FIFA World Cup 2014 - Semi-finals [8th - 9th July] **spoilers**

Germany: Neuer, Hoewedes, Hummels, Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Ozil, Klose, Muller, Lahm (c), Kroos, Boateng

Brazil: Julio Cesar, David Luiz (c), Fernandinho, Marcelo, Hulk, Fred, Oscar, Dante, Luiz Gustavo, Bernard, Maicon
 
Hoping we end up with Germany/Netherlands and Brazil/Argentina in the next two matches regardless of which is the final and which is the third place match. Those two rivalries would be great :D
 
I'm expecting a dodgy penalty or red card to help Brazil should they need it, at least if Brazil lose in the final FIFA can pack their bags and do a runner before the riots ensue.
 
Can anyone explain why Klose is starting ahead of the likes of Gotze again? having Muller as the forward seemed to work great and think they've stuttered since Klose has been used :/
 
Anyone else notice Alan Hansen say "dont know what that's all about" when they showed a clip of Luiz praying?

Was just trying to be grumpy about Luiz's passion / "extrovertness" and just resulted in being offensive to the worlds largest organised religion :o :D
 
shipinabottle said:
Can anyone explain why Klose is starting ahead of the likes of Gotze again? having Muller as the forward seemed to work great and think they've stuttered since Klose has been used :/
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Right players, right positions. They've sucked against better teams as they haven't really got quality wide players who play the way you need wide players to play... ie pace and running at the defence to stretch them. Gotze wants to come inside and Ozil doesn't want to get near those pesky dangerous opposition players, or run at more than a brisk walking pace.

Klose has only started the last game(iirc) with Gotze dropped for a more direct winger in Schurrle, but it was Ozil who should have been dropped(or moved centrally) as he is just terrible out wide. I have no idea why he's starting wide, why they wouldn't play him in the middle.. who knows. Fact is Muller can play upfront, wide left or right, or deeper behind the striker all equally effectively. He can be brilliant anywhere. Why play Ozil wide where he is woeful, when you have Schurrle/Muller and earlier Podolski(is he injured/out now?) who can play much much better there.

Khedira is also not remotely pulling his weight in central mid, I never really rated him but he's had a completely injury wrecked season and came into the cup with zero form.

The whole "I won't play Lahm at right back" thing has hurt Germany too.

So many truly bizarre decisions, so many managers completely changing the team going into the world cup, even more bizarre is changing the teams drastically compared to the top performances in group games. The dutch have looked a fraction as good since playing Kuyt. Yeah, defensive work, who cares, you need some actual quality to play in RVP/Robben who since you removed some quality from the wings have had very few chances.
 
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