
Univision will televise the match in Spanish on Univision Deportes, and ESPN Deportes will televise the game in Portugese.
And Univision will also provide the Brazil vs. Germany live stream here.
