Semi Final Predictions…are hard

So now that there are four.  And I basically have no idea how to pick between these four.

Here we go.

Brazil v. Germany

Editor’s Pick: Germany

Can Brazil, now without Neymar, overcome a Germany that is looking more and more efficient and in-tune?  Probably not.  I was struck in the Germany/France match at how dang well Manuel Neuer is playing; I’m pretty sure he hardly had to move for almost every save he made.  His positioning was that good.  Brazil, meanwhile, had to survive a nervy finish against a Colombian team in a game that could have easily gone the other way.  We’ve all been deprived of Neymar for the rest of the World Cup since his back is literally broken (who says soccer isn’t a contact sport?!) and although they are talent-laden, the Brazilians have been flowing so much of their game through Neymar to this point, I’m not convinced that they can either change their game or get the same production and distribution out of Oscar.  But since both of these teams are likely candidates to win this whole tournament, I could be way off.  What I will predict is that the winner of this semi-final, wins the World Cup.

Netherlands v. Argentina

Editor’s Pick: Argentina

So this is the ugly step-sister of the two semi-finals, which really just goes to prove how ridiculously good the other matchup is.  The Dutch showed uncharacteristic resistance and moxie in getting through the Costa Ricans in their quarterfinal (because historically, the Dutch are terrible in extra-time and shootouts), but with Van Gaal doing insane substitutions, and Tim Krul shit-talking all of the Costa Rican shooters they pulled it off.  As for Argentina, they had finally had Angel di Maria doing a serviceable job of supporting Lionel Messi, and now di Maria is out for at least this semi-final with a thigh strain.  Gonzalo Higuain finally showed up for twenty minutes of a game, so at least that’s sort of promising.  But Messi will probably own this game again as he makes a run at his first World Cup final appearance, and I just can’t bring myself to root against the little man.  But since both of these teams could also win the World Cup, I could be completely wrong here too.  But the winner of this match will just be fodder for either a very confident Germany or a Brazil playing in a World Cup final match at home…so either way this is probably the last win that either of these teams will enjoy at this tournament.