Germany: The Best team in the World

Apt that in the World Cup that Spain fell, Germany rose to replace them. Indeed, there was no other national team worthy of the prize of world champions.

For nearly half a decade, no two national teams have been run so well. To an extent, both countries epitomise

Brazil’s nightmare semi-final

It was not as heart-breaking as 1950, neither as regrettable as 1982. Brazil’s 7-1 semi-final loss to Germany was downright embarrassing.

Indeed, a stadium and a nation endured a harrowing experience. The rollercoaster of emotions flowed one way — downwards. Shock turned into despair, gasp, and finally a delusional reality. Was Brazil really that bad? Was the weight of a nation too much of a burden to carry? In the end, it was a little of both.

Not only was it the weight of a nation; it was also the scales of history. The most successful nation in World Cup history had not won the World Cup on

World Cup 2014: Talking Points from the 1st Group Phase

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by Fridah Kariuki

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The World Cup will either remain in South America or leave with a European nation

The prestigious trophy will remain in either of the two above regions. The other regions are not up to standard and do not pose enough competition. Africa and Asia are performing dismally. North and Central America may

Germany’s versatility a gifted curse for Joachim Low

It is the Germans who always find a way to adapt to football revolution.

In the 1970’s, when Ajax Amsterdam and Holland developed total football, Bayern Munich and West Germany found a way to take it to the next level. In a team boasting Franz Beckenbauer, they had a complete footballer; a defender, a passer, a scorer. That carried onto the rest of the team, and Bayern Munich dominated club football while West Germany did the same on the international stage.

Something similar seems to be happening. While Barcelona and Spain have dominated via the development of tiki-taka, Bayern Munich and Germany have seemingly evolved it. By adding

The Pirlo conundrum

Andrea Pirlo, Italy’s gem

Andrea Pirlo is the cog upon which Italy’s wheel turns. That was evident at last summer’s European Championships where he commanded the Italian midfield with his elegant poise.

It was his bursting run that led to the opener against Spain, his sumptuous free-kick opened the scoring against Croatia, his two assists unlocked Ireland and his panenka that demoralised England. Against England especially, he was the kingpin in midfield, rarely troubled and always seemingly in acres of space to launch threatening passes.

For opponents, that should thus be a no brainer – stop Pirlo, stop Italy. Of course, that is