Print

Mail

wiki links

Brazil slips past Germany

German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann grabs the ball in front of Brazilian Julio Baptista during a semifinal match of the Confederations Cup in Nuremberg, Germany on Saturday. PHOTO: EPA

Germany played the better on Saturday, but Brazil got the victory and a place in the Confederations Cup final with a 3-2 semifinal win over the host.

Two goals by Adriano and a Ronaldinho penalty put the Brazilians into the final against either Mexico or traditional rival Argentina, who play their semifinal in Hanover today. The final is on Wednesday in Frankfurt.

Brazil had the lead three times at Nuremberg's sold-out 42,000-seat Frankenstadion. The Germans replied to the first two with a rare header from Lukas Podolski and Michael Ballack's third penalty of the competition just before halftime.

But Adriano scored the winner 14 minutes from the end for a Brazilian victory, which their play did not deserve. The Brazilians were a pale shadow of the side that outplayed European champion Greece 3-0 in their tournament opener more than a week ago, while Juergen Klinsmann's German side played the better soccer.

"It's wonderful to beat Germany here," said Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira. "We showed our technical ability but also a lot of courage in order to win the game.

Supporters of the German and Brazilian teams hold their country's flags prior to a Confederations Cup semifinal in Nuremberg, Germany on Saturday. PHOTO: EPA

"This was a mental game more than anything else. More than technical and tactical it was about their attitude and it came out. My players showed a lot of confidence and courage and that's why I am very proud."

While disappointed with the result, Klinsmann was happy with his team's performance in only his second loss in 15 games since taking over last year. But he said there is plenty to do before his team hosts the World Cup.

Lineups * Germany: Jens Lehmann, Arne Friedrich, Robert Huth, Torsten Frings, Sebastian Deisler (Mike Hanke, 83), Michael Ballack, Fabian Ernst (Tim Borowski, 86), Per Mertesacker, Bernd Schneider, Lukas Podolski, Kevin Kuranyi (Gerald Asamoah, 63) * Brazil: Dida, Maicon (Cicinho, 46), Lucio, Roque Junior, Emerson, Gilberto, Robinho (Julio Baptista, 86), Kaka (Renato, 77), Adriano, Ronaldinho, Ze Roberto * Referee: Carlos Chandia Alarcon, Chile

"I was pleased with how the team reacted to being behind. We still have time to go before next year," said the German coach, whose team faces the loser of Sunday's semifinal in a third-place game in Leipzig on Wednesday.

"We are on the right path and have been on the right path for the past 10 months. But I think we still have a lot to do to get closer to the top."

The game was marred by another fan running on to the field -- the fourth of the tournament -- which will be a worry to organizers of next year's World Cup.

After Ronaldinho and Ballack came close to scoring, there were two goals in two minutes midway through the first half.

Ronaldinho lined up to take a 30-meter kick in the 21st minute, but instead left it for Adriano. His left-footed strike flicked a German player standing in the wall and flew past 'keeper Jens Lehmann who was moving the other way.

Two minutes later, however, it was 1-1 when Sebastian Deisler swung a corner into a crowded area and picked out Podolski, who guided a header inside the far post. The young Cologne striker pointed to his head as he celebrated a rare headed goal.

Ronaldinho regained the lead three minutes before halftime when Robert Huth pushed Adriano as they chased a ball into the area. The Barcelona star drove the penalty past Lehmann.

The first half was well into injury time when Germany replied from the spot.

The penalty was awarded for Emerson barging over Ballack, with the German captain driving the kick firmly past Dida for his third successful spot kick of the competition.

Lucio should have scored Brazil's third when he headed a cross from Ronaldinho over the bar from five meters. But he was saved a minute later when Robinho sent a through ball to Adriano, who held off Huth before shooting low past Lehmann from just inside the area.

This victory completed a Brazilian double over Germany. On Friday the Under-20 team beat the Germans 2-1 at the junior version of the World Cup in the Netherlands.

They are four players who've defined the World Youth Championship -- Mouhssine Iajour of Morocco, John Obi Mikel of Nigeria, Rafael of Brazil and Lionel Messi of Argentina.

Tommorrow's semifinals will pit the dribbling skills of Iajour against the vision of Mikel, and Messi's playmaking instincts against Rafael, a defender who is so often in the opponent's half of the field.

While those four take in the accolades, other young stars have departed. Freddy Adu of the US is, at 16, already trying to recapture past glories and has his coach's criticism that he didn't step up when it mattered, ringing in his ears.

Colombia's Hugo Rodallega already had a nickname "Rodagol" but underperformed so much that his coach didn't even play him when Colombia lost to Argentina in the second round.

Compare that with the tribute Mikel received from his coach, Samson Siasia.

"He is just a genius," the coach said of his star midfielder, who came to the tournament with enough of a reputation that both Chelsea and Manchester United are fighting for his services.

On Saturday, Mikel led his team against the home favorites, taking charge of the center of the midfield against Dutch star Hedwiges Maduro of Ajax.

"That number nine was an excellent player," Dutch coach Foppe de Haan said.

Iajour also wears that number, and their clash will determine the African finalist on Tuesday.

Iajour, however, will get an extra day of rest following Morocco's shootout win over Italy on Friday.
This story has been viewed 1820 times.