By Samindra Kunti in Berlin
March 28 – Brazil defeated Germany 1-0 at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium on Tuesday in a morale-boosting and symbolic win in the first meeting between the two sides after the 7-1 World Cup semi-final in 2014. The German FA also used the high-profile friendly to promote its bid for Euro 2024.
Before the game Brazil coach Tite spoke of Brazil’s humiliation at the last World Cup on home soil. The scoreline still haunts Brazilian football, but his German counterpart Joachim Low preferred to focus on the present. His side however failed to impose themselves in the opening 20 minutes, a repeat from their 1-1 draw with Spain last week.
With Fernandinho reinforcing Brazil’s midfield, the visitors contained Germany and took the lead in the 37th minute when a strong, close-range header from Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus was too much for German goalkeeper Kevin Trapp.
In the second half, Germany, without Manuel Neuer, Thomas Muller and Mesut Ozil, rang the changes. Brazil stamped their authority on the match and Coutinho and Jesus threatened. Tite, underlining the importance of this fixture for Brazil, didn’t make any changes until the 73rd minute when Douglas Costa replaced Liverpool’s Coutinho.
The victory was a mini-step towards redemption for Brazil, who head to Russia among the favourites to win the World Cup alongside the defending champions. Spain also impressed in a 6-1 friendly win over Argentina.
Before the game, the German FA, DFB, promoted its bid for Euro 2024, with a huge tifo ‘United by Football’, the slogan of its campaign, flyers and other ads about the bid. Berlin’s Olympic Stadium is one of the bid’s proposed flagship venues. Fifteen candidates submitted a bid to the DFB to be a host city. Bremen, Hanover, Mönchengladbach, and Nuremberg were renounced and Kaiserslautern withdrew over financial considerations.
Earlier this week German chancellor Angela Merkel and her government offered their full support for the bid in a meeting with DFB president Reinhard Grindel and Euro ambassador Philipp Lahm. Germany last hosted the European Championship in 1988 when the Netherlands defeated the USSR in the final.
Turkey are challenging for the bidding rights, but with the current political situation in the country the Turks are considered rank outsiders. They also bid for Euro 2008, Euro 2012 and Euro 2016, but were unsuccessful on each occasion. European governing body UEFA will announce the Euro 2024 hosts in September.
Contact the writer of this story Samindra Kunti at moc.l1713923561labto1713923561ofdlr1713923561owedi1713923561sni@o1713923561fni1713923561