There are not many teams in this competition who are as lethal as Germany in the semifinal stage of this competition. They have been in eight semifinals from inception and have won six times. So, France could be said to be in a state of dilemma as to how to deal with this kind of animal.
In the last World Cup played in Brazil, Germany meet France in the quarterfinal stage and lost 1-0 thanks to a solitary strike from Matt hummels. Last year, in an international friendly played in Paris, Germany lost 2-nil but several explosions that occurred outside the stadium overshadowed the match.
Consequently, both teams could be said to be familiar with each other but in tonight's match, it will be about the managers. Who has the tactical nous to outwit the other? France in this competition, has relatively had an easier path to the semifinal, i mean, in level of opposition they have had to face but the Die Mannschaft faced by far their biggest threat in Italy which caused Joachim Low to mirror their formation.
Ultimately, the match dragged into penalties where the Germans prevailed but were left with scars which the French National team may seek to exploit in today's semifinal.
Mario Gomez and Sami Khedira have been ruled out of this match due to injuries while Matt hummels is suspended due to the accumulation of yellow cards from previous rounds. So the biggest question for Joachim Low is, who fills these voids created by these players?
Les blues haven't had it quite their way since the start of the tournament as Didier Deschamps has been tinkering with his formation and starting XI. So, the biggest question staring him in the face tonight is, what formation could do the job and who gets to start tonight?
Something going for the French National team is that they are playing on their home turf but could this also play into the hands of the Germans?
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