The heat is well and truly on now in the World Cup now as Germany head to the Estadio Maracana in Rio later to take on France in the first Quarter Final of today. Germany are without defender Shkodran Mustafi for the remainder of the tournament, after his World Cup was brought to an end thanks to a thigh injury. The rest of the squad are said to be in good shape, however Joachim Loew, the German coach has said that seven of his squad are currently suffering with what he described as “flu-like” symptoms, butt that he still has a full squad for selection, barring Mustafi. In the French dressing room, coach Didier Deschamps might sacrifice Olivier Giroud for Antoine Griezmann, which would in turn push Karim Benzema into the middle to play as a central striker. In injury news, Mamadou Sakho will return to duty after having recovered from his injury.
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In the World Cup at least, France Vs. Germany has always been a big occasion, and both coaches agree with that sentiment, with Die Mannschaft coach Joachim Loew enthusing: “France versus Germany has always been a classic”. In the last three matches at the World Cup, a stunning seventeen goals have been smashed in, which has meant an average of just over 5.6 goals per game. Michel Platini, president of FIFA and ex-France player said “The 1982 Semi-Final in Seville was my most beautiful game”. This didn’t stop that particular “beautiful game” from having one of the most ugly moments in world football when Germany ‘keeper Harald Schumacher made a horrific, mistimed challenge on France’s Battiston, who was forced to leave the field on a stretcher in agony with two missing teeth, three broken ribs and a cracked spine. Schumacher somehow remained on the field and went on to make two stunning penalty saves in the resulting shootout after the game finished a 3-3 stalemate after extra time.
Manuel Neuer however, Germany’s current stopper, has been hitting front pages all over the world for different, and somewhat less ugly reasons with the most defining moment of his World Cup coming against Algeria where he demonstrated exactly how a ‘keeper should operate as a sweeper. He was almost a “last defender” at certain times taking a remarkably brave twenty one touches outside his area, however this was put down to the fact that Germany played a very high line. Indeed it was probably thanks to his display that the Algerians were unable to finish off Die Mannschaft. The German media are always quick to criticise and they have been given every chance to do so since their national squad battered Portugal in their opening day match as Germany’s form has slowly gotten worse. The French have been completely ruthless in their displays this year and the Germans will have dig extremely deep in order to overcome both a rampant Les Bleus, along with a slide in form topped off with an outbreak of flu.
