The World Cup is soccer's greatest spectacle. It's also a monthlong grind, and the fatigue is starting to show.
Games every few days, many played under a summer sun. Travel back and forth across Germany. Pressure that grows with every game. And that's on top of the nine months -- or more -- that many players just spent with soccer's best clubs.
"The World Cup is a special test," said Portugal goalkeeper Ricardo Pereira, whose team plays France today in the semi-finals.
"No matter how hard you try, you can't completely overcome that tiredness," he said.
Or the injuries. Or the mental exhaustion.
Some teams manage better than others. Semifinalists Germany, Italy, France and Portugal have outlasted the other 28 teams, and it's not only because of skill, timing and luck.
Italy might be the strongest team mentally, able to ignore distractions from a corruption scandal that is rocking the domestic league. Despite several grueling games, Portugal has managed to remain healthy.
France looks fresher now than a month ago. And Germany is among the fittest teams after coach Juergen Klinsmann overhauled its training program.
"Physical condition is very important, because in soccer these days, 95 percent of the time the team that runs more wins," Italy defender Gianluca Zambrotta said.
"Compared to the past, soccer is much more athletic and the pace is much faster," he said.
When the tournament began in 1930, there were only 13 teams and it lasted two weeks. Now 32 teams play 64 games over four weeks, and qualifying begins two years out.
"Their bodies are not machines," Germany assistant coach Joachim Loew said.
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