"Football is not a matter of life and death, it is more important than that."
Semi-finals
After 4 weeks of the 2014 World Cup, we are down to the last four. The two semi-finals are:Brazil v Germany; Argentina v Netherlands.
Mesut Osil on the ball.
It could not have worked out better. Two European countries and two South American countries. Europe v South America in both semi-finals leaving open the tantalizing prospect of an all European final, an all South American final and a game between one country from each continent.
The four countries have pedigree. Brazil has won the World Cup five times, Argentina twice. Germany has twice won the World Cup – West Germany if you wish to be pedantic. Netherlands have never won the World Cup but having lost in three finals are due a win.
Captain, Thiage Silva scoring the most important goal of his career.
At the individual level there is Lionel Messi, keen to emulate Maradona and lead his country to victory. Brazil may struggle without Neymar.
Lionel Messi.
Netherlands have three world-class players in Wesley Sneijder, Robin Van Persie and Arjen Robben and Germany has that nice blend of youth and experience.
The four quarter-finals were extremely tight – three being decided by a single goal and the other going to penalties. Don’t expect the semis to produce a goal feast. Germany won a group game 4-0 and Netherlands 5-1 but both would bite your hand off for a 1-0!
Argentina last met Netherlands in the World Cup in 1998, when Netherlands won 2-1 in the quarter-final before going on to lose to Brazil. Could that be an omen, I wonder? Germany and Brazil met in the 2002 final, which Brazil winning 2-0 with the World’s best goalkeeper at the time, Oliver Kahn, making a terrible mistake at a crucial moment.
Whatever happens, we are in for a treat.
Photos by Getty Images for Sony