..::Football III::..

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Hummels: Time to make the 'big' World Cup dream come true

Mats Hummels has urged Germany to focus on securing a fourth World Cup, claiming that there will be no overexcitement over beating Brazil.

Germany earned an incredible 7-1 win over the tournament hosts in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday, with Toni Kroos and Andre Schurrle scoring twice and Thomas Muller, Miroslav Klose and Sami Khedira adding to the scoresheet before Oscar's consolation.

However, Hummels stressed that, since Germany knew they had won the game early on, they experienced a sense of calm at the final whistle and are already fully concentrating on the next fixture."We think of it now, enjoy it and show our best on Sunday," the 25-year-old defender told reporters.

"It was surprisingly quiet. You can also say without being arrogant - we have known for over an hour that we are through and that is different from tight games when you feel high emotion at full-time."This is really something special, what each individual has done. And we will now try with everything we have to have to make the big dream come true."

Toni Kroos echoed the thoughts of his compatriot, stressing that the final was now the sole concern despite the impressive result against the Selecao."We have played a great game, we have almost overrun them at the beginning," he said.

"We have had an incredible game but another game is still waiting. We are here to win the World Cup, we are not yet there."

 

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David Luiz: I am so sorry – I only wanted to make Brazilians happy

David Luiz has apologised "to all Brazilians" for the humiliating 7-1 defeat to Germany in the World Cup semi-final in Belo Horizonte.

Brazil's dreams of winning the tournament as hosts were smashed as they slumped to an embarrassing defeat. Germany blew Luiz Felipe Scolari's men away as they took a 5-0 lead in the first half before sealing the emphatic 7-1 scoreline after the break.

David Luiz, who was named captain in the absence of the suspended Thiago Silva, could only offer an apology at full-time for an abject personal and collective performance.

"I just wanted to give some happiness to my people. To my people, who suffer so much already," Luiz told Rede Globo.

"Unfortunately we couldn't do it. I'm sorry, everyone. Sorry to all Brazilians. I wanted to see my people smiling.

"Everyone knows how important it was for me to make the Brazilian people happy, even if just because of football."

Goalkeeper Julio Cesar echoed Luiz's apology and felt the Brazil players became "lost" during a dramatic opening 45 minutes.

"I think we got a little lost there and Germany noticed we were like that and managed to score the goals," said Cesar. "I'd rather we had lost 1-0 because of my mistake.

“To explain what happened now is complicated. This is a dream that ends, although not the way we hoped.

"In my life, I've learned to be a man at all times. I won't shy away from anything, I'll take it on the chin. One day I'll give happiness to those people."

 

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Semi-Final 1: Brazil 1 Vs 7 Germany in Pictures

 

[Hayao]

call me evil but i am genuinely happy that Brazil lost

 

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FIFA World Cup 2014 Semi-Final 2 Fixture 2014.07.09

FIFA World Cup 2014 Semi-Final 2 Fixture 2014.07.09

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Netherlands Vs Argentina

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Ada Netherlands Vs Argentina hoda fight 1kak yai kiyala hithanawa one-sided contest 1kak wenne nathuwa​

 

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[Michael]

One does not simply mess with the Nazis!!!!

 

[රජ්ජුරුවෝ]

saw a nightmare last night

 

[Wolverine GTR]

P.Evra wath Juventus lata sell karanna wage yanneAhema unoth thawath Left Back kenekuth ganna wenawane

Ahema une nathnam Luke Shaw thamai 1st team LB.
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[rcccc]

P.Evra wath Juventus lata sell karanna wage yanneAhema unoth thawath Left Back kenekuth ganna wenawane

Ahema une nathnam Luke Shaw thamai 1st team LB.
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LB ta Wolfsburg Ricardo Rodríguez wa ganna hadanawa neda
rating nam hodayi
http://www.whoscored.com/Players/61610/Show/Ricardo-Rodriguez

 

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Maradona: Germany mauling tarnishes Brazil's image

Diego Maradona believes that Brazil's image as the greatest footballing nation on Earth has been tarnished by their humiliating World Cup thrashing by Germany.

The Selecao had been hoping to banish the memory of their failure to lift the trophy the last time the country had staged the competition, in 1950, when they suffered a shock 2-1 loss to Uruguay in the tournament-deciding game in Rio de Janeiro.

However, a nation has been left with a fresh set of psychological scars after a humbling 7-1 semi-final loss to Germany in Belo Horizonte, a defeat that Maradona feels has irreparably damaged the five-time champions' reputation for on-field excellence.

