The Brazilians pay great attention to their national team’s matches. When Brazil play, some fans gathers in “FIFA Fan Fest”, some watch the match in the streets. Women, men and children wear Brazilian team’s T-shirts.

A day before the match against Germany in ½ final of World Championship, there was not a particular stir in Rio. “FIFA Fan Fest” was closed and a few people were on the beach. I have mentioned only Argentineans, who live near.

The next meeting, which will be held in Belo Horizonte, is a main theme of the press and television. In the morning, football fans read newspapers. The numbers of newspaper “Globe” is distributed in the busses. Of course, the main issue is non-playing of Neymar. The Brazilian TV stations repeatedly aired how Neymar was flew over by special plane and how Robinho, former forward of Brazilian national team, visited him in the hospital. Most likely, Willian will replace Neymar for the match against Germany and it is obvious that this would not be meaningful change. Willian is not a bad player, but he will not come to Neymar.

Thiago Silva, captain of Brazilians, will not play either, which is the most important figure in the team.

The trainings of Brazilian and German teams were covered in detail. The local TV stations even pay attention, for example, how Luiz Felipe Scolari talked to central defender David Luiz at trainings. In short, they do not leave a single step of “pentacampeones” without discussion. There is nothing surprising in it, this is the team of Brazil.

The fans visited the German team at the training. By the way, not only Germans were among them, but some Brazilians too. For example, one of the Brazilian girl fitted T-shirt of German and had eagle depicted on her leg in order to support them.

So far, Brazil and Germany’s ways were crossed only once in 2002, in the tournament final, which was held in Japan-South Korea and then, by the double of Ronaldo Brazilians won the World Cup for the fifth time. By the way, Miroslav Klose played for German team of such formation, who was the main force. Klose is still in German team and managed to score 15 goals in the World Championships and equaled Ronaldo.

The Germans traditionally do their job by knowledge at Brazilian World Cup too and the result is reaped at this point – they are in ½ final for the fourth time in a row. Joachim Low, head coach of German team, said that he wants to go as far as possible at the tournament. He did not specify exactly how far, but it does not need to think much about this. The Germans always have one goal at any tournament – to win.

Brazilian TV channels also showed how police arrested criminal group in the hotel “Copacabana Palace”, which illegally sold World Cup tickets. It should be noted that such thing has not happened for the first time.

If Rio lived in usual rhythm on Monday, on Tuesday evening everything will be different. The fans will gather in cafe-bars, the place will not be in “FIFA Fan Fest” and so many fans will gather at “Copacabana” that the cars and busses could not move.

If we take both teams’ results, made in their history, into account, we can say that the world’s most titled teams meet each other. In this case, European Championships results are also included in the Germans active together with results, made in World Cups.

Lasha Tabagari, special correspondent of worldsport.ge from Rio de Janeiro

Photos by Lasha Tabagari