Germany Squad Report: Loew's team trains in Campo Bahia

After flying back to their self-built training camp Campo Bahia near Santa Cruz Cabralia, the German national team spent yesterday training under the sun before spending some time with their families, according to ESPNFC. They’re preparing to face a Neymar-less Brazil on Tuesday.

The German press has been mostly conciliatory to their semifinal opponents in the wake of the loss of its biggest star, but they also fear that Brazil’s passion could see another hack fest similar to the one Brazil produced against Colombia. Die Zeit wrote “[Brazil] have heart and passion for 10 teams. This could be the message for the semifinal. We might not play nice, but will have even more passion now.”

Germany however are prepared. Speaking in a press conference yesterday, former national team captain Lothar Matthaus, who led Germany to their last World Cup win against Argentina in 1990, praised the pragmatic new direction of the national team after a more adventurous side in 2010 went out in their semifinal against Spain:

"If you want to become world champion you have to win matches, and that means ugly victories too. In previous World Cups we have always had those kind of games.

"We have become spoiled over the last eight years with such a technically stylish team and you did not expect this from Germany.

"Now it is no longer as attractive and beautiful as it was in 2010 but it is more oriented towards having a stronger defense - there is a saying in Germany that the defense wins titles and the attackers get all the glory.

Matthaus went on to mention Ozil playing out wide instead of his more favoured central position, the lack of a number 9 in the team, and the use of three central defenders in Benedikt Höwedes, Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng to earn the win against France.

All of this doesn’t exactly signal a neutral’s delight this Tuesday, but if Germany beats a weakened but highly favoured home side in Brazil, few will mind.

Fixtures/Results

Group G — June 16 — Germany 4-0 Portugal

Group G — June 22 — Germany 2-2 Ghana

Group G — June 26 — United States 0-1 Germany

Round of 16 — June 30 — Germany 2-1  Algeria aet.

Quarterfinal — July 4 — France 0-1 Germany

Semifinal — July 8 — Brazil vs. Germany

Squad News/Rumors/Injury Report

It appears all members of the team who had been suffering from flu-like symptoms have fully recovered.

Three Quick Notes

1. Zico previews Brazil ahead of their clash with Germany in the semifinal.

2. Andre Schuerrle’s going to use his special Brazilian knowledge to, you know, help Germany.

3. Rio Ferdinand predicts a strong German victory.