"I said Germany were better than Brazil, as I didn't like Brazil from the start, but I didn't think Germany were going to be so imposing, so devastating, so decisive," the Argentine told Telesur.

"Brazil just didn't turn up and I think the worst thing for Brazil is that they gave an extremely poor image.

"Okay, Germany were strong but the Brazil players simply weren't on the pitch. It was like five-a-side. You give it to me, I give it you, and you shoot.

"Brazil didn't stop anything in the midfield; anyone could get through. The defenders, Dante and David Luiz, had no coordination.

"I'm sorry because Brazil was so proud of its team, they wanted to reach the final, but football gives you these hammer blows."

 

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Sammer: Thiago Alcantara will be out for a while yet

Bayern Munich sporting director Matthias Sammer has admitted that, while Thiago Alcantara's knee operation went well, "it will take him a while to return".

The Spain international was ruled out of this summer's World Cup after suffering medial ligament damage during a Bundesliga clash with Hoffenheim in March.

Sammer insisted that Thiago's rehabilitation is going as planned but refused to confirm if the midfielder will be fit for the start of the new season.

"The operation went well," the former Germany sweeper told reporters on Wednesday.

"It will still take him a while to return, but we're giving him all the time in the world."

Thiago joined Bayern on a four-year contract from Barcelona last summer for a reported fee of €25 million.

 

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Sneijder: Robben is the Dutch Messi

Wesley Sneijder has claimed that Arjen Robben is the Dutch Lionel Messi ahead of Netherlands' World Cup semi-final showdown with Argentina.

The 30-year-old has the utmost respect for Messi, who has been credited with carrying his country to the last four on the back of a succession of game-deciding performances.

However, Sneijder says that Louis van Gaal's men are just as reliant on Robben, who has been in sensational form in Brazil so far.

"Argentina have Messi, a crazy champion, but we have the Messi of Holland, whose name is Arjen Robben and he's having a fantastic World Cup," the 30-year-old playmaker told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Arjen is as important for us as Messi is for Argentina."

Sneijder was Netherlands' star man in South Africa four years ago but this time around the focus has been firmly fixed upon Robben and his fellow forward Robin van Persie.

The Galatasaray man insists, though, that he is not in the least bit upset at having to play a supporting role in Brazil.

"Life is like this," Sneijder mused. "The years pass and things change. I don't care if Van Persie and Robben make more headlines in the papers.

"It's not a game to see who becomes the most famous. It's a game to see who wins the World Cup. My objective in 2010 was to win the cup, and it's the same objective now.

"I also hope that Arjen wins the Golden Ball. There's no jealousy in me. And it's not only for him as a player either, because Arjen is also my friend.

"And if he wins the Golden Ball, maybe it will mean that it's because he has won the World Cup. That way, everything's perfect!"

Sneijder also insisted that he has put his disappointment at being stripped of the captaincy by Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal last year well and truly behind him.

"It was very hard, but I got over it," the former Inter ace explained. "These things happen and now all of this no longer matters.

"Even without the armband, I'm just trying to be influential and to help the team when I can."

 

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Newcastle rekindle Cabella interest with fresh €12m bid

Newcastle United have lodged a bid in the region of €12 million for France sensation Remy Cabella, Goal understands.

The Premier League side have long been following the Montpellier midfield star and, having failed with bids in January, were also knocked back in their attempts to bring him to St James' Park prior to the World Cup.

Cabella was selected as part of Didier Deschamps' squad for the finals in Brazil, although he is now back in Europe following France's elimination at the quarter-final stage of the competition.

Goal understands that Newcastle have come back in for the 24-year-old despite the continuos protestations of Montpellier president Louis Nicollin, who is adamant that he does not want to sell to the Tyneside club.

But Alan Pardew's side are undeterred and Cabella is known to be keen on the prospect of joining the Anglo-French colony at St James' Park that includes the likes of Yoan Gouffran, Moussa Sissoko and Hatem Ben Arfa, with Newcastle tabling an offer in the region of €12m for the star.

The Magpies hope to have the deal concluded by the weekend as they look to make Cabella their fourth signing of the summer following deals for Siem De Jong, Jack Colback and Ayoze Perez.

Pardew's side are also considering a move for Olympique Lyonnais striker Aleandre Lacazette having missed out on top attacking target Pierre Michel Lasogga and Goal understands they are also looking for a replacement for Arsenal-bound Mathieu Debuchy, with Daryl Janmaat and Micah Richards in their sights.

