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Van Persie's Misses Nearly Cost Dutch at World Cup
SALVADOR, Brazil — Jul 5, 2014, 9:10 PM ET
By DUSAN STOJANOVIC
Associated Press
On the same ground where Robin van Persie's spectacular diving header earned him the nickname the Flying Dutchman, the Netherlands striker fell flat against Costa Rica on Saturday.
Van Persie missed two chances from close range in stoppage time in a 0-0 draw before the Dutch prevailed 4-3 in penalty shootout to set up a World Cup semifinal match against Argentina.
"Those misses could have been very costly," Van Persie said. "But our win is all that matters now."
One of those chances was heart stopping.
The ball was crossed from the left, two Dutch players failed to get to it, and it fell to Van Persie close to the back post. He shot, but the ball hit a Costa Rican defender on the goal line, ricocheted from the crossbar and bounced out.
"It's bizarre," Van Persie said. "We had too many chances. You have to stay strong and focused in such circumstances. We had to work hard to win this game."
While Van Persie sputtered, teammate Arjen Robben was a constant threat against a dogged Costa Rica squad as he left behind a diving controversy surrounding the Netherlands' second-round victory over Mexico.
Van Persie and Robben both scored twice in Salvador in the 5-1 win over Spain at the start of the tournament and have three goals each so far. Van Persie's flying header looped over a stranded Iker Casillas on Spain's goal and ended up in the net — arguably the most spectacular goal so far in the tournament.
Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal said the missed chances could have backfired, with Costa Rica nearly taking a lead in last minutes of extra time.
"I don't know how many opportunities we had in the game, but that goes to show that scoring a goal is crucial in the game of football," Van Gaal said. "If you miss so many opportunities, the opponent could walk away and beat you, out of nowhere."
The Bleus boss is proud of how his team performed in Brazil but still has regrets that he was not able to steer his team beyond the last eight
France coach Didier Deschamps says he is still frustrated by his side's World Cup elimination at the hands of Germany on Friday.
The 1998 winners had been impressive in the group stage for the tournament, thrashing Switzerland and Honduras 5-2 and 3-0 respectively, before leaving it late to defeat Nigeria in the round of 16.
However, Mats Hummels' first half header ensured they exited the competition at the quarter-final stage as they succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to Joachim Low's men and the Deschamps is yet to get over their elimination.
"The disappointment is still there," he told TF1.
"We still have a sense of frustration. We could have done some things better. The players showed a lot quality on the pitch and a collective desire to do things together.
"It was a great pleasure to be there with them and take them to the quarter-finals."
France's next major tournament is on home soil as they host the 2016 European Championship. Deschamps has two years left to run on his contract.
The two-time World Cup winner believes the Selecao will be just as strong without the 22-year-old in their ranks and has slammed the foul which injured him
Brazil legend Ronaldo has told Germany that the loss of Neymar will not make Luiz Felipe Scolari's side any weaker when the two sides meet on Tuesday.
The Barcelona forward was stretchered off in the closing stages of his team's quarter-final victory over Colombia and was promptly ruled out of the remainder of the tournament with a back injury.
However, Ronaldo, twice a World Cup winner himself, believes that his nation will be able to cope just fine without the 22-year-old in the upcoming semi-final tie with Joachim Low's side.
"If the Germans think they will find a weak, impaired, hopeless side on the pitch, because they lost one player, and even if this player is called Neymar, they will make a great mistake underestimating the quality of the Brazilian team," he told reporters.
"Brazil have never and will never be defined by one player. We have great examples in the past, with players the same level as Neymar.
"Pele got injured at the 1962 World Cup and was replaced. Despite that, Brazil still won the World Cup. We expect whoever takes to the pitch will do their best.
"Brazil have a good strong group of players that will show that, even with the absence of Neymar, they are still the favourites."
Ronaldo also claimed that the foul from Camilo Zuniga which injured Neymar was an act of cowardice, though he does not feel that Fifa will punish the Napoli star.
"I don't expect anything else to be done. It was a cowardly act and I don't know if it will have any consequences for the Colombia player.
"We are all sad and frightened because we have lost the best player in our national squad."
The Borussia Monchengladbach great thinks the Germany boss has answered his critics by sticking to a tactical approach he believes in and guiding his side to the semi-finals
Gunter Netzer has praised Joachim Low's strength of character for standing by his tactical decisions during Germany's World Cup campaign.
Die Nationalelf have a semi-final against Brazil to look forward to against Brazil on Tuesday after overcoming France 1-0 in their quarter-final encounter.
Netzer insisted that Low deserves a great deal of credit for taking Germany to the last four, especially after making a number of tactical calls that were hotly debated in his homeland.
"The tactical discussions about Joachim Low have probably not existed before in this form during his tenure as national coach," the 69-year-old wrote in his column for Bild am Sonntag.
"They were unusual, but in response to several of his actions. There was the use of Shkodran Mustafi at right back in the game against Algeria. And the fact that Low has used four central defenders with Philipp Lahm ordered into defensive midfield and Mesut Ozil did not show in his best shape.
