By Samindra Kunti
March 17 – Defending world champions Germany and Brazil will meet in a prestigious friendly next year for the first time since the 7-1 result in the 2014 World Cup semi-finals.
The Brazilian FA (CBF) announced the friendly on their website. The Germans will host Brazil on March 27, 2018 at Berlin’s iconic Olympic Stadium. The friendly will serve as a warm-up and benchmark for the World Cup in Russia which will get underway a few months later
At the last World Cup finals, Brazil capitulated in agonising fashion against Germany on home soil in the semi-finals, losing 7-1 at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte. Alongside Brazil’s surprise 1950 World Cup defeat to neighbours Uruguay, the result ranks as the biggest humiliation in the history of the five times world champions.
The match in Berlin will be the first time that the two teams have met at senior level since that semi-final. Brazil defeated Germany in the final of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, but at the Olympic football tournament is predominantly an U-23 competition. From the penalty spot Brazil star Neymar sealed the gold medal for the hosts.
Brazil are on the cusp of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup. They merely require a point against Uruguay in next week’s qualifier to ensure progress to Russia. Under new coach Tite Brazil have a near-perfect record.
Tite has indicated that he wants to go toe-to-toe with strong opponents ahead of the World Cup finals. The former Corinthians coach also said he wants to play away to Italy and Spain.
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