Here is a recap of Day 23 at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
GERMANY 1 FRANCE 0
Germany made World Cup history on Friday by qualifying for the semifinals for the fourth straight tournament by defeating France 1-0 in their all-European quarterfinal. Mats Hummels put the Germans ahead in the 13th minute and Die Mannschaft never looked back. The French managed little of the attacking flair that lifted them to quarterfinals as the Germans were able to close down spaces and hassle the attackers of Les Bleus. France’s finest opportunity did not come until the last kick of the game when in stoppage time Karim Benzema fired a shot from close range that was palmed away by Manuel Neuer to put the Germans in the last four.
BRAZIL 2 COLOMBIA 1
If Brazil is going to win the World Cup, they’ll need to do so without Neymar. The Brazilian playmaker exited the 2-1 victory over Colombia in the 88th minute with what was revealed to be a fractured vertebra that will see him miss the rest of the tournament. On the field, the Brazilians took the lead after seven minutes when Thiago Silva buried a Neymar corner kick to give the Seleção the lead. David Silva doubled the Brazilians lead in the 69th minute with a stellar free kick. James Rodriguez cut the Brazilians lead to one with a penalty kick goal, but it wasn’t enough to lift Los Cafeteros to the semifinals. Neymar won’t be the only player absent for Brazil’s semifinal against Germany as Silva is suspended with yellow card accumulation.
World Cup action continues on July 5 when Argentina takes on Belgium at 9:00 a.m. PT before Costa Rica face Netherlands at 1:00 p.m. PT.
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