"But Low has made the right decisions and one can only praise him.
"For a discussion of whether Low has behaved stubbornly, I can only say that I have experienced in all great coaches - they resort to surprising measures. That they throw proven measures overboard and make some decisions that for us outsiders are incomprehensible.
"Joachim Low has with his changes proven his stature."
However, though hailing some of the coach's strategic plans, Netzer, who was a World Cup winner in 1974, still belives that Germany have huge room for improvement and was particularly scathing when speaking of Mario Gotze and Mesut Ozil.
"As before, the German team is not playing at a top level," he continued.
"Ozil is still not in good shape. He must now explode into life. Mario Gotze has been a complete disappointment.
"But the outlook has become much better by the absences of Neymar and Thiago Silva. Neymar is the major character in the play of the Brazilians, he will be sorely missed by them.
"But our already intact chances are thereby increased again. For me, Germany will reach the final."
World Cup 2014: Belgium coach Marc Wilmots claims Lionel Messi favoured by referees after defeat to Argentina
Belgium coach labels Argentina "ordinary" as winger Angel di Maria faces semi-final fitness battle after injury
Outspoken: Marc Wilmots has claimed referees favour Lionel Messi Photo: REUTERS
By Jason Burt, in Brasilia
10:43PM BST 05 Jul 2014
Marc Wilmots, the Belgium coach, claimed that referees gave Lionel Messi preferential treatment and refused to book the Argentina striker when he committed a foul.
Although he declared he would not be a "cry baby" after Belgium's 1-0 World Cup quarter-final defeat, Wilmots accused Argentina of cynical time-wasting which also went unpunished.
"Messi is the star player, the player who gives them rhythm," Wilmots said.
"He never loses the ball. But he made three fouls and I noticed the referee never gave a foul against him. I don't want to be a cry baby, but I noticed the referee never gives fouls against Argentina. He [Messi] made three fouls and no yellow card. We had one foul, and a yellow card."
Wilmots claimed Messi's approach was part of a wider tactic by Argentina. "You have seen the experience of the Argentinians," he said. "They can distort the rhythm. It can take them 30 seconds for a throw-in and the referee did nothing. They could break down their speed."
Despite reaching the last eight, Wilmots has been criticised for his team selection and tactics during this tournament with such a talented squad at his disposal. "How many shots did Argentina have? Seriously," Wilmots responded. "If we'd played this way, we'd have been destroyed by the Belgian press. We were not impressed by the Argentinians, they were just an ordinary team. We are disappointed to go home.
"I've rarely seen Argentina cramp up like they did. They had been stretched. If we'd equalised in the last few minutes, they would be dead. Finished.
"The world has seen that Belgium have an excellent team. We can be proud of our side. But our opponents didn't give us any space. This was a quarter-final in the World Cup, and the small details made the difference. Perhaps, also, experience a bit. A few of my players can improve, but let's not forget this was the first time they have appeared at a major championships."
Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella preferred to focus his attention on the efforts of his players, who he said had made some history after they reached the semi-finals for the first time since 1990. Sabella said: "After 24 years, this is a good tribute to this squad - they will go down in history as one of the best four teams in the world and we will see if they can go one step more."
Sabella also praised Messi's contribution in a midfield role. He added: "I felt he played a wonderful match. It's not only scoring goals, it's having possession, taking out three opponents and every move he makes is a sign of hope for us and endangers our opponents.
"That a player like Messi almost never loses the ball is water in the desert - he gives us that water in the desert. Today when the terrain was dry he gave us that breath of fresh air every time he had the ball."
One concern for Sabella was the fitness of Real Madrid winger Angel di Maria, who will undergo tests on a thigh problem after he limped out of the match.
He said: "Angel has a problem in his right thigh and on Sunday he will have some tests and we will see. He is one of the key figures for us."
Brazil vs Germany: Lukas Podolski says pressure is all on host nation
World Cup 2014: Growing feeling in the German camp that momentum is building and that Joachim Low's side can take the final step and claim a fourth world crown
Momentum building: Manuel Neuer, Lukas Podolski and Bastian Schweinsteiger celebrate Germany's comprehensive 4-0 victory over Portugal in the Group G match at Arena Fonte Nova Photo: GETTY IMAGES
By Jason Burt, In Brasilia
8:18AM BST 06 Jul 2014
For all their attacking flair from midfield and the lauding of their young players there is, as ever, a hard edge to Germany. A tournament edge. It is, as Lukas Podolski states, all about the winning when it comes to negotiating a World Cup.
It is why they have reached a fourth consecutive semi-final - incredibly, their 13th in all - and why there is no countenancing of a debate as to whether the team is actually playing that well.
"We are on a good run and it is not important how you play, how many skills you do before the goal - it is only important to end the game with a victory," Podolski said. This is the World Cup. When you have a season with 38 league matches you know you can afford to lose a couple of matches.
"But when you are in the World Cup you must focus on seven matches and not losing any. We have two matches to go and when you win those, you are the champions."