 

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Official: Chelsea sign Croatia youngster Pasalic

Chelsea have confirmed the signing of 19-year-old midfielder Mario Pasalic from Hajduk Split.
The 19-year-old midfielder has represented Croatia at Under-21 level and was named in Niko Kovac's provisional squad for the World Cup, though he did not make the final cut.

"I am very happy because I am now a Chelsea player," Pasalic told the club's official website.

"I am very impressed by the training ground and I must thank everybody at Hajduk. This is now a new start in my career.

"I am a central midfielder, my favourite player is Frank Lampard and so I am very happy to be a Chelsea player."

Born in Germany, Pasalic only made his first-team debut in 2013 but scored 11 goals in 30 league appearances last season as Hajduk finished the Croatian campaign in third place.

Pasalic will link up with Chelsea's senior squad for pre-season training on Wednesday.

 

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Ronaldo: Brazil now obliged to finish third after Germany debacle

Ronaldo says Brazil have an obligation to their shell-shocked supporters to finish third at World Cup 2014 after their humiliating semi-final hammering at the hands of Germany.

Luiz Felipe Scolari's side had been charged with the responsibility of making amends for the failure to lift the trophy the last time the country had hosted the tournament, in 1950.

However, the Selecao's surprise 2-1 loss to Uruguay in Rio de Janeiro 64 years ago was nothing compared to the embarrassment they suffered in front of the watching world in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday, with the five-time champions being routed 7-1 by Joachim Low's men.

Ronaldo was stunned by the error-strewn nature of Brazil's display and says that they now owe it to the people to defeat either Argentina or Netherlands in Brasilia on Saturday.

"The Selecao paid a very high price for their mistakes and now they have an obligation to claim third place," the former Barcelona and Real Madrid forward is quoted as saying by A Bola.

However, Ronaldo's fellow legendary forward, Pele, believes that the Selecao now need to look towards the next World Cup.

"I have always said that football is full of surprises," he wrote on his Twitter profile. "Nobody expected this result. So let's win the sixth [title] in Russia."

 

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Mourinho leaps to Luiz's defence after Brazil horror show

Jose Mourinho has leapt to the defence of former Chelsea player David Luiz following Brazil's humiliating World Cup semi-final loss to Germany.

The defender was the negative focus of much of the post-match analysis after being directly at fault for at least two goals in the 7-1 loss on Tuesday.

Mourinho admits Luiz, who recently completed a £40 million move to Paris Saint-Germain, made mistakes but feels it is unfair to single one player out with the team as a whole playing poorly.

"I don't think it's fair to separate a player from the team, because the team was really bad," Mourinho, Yahoo's Global Football Ambassador, said.

"David made mistakes? Yes he did. But, Dante made mistakes, Marcelo made mistakes, Fernandinho made mistakes. The team as a team made mistakes. So I don't think it's fair.

"I think everyone in my situation, everyone that is a player, everyone that is a coach, everyone that is not involved in the World Cup, but could be in that position. I think all of us are feeling really sorry for them."

Mourinho feels the record-breaking defeat will go down in history, much like that World Cup final loss to Uruguay in 1950, and sympathises with the squad.

He continued: "It is a historical moment. A moment that we will remember forever, the same way that we all know that once Brazil lost a World Cup final against Uruguay and the same way my son, who is 14 years old, knows that.

"In fifty years' time our kids will know that Brazil lost at home against Germany, one to seven. From my point of view, from the professional point of view, it's heart-breaking and I'm really sorry for them."

 

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Messi faces a Himalayan task, says Raul

Former Spain international Raul believes that Lionel Messi faces a tough task to lead Argentina past Netherlands in Wednesday's World Cup semi-final.

The Dutch impressed against Spain in the group stages, while they also saw off Australia, Chile, Mexico and Costa Rica and Raul thinks Louis van Gaal's men will pose a stern challenge for the Barcelona star when they meet in Sao Paulo.

"Messi's Barcelona team-mates were in for a rude shock against the Netherlands in their first match in the group. Four more trips down the road, the Dutch are looking sharper and hungrier," Raul told Times of India.

"They will face Messi now, who won't have Angel Di Maria by his side. It's going to be a Himalayan task for the world's best player, to take his team to the final on his own.

"Messi started the World Cup with four Man-of-the-Match awards. In the fifth too, the move for the goal by Higuain was started by him.

"But the Belgians were able to somewhat contain him. There is only one way to do that. You have men around him in the middle third, so that he cannot start those incisive runs.

"One inspiring performance can change a team, like a certain Diego Maradona did in 1986. Messi is capable of doing that."

Argentina last made it to the final of the World Cup in 1990, when they were eventually beaten by West Germany.