By Patrick R. Anderson
It was a sublime header.
Mats Hummels scored two goals all season long for Borussia Dortmund in the German Bundesliga. But at the world cup he has now scored 2 goals in 4matches, demonstrating that the 25-year-old defender is a player for the big stage.
And it was his header in the 12th minute in front of a jam-packed Maracana Stadium in the South east of Brazil in front of 74,240 people which made the difference on Friday. That’s all Germany needed to advance to a record 13th world cup semi-finals and their 4th consecutive semi-final. And when you factor in seven world cup final appearances, the most by any country in a final, and three titles, there’s no question which is the most consistent team at the world cup.
France started with an attacking reputation from the group phase and proceeded to battle with a 4-3-3 formation. Coach Didier Deschamps inserted Antoine Griezmann of Real Sociedad in place of Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud, while Germany’s coach Joachim Low seated Mario Goetze and brought in Miroslav Klose, the man who is tied with Brazil’s Ronaldo as the world cup’s greatest goalscorers with 15 goals each.
But France’s early attempts at forays into German territory were blunted by Germany’s compact midfield, led by two holding midfielders in a 4-2-3-1 formation. And that was a big difference in the outcome of the game.
Germany gained a free kick from the left side, taken by free kick specialist Toni Kroos who delivered a nicely weighted kick into the penalty box. Mats Hummels and France’s Raphael Varane contested the delivery, but Hummels got their ahead of Varane and flashed a superfluous header high to the left of Captain Hugo Lloris in goal for France in the 12th minute, and that was it.
Germany 1, France 0.
France searched for the equalizer for the remainder of the match, but couldn’t find it. They came close in the 90th minute when Karim Benzama’s shot from the left side of the box, was steered clear of the goal by the brilliant keeper Manuel Neuer.
Germany will meet host country Brazil on Tuesday July 8 in the first semi-final, after Brazil defeated a spirited Colombia 2-1 in front of 60,342 people at the Estadio Castelao in the north eastern city of Fortaleza.
Brazil lifted their game on Friday and gave their best performance yet at the big dance. They were off to a flyer in the 7th minute, after Neymar’s left sided corner led to captain Thiago Silva connecting at the back post and simply turned the ball into an unprotected goal when he appeared from nowhere. The defending was shambolic.
Brazil 1, Colombia 0.
Brazil continued to press Colombia for the remainder of the half. The Colombians appearing to be thrown off their game by the intimidating crowd, and the brilliance of Brazil’s tactical play.
In the 64th minute, Thiago Silva collected a needless yellow card to make it two for the tournament, which means he misses Tuesday’s massive semi-final. It will be a big blow for Brazil.
But 5-mins later on 69 minutes, Brazil set up for a 33 yard free kick on the right channel. David Luiz punched the ball brilliantly to the left of goalkeeper David Ospina who initially moved left thinking Luiz was curling the ball in that direction. But Luiz’ kick was like a knuckleball by a baseball pitcher, no spin in evidence, and it floated like a butterfly into the back of the net. A goal of stupendous quality. Top shelf.
Brazil 2, Colombia 0.
But Colombia were not done and continued to press Brazil. They were rewarded in the 78th minute when substitute Carlos Bacca was taken out by goalkeeper Julio Cesar in the box.
James Rodriquez capitalised from the penalty spot, to score his world cup leading 6th goal.
Brazil suffered a scare in the 87th minute when Zuniga delivered a knee into the lower back of superstar Neymar. Neymar writhed in pain on the turf and was substituted after a few moments.
The final score, Brazil 2, Colombia 1, and Brazil have now established a mega semi-final on Tuesday against Germany.
On Saturday, Argentina plays Belgium at 11am while The Netherlands oppose CONCACAF team Costa Rica at 3p.m. to decide the other two semi-finalists who will meet on Wednesdasy July 9.
HITZ92FM will have LIVE commentary of both matches on Saturday starting at 10:30am, while TVJ will have the best pregame, halftime and postgame shows starting at 10am.
Fifty-eight (58) matches have been played with a total of 158 goals at an average of 2.72 goals per match, far surpassing the 146 goals scored in the entirety of the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
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Mats Hummels heads Germany into world cup semi-finals versus host Brazil