It is a pragmatic approach and follows on from coach Joachim Löw and Podolski’s Arsenal team-mate Per Mertesacker dismissing any discussion over whether Germany can perform better after they scraped through against Algeria in the last-16 tie. Mertesacker, in particular, was visibly angry when Germany’s performance was questioned.
A more convincing, controlled display against France on Friday has set up the semi-final against Brazil in what will be a raucous Belo Horizonte on Tuesday. Naturally the Germans are not fazed, with Podolski, a veteran now of six major tournaments and with an 116 caps despite still being only 29, calmly stating that the pressure is on the hosts.
"Brazil have the pressure because they are playing at home," Podolski said. "If we play against 70,000-80,000 Brazilian fans in the stadium, it's OK. Every one of us plays away from home in big games. When you play at Tottenham, you are used to this - or in front of 40,000-50,000 at Liverpool as well."
That may be true, but White Hart Lane is not quite as white hot as the Mineirao Stadium, a tight bowl of an arena with deafening acoustics, as it proved when Brazil played Chile in the last 16, but Podolski’s confidence is understandable given the core of Champions League-experienced Bayern Munich players in the German squad.
However, the pressure is not entirely one-way. Germany have not won the World Cup in 24 years - a mere blink of an eye for England fans, but an age in a country accustomed to a regular stream of silverware. There is a clear sense that another triumph, and a fourth World Cup, is well overdue.
"We were close in 2010 and 2006 and we lost in the semi-final and now I have the feeling we are closer than we were in the last World Cups," said Podolski, who has made two appearances during this tournament and has just recovered from a thigh strain that left him on the bench against France.
"We have the chance to win it. We will prepare for the semi-final but we are strong, we have not lost a game in this tournament - four wins and one draw."
After the 4-0 demolition of Portugal those wins have been eked out by narrow margins - 1-0, 2-1 and 1-0 - with Löw adamant that his team would avoid a repeat of the unpredictable ride which saw them run close by the Algerians four days before they faced France.
In the quarter-final Germany took an early grip and rarely let it slip, with Löw bolstering his midfield by including both Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira - he had previously alternated that pair as both are short of fitness - and bringing back the 36-year-old striker Miroslav Klose to free up the hard-running Thomas Müller.
Ruthlessly, Löw also dropped Mertesacker, who had looked vulnerable to the pace of Algeria, while recalling Mats Hummels, who proved to be the match-winner. Germany never relented, with five of their players each covering more than 10km in the match and the team as a whole running 7km more than the French.
The result, nevertheless, added to the sense that this an outstanding World Cup tournament boasting some very positive and well-organised line-ups, without an outstanding team. Germany’s André Schürrle, who, along with Mario Götze, is rivalling Podolski for a starting place should Löw change his formation, agrees that they would play on the pressure Brazil are under.
"If you see all the people, I don’t know how many millions watching this, they are under real pressure," he says. "They have dealt so well so far with this because it is not easy playing with this pressure.
"We have this feeling. We are very close - everybody in the squad. You feel everybody wants it. We have a big opportunity to win the title now. In previous years we have been close but now we want this so much."
The semi-final will also pit Schürrle against several of his Chelsea team-mates - Oscar, Willian and Ramires, as well as a former one in defender David Luiz, who has just been sold to Paris St-Germain for £48 million.
"They were looking forward to it during the season because it’s being played in their country," he says. "If you saw the Confederations Cup last year, what they did there, and how the people were coming together, you heard about it all from them two months or so before the World Cup, that everyone was talking about this tournament. It is crucial to them."
However, it is crucial to Germany, too. For all the astonishing consistency of reaching four semi-finals in a row they now feel it is time to go one step further.
England manager Roy Hodgson's gamble on 'overrated' youth at the World Cup backfired badly, says Roy Keane
Ex-Manchester United and Republic of Ireland midfielder says England paid the price for taking younger players with little or no top-level experience to Brazil.
Listen up: England manager Roy Hodgson offers some words of wisdom to Raheem Sterling Photo: GETTY IMAGES
By John Percy
10:30PM BST 05 Jul 2014
Roy Keane has offered a damning assessment of England's woeful World Cup campaign, claiming that Roy Hodgson's squad had lived down to his expectations and that their young players were overrated.
Keane had predicted in May that England would "struggle" in Brazil while sat next to captain Steven Gerrard as a pundit, and his prediction was borne out after they failed to qualify from the group. They finished six points behind a Costa Rica team which had been held to a 1-1 draw by Republic of Ireland in June, when Keane was assistant manager.
The 42-year-old is convinced that Hodgson's gamble on the country's emerging young talents backfired badly and claims the majority of Hodgson's players still lacked the experience of operating on such a grand stage.
However, Keane has rubbished his former Manchester United team-mate Paul Scholes's suggestion that Rooney was now past his peak.
"I said England would struggle but that's not football knowledge, that's just common sense," Keane said. "If you look at the squad, they should have done enough to get out of the group. The players didn't perform.
"We played Costa Rica last month and if you had told me then they would top the group I'd have said you were mad. But if I look at the England squad and the players then a lot of them still lack vital experience. Whether it's Champions League experience or big-game experience.
