2014 World Cup Semifinals Picks

Two great soccer games will come this week in the World Cup as Germany vs. Brazil, and Netherlands vs. Argentina clash for the right to play in the 2014 final.  Here are the picks for both semifinals:

Germany vs. Brazil, Tuesday July 8th, 4 PM ET

Germany and Brazil have only met once in the World Cup, it was back in 2002 at the final when the Brazilians won 2-0.  It’s hard to believe to one of the most important side in soccer history will meet this Tuesday, only for the second time in WC history.

Both teams arrived at this tournament amongst the favorites to win it, but now it comes to the end of knowing only one can advance.

Brazil won have Neymar due to an injury in the back that will prevent him from playing the rest of the tournament, and will miss also Thiago Silva, due to a sanction.

“He will be with us if he can, on the bench or in the stands,” manager Luiz Felipe Scolari said of Neymar. “We have already asked him to do this. It all will depend on how he is in the upcoming days. If he can do it, I am certain that he will.”

Germany, on the other side, is the team with the best ball movement in the World Cup, and despite suffered against Algeria and France to advance to the semifinals, they remain as the team with the best talent in the competition.

‘We have changed over recent years because lots of young German players in German clubs are given an advantage over foreigners and we’re benefitting from that. In England, many foreigners and perhaps that is not always beneficial.

‘I believe we have a good blend in Germany, a strong league with two or three of best teams in Europe. But I’m not unhappy if players are abroad. We can benefit from Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil having different influences and cultures and coaches. They benefit personally as well and it helps players to mature.’

Pick: Germany

Netherlands vs. Argentina, Wednesday July 9th, 4 PM ET

Argentina and Netherlands have a huge history together; they met in the 1978 final where the ‘albiceleste’ won the title, and clashed again in the 1998 quarterfinals where the Dutch had the best of it.  In 2006 met again in the group stage where they tied.

There’s a sweet-bitter aura in this game and considering whoever wins gets a ticket for the World Final, then it should be a battle for the ages.

Netherlands has won four of the five games, only drawing against Costa Rica in the quarterfinals and advancing in penalties; no team has scored more goals than the Dutch in this World Cup.

“That reflects also on the group. If he is calm, and if somebody from the group makes the right decisions you can take it over easily. He is just one of a kind, in his way of working and especially the tactical discipline he has got for the team. But the tactical changes he makes in games is a new experience for me,” said Nigel De Jong about Van Gaal.

Argentina has won all five games in the tournament but won’t have Angel Di Maria due to an injury; he’s one of the best players in the world and his absent will pressure Lionel Messi to be superb against a team that is expecting him.

Pick: Netherlands