"A lot of those players are yet to win a trophy and yet people still expect them to go to the World Cup and reach the quarters or semi-finals.
"People are ranting and raving about the younger players – they still have a lot to do. We can argue all day about winter breaks and all the rest of it, but the fact is they should have done better."
One player who did escape Keane's wrath was Rooney, whose performances in Brazil divided opinion. He was played out of position in the first game against Italy but produced a vastly improved performance in the 2-1 defeat against Uruguay, scoring his first goal at a World Cup finals.
Scholes had surprised many people when he claimed that Rooney might be "worn out" and even questioned whether Hodgson would be brave enough to drop him, but Keane dismissed that notion. "If you think Wayne Rooney's gone, then you are sadly mistaken," he said.
"I thought he did OK. I'm sure he will feel that he should have done better. Top players are quick to look at themselves."
Keane has taken up a coaching role at Aston Villa while still working under Martin O'Neill with Ireland and is adamant that he can perform both jobs. However, he has hinted that his days as a pundit could be over.
"I'm not saying I wouldn't get back into it but I'd done my time. I felt a bit awkward doing one or two matches where there were Irish players, I think there was maybe a little bit of conflict there," he said.
"Good luck to Gary Neville but we're all different. I just felt I didn't want to have any compromise regarding my role in football with punditry.
"I wouldn't have been tiptoeing around anybody but I felt it could have been awkward for one or two players I was maybe working with or commentating on, and I didn't want that issue."
New formations, roaming goalkeepers and a Latin uprising - Brazil 2014 has witnessed a revolution in the game
Superstar: James Rodriguez has been the player of the tournament Photo: EPA
By Jason Burt 7:20PM BST 05 Jul 2014
There is a new breed of coach
It is sad to say but England, again, are behind the curve. And not just with the appointment of Roy Hodgson but with his predecessor Fabio Capello. The conservative approach has gone out of the window. Now coaches are bolder, often younger, and certainly more energised. It is no coincidence that England (Hodgson), Russia (Capello) and Spain (Vicente del Bosque) all bombed in Brazil.
The idea that being a national team coach is for a manager in the twilight of his career and one who is about man-management rather than working the players on the training ground is now redundant. It is not necessarily an age thing but it is about the mindset.
The myth that coaches do not have to enough time to work with the players on tactics has also been exposed by the likes of Chile's Jorge Sampaoli (below) and Mexico's Miguel Herrera, USA's Jürgen Klinsmann and, closer to home, Germany's Joachim Löw. Still it is clear that Löw has worked with the players, has developed tactical plans and goes at the job as if he were running a club. England, on the other hand, have Club England in name but not in approach.
Counter-attack rules
Possession-based 'tiki-taki' is not dead just because Spain crashed out of the World Cup. Far from it. All that happened was a group of players lost their hunger and, crucially, their opponents worked out how to nullify them. There was no Plan B and when Spain tried it - playing more directly to Diego Costa - it was too late.
Counter-attacking has always been the most effective form of attempting to score a goal given the opposition can be caught when they are trying to reorganise and regain their shape. But this World Cup has taken that to a new level partly because teams have been so aggressive in hunting down the opposition, closing them down quickly, cutting off space and often defending high up the pitch to condense play. It has not been a case of soaking up pressure and then trying to break but when teams do counter they have done so at unprecedented speed and with power. One myth has been slain: teams do not need the bulk of possession to win.
Fifa's technical committee has already noted the "audacious" approach taken by some teams. Bold is best, as games such Germany v Ghana and USA v Belgium have shown.
Formations are flexible
Innovate or lose: that has been the tactical mantra of this World Cup. Again England lost out on this as they stuck with one approach - 4‑2‑3‑1 - and remained rigid. It is even more galling given they did not have the players for this approach. At the same time we have seen teams employing variations of 3‑5‑2 or 4-3-3, sometimes without a striker as Germany have done, or even, in the case of Chile, 3-4-3. Colombia have used 4-2-3-1, 4‑1‑4-1 and against Uruguay 4‑2‑2-2.
Encouragingly for Manchester United, Holland's Louis van Gaal has given a masterclass in being prepared to change things. Against Spain he interchanged his team from 3-5-2 to 5-3-2 and the Dutch beat the world champions 5-1. Against the dangerous Chileans he was more cautious with his five-man defence before some clever substitutions - bringing on Memphis Depay and Leroy Fer, who both have power and are more direct - reaped dividends against a tiring team. Both scored and Holland won 2-0.
The world is more equal
The days when every World Cup group would throw up at least one 'gimme' to one of the major nations appear to be over. Instead, that most tired of clichés - there are no easy games - appears to ring resoundingly true. Costa Rica have been outstanding, while Algeria finished ahead of Russia and took Germany into extra-time.
Australia finished bottom of their group but ran Chile and Holland close while Iran only lost to Argentina in injury time to a bit of Lionel Messi magic while Switzerland were only defeated in extra-time by the same man. There were very few poor teams and very few heavy beatings. Indeed, the biggest loss of all was suffered by the world champions Spain.
Only Cameroon, South Korea and Honduras could really be described as poor, and even the minnows have given it a go.
Keepers are sweepers
Manuel Neuer gave a masterclass for Germany against Algeria in what is expected of the modern-day goalkeeper. German coach Löw even called him his team's ‘libero' and he was a very aggressive one: he boldly came off his line, rushing outside his area to make tackles and even a diving header to thwart the quicksilver Algerians, who were trying to expose Germany's high line (see graphic, right). For Neuer it was not just about his defensive qualities but also his aggressive, quick distribution, a key attribute for a modern goalkeeper.
The accuracy of his long kicking was extraordinary, as highlighted when he picked out André Schürrle, leaving him one-on-one with an Algerian defender with an early release of the ball. Neuer is not alone. France's Hugo Lloris is also bold although he has actually been more disciplined during this World Cup.
The double pivot is dead
All four semi-finalists in 2010 - Spain, Germany, Holland and Uruguay - used what is termed as a double pivot in midfield. For the three European nations that meant a 4-2-3-1 formation while for Uruguay it was more 4-4-2 but without asking the two central midfield players to get forward, making it a 4-2-4 in attack.
Spain have used the 4-2-3-1 approach for a decade and now, just as it is going out of fashion because teams are realising the two in central midfield can get outnumbered by a trio who press them, England have adopted it. The notion of a lone striker with a line of three behind him is questionable. The 4-2-3-1 formation has been exposed unless it is fluid.
Teams have experimented and caught out those who remain rigid especially if that double pivot, as so often is the case, includes older and slower players such as Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso.
... and so is the traditional No 9
The irony is that in a World Cup noted for its attacking play - with good strikers such as Robin van Persie, Karim Benzema, Neymar and Messi - the classic centre forward is no longer the main goal threat.
The No 9 is now not a greedy goal getter but a selfless, industrious workhorse who is expected to harry and harass the opposition to hold the ball up and create chances and open up space for his team-mates. Brazil's Fred has been much-maligned, and with justification, but his main task is not to score but to hold the ball up for Neymar. Similarly Gonzalo Higuaín is expected to do the same for Argentina and for Messi.
Germany have abandoned the notion altogether, partly as Miroslav Klose is 36, and asked Thomas Müller to be the nearest player forward. Colombia have missed one of the few genuine, accomplished No 9s left in world football through injury - Radamel Falcao - but the team have been more fluid and potent without him as James Rodríguez and Juan Cuadrado have come to the fore.
England must learn more Latin
There are already a significant number of Brazilian and Argentinian players in England but we can now expect Chileans, Colombians and Costa Ricans and even Ecuadoreans to add to that.
One trend discerned at the World Cup is the desire and positive aggression shown by the Latin America players, and the fighting spirit of the Chile and Costa Rica players have been highlights, along with the exuberance of Colombia and the wonderful Rodríguez. He is already in Europe, at Monaco, but others will follow.
It is not just about players. The trend also applies to managers, where Latin American football is becoming dominant. Manchester City have a Chilean manager in Manuel Pellegrini while Argentine Diego Simeone is in charge of Atlético Madrid, the team of last season.
Defences need to be rebuilt
While the attacking play has been brilliant; defending has been poor. Or rather it has been inhibited. There have been very few standout central defenders, partly due to the strict standard of refereeing, which has made players more cautious in the final third to make a challenge. Both Brazil and Germany have looked vulnerable despite having coveted defenders in Thiago Silva, David Luiz and Mats Hummels.
One aspect that has been highlighted is the struggle some centre-backs have had defending one-on-one. It is a lost art which is all the more dangerous given full-backs are encouraged to push up. Some nations have reacted by playing three central defenders, while others have simply used a midfielder in the role. France's Raphaël Varane has impressed, as did Uruguay's José Giménez, Costa Rica's Giancarlo González, but the better performers have often been older players such as Mexico's Rafael Márquez and Colombia's Mario Yepes.
The former Selecao striker, now a politician in his homeland, has demanded an investigation into the corruption and expenditure surrounding the tournament
Romario has blasted the organisation of the World Cup in Brazil, saying the vision of hosting the best tournament ever has been lost.
Anti-government demonstrations have surrounded the competition, with many Brazilians angry at the spiralling costs of hosting the championships set against the need for investment in basic public services.
Romario, who was elected to the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies in the 2010 elections as a Socialist Party representative, has been a staunch critic of the administration behind the World Cup and continues to denounce the alleged corruption around the event.
"When it was announced that the 2014 edition would be hosted by Brazil, I celebrated a lot," the 48-year-old told the Times of India.
"I had pointed out two things: Brazil had conditions not only to host the World Cup, but also to organise the greatest one. I remain attached to the first idea, but soon after we got the hosting rights, I gave up the second one due to the different issues.
"Things didn't happen the way they should have. We've had problems, a lot not seen by the public or international media and the tournament isn't going to be the best of all time. I don't want to make things bad but we need to have a post-tournament inquest.
"You saw the Confederations Cup protests last year, which showed the problems in Brazilian society. But now with the success of the World Cup, all these problems, the excessive spending and corruption has been pushed to the background."
Romario, a World Cup winner in 1994, insists he is still a football supporter and is desperate to see Verde-Amarela lift the trophy despite a tricky semi-final with Germany, who he formerly branded favourites.
"I stick to what I said last year," he added when asked whether he still believed Joachim Low's men would win the cup.
"But I want Brazil to beat the Germans, who are a very tough team, in the semi-finals and go on to lift the trophy again. It is an incredible feeling. It has become that much more difficult without Thiago Silva and Neymar.
"This Brazilian team isn't as great as those in the past, but still they have it in them to lift the title at home."
Brazil chief media officer banned over Pinilla 'slap'
By Andrew Wychrij
Jul 6, 2014 10:11:00 AM
The Selecao official has been suspended for three matches by Fifa following a clash with the Chile forward during the the second-round game between the sides on June 28
Fifa have given Brazil's chief media officer, Rodrigo Paiva, a three-match ban and a fine of €8,200 following a bust-up with Chile's Mauricio Pinilla.
The Verde-Amarela came through the last-16 encounter in Belo Horizonte with a 3-2 win on penalties after the scores were locked at 1-1 after extra time.
However, the game was marred by a half-time fracas in the tunnel at the Estadio Mineirao, which saw Pinilla accuse Paiva of punching him.
The Brazilian acknowledged that he had slapped the Chilean striker and Fifa's disciplinary committee have subsequently handed him a three-match ban, with a further one match suspended.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Fifa announced that, since he had already been absent for the quarter-final with Colombia, Paiva would now also take no part in Tuesday's semi-final against Germany nor the third-place play-off on 12 July or final on 13 July.
The disciplinary committee imposed the fine in accordance with Article 48 of the disciplinary code which stipulates "at least two matches for assaulting (elbowing, punching, kicking etc) an opponent or a person other than a match official".
Costa Rica fans stabbed watching Netherlands game in San Jose
By Andrew Wychrij
Jul 6, 2014 12:54:00 PM
Los Ticos' quarter-final was marred by violent scenes in the Central American nation's capital, with a brawl breaking out as fans gathered to watch the game
Two fans were stabbed and another was struck with a bottle as trouble erupted in San Jose during Costa Rica's quarter-final defeat to the Netherlands.
Los Ticos saw their World Cup campaign come to an end on Saturday evening in Salvador, where they suffered a 4-3 loss on penalties after holding the Dutch to a 0-0 draw after extra time.
More than 1,000 supporters had gathered to watch the encounter in the Costa Rican capital San Jose when violence unfolded in the city's main square.
The Costa Rican Public Security Ministry released a statement reporting that Red Cross responders attended to three victims from a fight in the capital's Plaza de la Democracia. Two of those suffered stab wounds, including one who was left stricken with a knife lodged in his back after the bloody encounter.
Police in the Central American nation have arrested eight people suspected of being involved in the disturbance, though the cause of the brawl is as yet unknown and no update has been given on the condition of those injured.
The trouble came amid an otherwise peaceful gathering, where crowds flocked to see Costa Rica denied by two Tim Krul saves in the shootout after the keeper had replaced Jasper Cillessen in the last few seconds of the game.
Van Gaal's no legend, he's disrespectful - Cannavaro
By John-Paul Tooth
Jul 6, 2014 11:32:00 PM
The 2006 World Cup winner was not impressed by the Dutch coach's decision to replace starting goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen with Tim Krul for a penalty shoot-out
Fabio Cannavaro has criticised Netherlands coach Louis Van Gaal’s decision to take off goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen before his side's World Cup quarter-final shoot-out against Costa Rica, insisting the plaudits he is getting are undeserved.
The Oranje boss brought Tim Krul on in place of his starting goalkeeper in the last minute of extra-time in the last-eight tie as he believed the Newcastle United man would be better suited for spot kicks than Ajax's No.1.
Krul then saved two out of five penalties to put his country through - with Van Gaal earning praise in many quarters for the bold decision late in the game - but World Cup 2006 winner Cannavaro had an opposing stance on the topic.
"I know everyone is now treating Van Gaal like a legend or a magician for that change, but to be honest, it’s not something I like very much," the Italian told Globo Esporte.
"It’s disrespectful to the goalkeeper. Who will be the goalkeeper in the next game? Imagine going in goal for the next match and realising you do not have the 100 per cent faith of the coach."
Van Gaal later revealed that he had he had always planned to make the move if the match looked like it would be decided by a penalty shoot-out - but added that he had not told Cillessen about the decision, only Krul.
Netherlands will face Argentina on Wednesday in a World Cup semi-final to decide who will play in the final at the Maracana against either Brazil or Germany.
'I'm tired of this bull****' - Robben hits out at diving critics
By Enis Koylu
Jul 6, 2014 6:54:00 PM
The Dutch winger insists that he is fouled throughout many matches he plays and is grateful just to be fit, despite constant censure over simulation
Netherlands attacker Arjen Robben says he is fed up of being criticised following his admission that he dived during the 2-1 World Cup win over Mexico.
The Dutchman has long been dogged by criticism that he goes down too easily throughout his career and won a penalty late on against el Tri to send his side through to the quarter-finals.
In the wake of the 2-1 victory, he conceded that he had taken a dive earlier in the game but says he is sick of being hounded by detractors, insisting he is fouled often.
"In recent days there has been a lot of talk about diving and actually I'm tired of this bull****," he told NOS.
"I get kicked from all sides, but luckily I am still fit. I felt that I could make the difference, but didn't get the ball enough."
Tim Krul came on in the dying stages of extra time in Netherlands' quarter-final win over Costa Rica and saved two penalties in the shoot-out and Robben believes his side's team spirit shone through.
"I don't want to blow my own trumpet, but I felt I was so good.
"[In the dressing room] it was a party, we were so good with the penalties too, compliments to Tim. It shows we do it all together."
Netherlands continue their quest to reach a second-straight World Cup final with a clash against Argentina on Wednesday.
Brazil lodge appeal against Thiago Silva suspension
By Enis Koylu
Jul 6, 2014 5:29:00 PM
The Selecao captain is set to sit out their semi-final against Germany after picking up a costly booking, though the Chelsea star is expected to be fit
Brazil have appealed the yellow card given to Thiago Silva in their World Cup quarter-final win over Colombia.
The Selecao skipper picked up the caution for blocking David Ospina's path to the ball as the Colombia keeper looked to launch the ball upfield.
The yellow card was his second of the tournament, meaning he is set to miss Tuesday's semi-final tie against Germany, but his side feel that he did not intentionally get in the 25-year-old's way.
"I can confirm that we have received an appeal from the CBF and this is being analysed," Fifa media director Delia Fischer said.
Meanwhile, Willian is expected to be fit to face Germany, despite limping out of training on Saturday with an apparent back problem.
The Chelsea attacker has been tipped to replace Neymar in the last-four clash after the Barcelona star suffered a back injury of his own thanks to a heavy challenge from Camilo Zuniga.
However, the former Anzhi Makhachkala man's knock is believed to be a minor one and he is expected to be able to train with his team-mates as usual on Sunday.
Neymar has 'no chance' of World Cup miracle, says team doctor
By John-Paul Tooth
Jul 7, 2014 1:47:00 AM
Any optimism was crushed by the medical professional, who insisted that the Brazil superstar would not be able to feature in the final should the Selecao beat Germany on Tuesday
Brazil team doctor Jose Luiz Runco says Neymar has "no chance" of being fit for the World Cup final despite lingering suggestions he could make a miraculous comeback by playing through the pain barrier.
The striker injured a vertebra in his back after a challenge from Colombia's Camilo Zuniga in the quarter-finals, that ruled him out of the rest of the tournament.
However, there have been increasing murmurings in Brazil's media that the Barcelona forward, 22, could pull off a remarkable turnaround to feature at the Maracana should the Selecao see off Germany in their semi-final on Tuesday.
Reports had even surfaced that the forward himself believes he can recover in time as the initial, excruciating pain of the injury has faded.
Runco, though, moved to clarify the situation by confirming that there is no way the striker would be able to feature as it could risk ruining his future fitness if the current injury is aggravated.
"There's no chance of him playing in the final of the World Cup," the Brazil team doctor told TV Globo. "He can be with the team, yes, but there's no chance he can be on the field. No way.
"We will not create the illusion of something that does not exist. We have no choice but to not play him.
"Neymar has an injury which needs to heal. It could seriously risk his recovery if he plays, and jeopardise his career."
Brazil will also be also without suspended captain Thiago Silva for the clash with Germany for a spot in the World Cup final where fellow semi-finalists Netherlands or Argentina await.
Argentina's doctor has confirmed the Real Madrid man will not be fit to face Netherlands but claims that Sergio Aguero is set to return from injury in the World Cup semi-final
Angel Di Maria will definitely miss Argentina's World Cup semi-final against Netherlands, according to the national team's doctor, but he revealed that Sergio Aguero could return to action as he progresses to full fitness.
Di Maria, 26, only made it through 33 minutes of the Albiceleste's quarter-final with Belgium, which they ultimately won 1-0.
After the match, his agent Eugenio Lopez suggested the Real Madrid man had torn his thigh muscle and would not recover in time to feature in the final if they are able to beat Netherlands in the last four.
The attacker has undergone medical tests on Sunday and is reported to be desperate to be fit should Alejandro Sabella's men get past the Dutch to play against Brazil or Germany at the Maracana on June 13.
Daniel Martinez, Argentina's team doctor, gave a more optimistic outlook towards Di Maria's injury than the player's agent had originally given, but admitted there would be no chance of him recovering to face Netherlands.
"It's not a serious injury," he told reporters on Sunday. "We have the best doctors looking after his recovery.
"Obviously he will not play against Netherlands and, after the match, we will study day-by-day. Sometimes, one day of recovery for an injury is a lot."
Di Maria has been an ever-present in Sabella's starting line-up in Brazil and scored the winning goal in extra-time against Switzerland in the last-16.
Martinez gave better news regarding Aguero, who has struggled with injury throughout the World Cup, by revealing he should be fit to feature against Louis van Gaal's men on Wednesday.
"He's done three team training sessions now and we hope that continues with his recovery," he added. "He's ready to play."
‘Mourinho’s wrong, Neymar’s the one Brazil will miss’
July 7, 2014 Gaizka Mendieta, spain
Brazil versus Germany will be a great match. It’s like a final for me. Germany have proven to be a great team at technical and tactical levels, perhaps without great individuals in this tournament but always with all the players adding to group performance.
Brazil will have to show a lot of strength, especially without Neymar. Surely Willian will replace him, but Neymar has been the reference point for their attack.
Brazil’s performance against Colombia was good. They showed that intensity we had not seen yet, motivated by the pressure that comes with playing in the quarter-finals of the World Cup. They could have won it in the first half, when they showed great pace and made Colombia very uncomfortable.
Perhaps the only weakness in that game would be their lack of goals. They created many chances and they should have scored three or four goals in the first half. In the second half, Colombia’s coach Jose Pekerman reacted and put a player in midfield, meaning they had more control. Brazil paid for the intensity of the first half and left many spaces. It is also true that Brazil defended well, Colombia just had a few clear chances, but made them suffer too much.
Thiago Silva is the leader of the defence. The rapport with David Luiz is spectacular and key, which does not happen with Dante for example. His suspension will hurt Brazil against Germany, of course, though maybe Dante’s Bayern Munich experience will help.
And Neymar is the leader of the attack. We have seen that if he doesn’t score, Hulk fails, Oscar fails, Fred fails. It’s another very important absence, although Brazil can say they won these two games without his goals. Despite the importance of Thiago Silva – and Jose Mourinho has said he’s their key player – I’d prefer having Neymar fit.
Dani Alves being left on the bench against Colombia was a bit surprising. We are used to always see him in the starting team, but the coach Luiz Felipe Scolari looked for a more tactical team with Maicon.
If Brazil had been eliminated, it would have had more impact. As it is I do not think that it will have any impact on the player’s mind if he returns to the team in Belo Horizonte.
With the Barcelona star's World Cup now over, another man in Brazil's ranks must help the host nation be more than the sum of their parts
COMMENT
By Rupert Fryer
Nobody died. No careers were ended. Brazil’s World Cup hopes are still alive. But one young man felt like his entire world had crumbled around him.
The pressure and expectation on Neymar over the last few weeks cannot be overstated. It was more than a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity. Countless billions will never have the chance to lead the spiritual guardians of what is undoubtedly one of the world’s leading modes of culture to glory on home soil. To banish the demons of 1950 that led Brazil to question the very concept of itself.
The Barcelona man addressed the world on Saturday in floods of tears, his dreams crushed after suffering a fractured vertebra. “I don't have the words to define what's going through my head and my heart,” he wept. Few would.
But now he’s gone. It’s time for Brazil to truly show their mettle, for coach Luiz Felipe Scolari to prove his collective philosophy reigns supreme over that of the individual.
Bernard would be the most like-for-like replacement. That the Selecao play in his home state of Belo Horizonte works in his favour. The support of the home crowd has been vital to Brazil’s evolution which began at the Confederations Cup. A start for Bernard would take the volume in the Estadio Mineirao up to 11.
Time to step up | Ramires or Bernard could replace Neymar
The little Shakhtar star Scolari famously described as having ‘joy in his legs’ offers pace, trickery and individual moments of creative genius, but he is less likely than others to bring overall improvement. His direct running could stretch the space in midfield, but that has been the problem area for Brazil and something Scolari won’t want highlighting.
The introduction of Ramires would provide more steel, but he has failed to impress in his cameos and Scolari is concerned by his propensity to pick up cards. Luiz Gustavo joining Paulinho and Fernandinho in a 4-3-3 is also an option - while that shape would also offer Hernanes the platform to provide the passing from central areas Brazil lacks.
But it will likely be the time for Chelsea’s Willian to step up.
Since joining Chelsea from Anzhi Makhachkala last year, Jose Mourinho has moulded him into a player who works for the collective. He chases and presses in a fashion only rarely seen during his days at Shakhtar. For all his technical quality and ability to pick that killer pass, it’s his work-rate that convinced Scolari to draft him into the side in November last year. If deployed wide, his willingness to track back could also provide one full-back the rarity of some defensive support.Rather than finding Neymar’s replacement, Scolari and technical director Carlos Alberto Parreira are looking for an alternative. Willian’s role will not be to star, but to be the difference-maker. Rather, the 25-year-old will be anointed responsibility of getting more out of those around him. "Neymar is better at scoring goals, I am better at serving the team," admitted Willian himself on Sunday.
While Hulk’s performances have improved since the group stage, he is yet to find the net. Fred has just one goal in four; as does Oscar, whose underwhelming showings are a direct result of Brazil’s inability to pass the ball through the midfield.
For Scolari, Tuesday’s semi-final against Germany is not the time for Willian to wander out from behind the curtain and take centre stage, but the time for the ‘Scolari Family 2.0’ to truly share the limelight. And Willian’s potential to unlocking the power of the collective will be key.
