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Germany vs. Brazil Friendly Ends in 3-2 Victory For Germans

Losing a friendly is like losing a one dollar bill, does anyone really care? Maybe not, but when you continue to lose one dollar bills, it tends to get a bit frustrating.

Brazil continues to lose and are in a downward spiral since being eliminated at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. They were eliminated in the quarterfinals in the Copa America and looked far from elite in that tournament.

Now they have been knocked down again by the Germans. While the score indicates it was a close match, the score doesn't tell the whole story.

The Germans seemed in control of the match from the start and took a two goal lead before Brazil finally registered a goal. The game was set to end with a score of 3-1 but they were able to score a late goal in extra time to make the score look a bit better.

Either way, the Brazilians were dominated once again and are in the midst of a freefall.

They have a lot of young talent, but as of right now they are not one of the top teams in the world. Luckily for them, they have three years until the next World Cup comes along. They have the talent to improve but they are going to need to get a lot more playing time in as a team if they want to continue to improve. This team lacks chemistry right now and they are not playing well as a team.

This team is not where it wants to be right now, and the loss to Germany certainly proves that. Friendlies on their own don't mean much, but when a team continues to disappoint, there is a bigger issue at hand. An issue that Brazil has three years to straighten out.

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—Matt Faulconer

Brazil has plummeted from their perch atop the list of world football powers. They followed up a disappointing World Cup with an even more dismal Copa America Cup, and have now furthered their slide with a lackluster showing against Germany in Wednesday's friendly.

While the scoreboard showed a narrow 3-2 defeat—sometimes scoreboards don't tell the whole story. Germany dominate the action throughout this match, and had they played a cleaner and more efficient match this score would have been much more lopsided.

The Germans kept the ball on Brazil's side of the field for almost the entire first half. However, they were not able to capitalize on any of their ample chances, and the first half ended in a 0-0 tie.

Germany was able to finally crack the scoreboard in the 60th minute when Toni Kroos was taken down by Lucio inside the 18-yard box. Germany was awarded a penalty kick which Bastian Schweinsteiger converted.

That opened the scoring flood gates. Just seven minutes later Kroos made a brilliant play on a counter-attack by passing to phenom Mario Gotze. Gotze mad a couple of quick, deft touches before finding the back of the net.

Germany than returned the penalty kick favor when Lahm was called for a penalty. Robinho converted for Brazil.

Andre Schürrle offered the decisive goal for Germany, and gave them a 3-1 lead. That score held until extra time. It was then that Brazil was given their one reason to hope that their recent struggles may be short lived.

Young striker Neymar netted a brilliant goal from 20 yards out. And while that goal was far too late to put this match in jeopardy, it was exactly what Brazil needed. Neymar is one of the young ultra-talented players on a Brazil squad locked in transition.

Up until this match, Neymar has not fulfilled his vast potential on the big stage. Prior to the match Brazil manager Mano Menezes had this to say about his youngsters:

"Our youngsters need to mature and games like this are the best opportunities for them to do that.

"They don't get the same amount of room to play in internationally as they do in Brazil, therefore they will have to learn how to deal with that.

"The only way they can do that is when they are put under pressure."

So while the immediate future looks bleak for Brazil, they can at least take solace in the fact that some of their youngster are learning how to handle the pressure.

Stay tuned to Bleacher Report's World Football Page for all up-to-date news and analysis.

—Richard Langford

The future of world football will be on display in a Germany vs. Brazil friendly. Brazil is a young team in transition, and Germany is a great team being bolstered by the addition of a phenom.

Germany's 19-year-old Mario Goetze is turning heads with his play, and it is earning him playing time. Playing time that is aimed not just to help Germany now, but more importantly for the 2014 World Cup.

German coach Joachim Low has said Goetze will probably be in the starting lineup for the friendly match vs Brazil on Wednesday. The match will be Gotze's seventh cap as he continues his accelerated adjustment to international football.

Goetze is already far ahead of where any 19-year-old should be. His play is earning him high praise and lofty comparisons.

Gotze's performance in Germany's 3-1 win over Hamburg last Friday led to German legend Franz Beckenbauer comparing him to Lionel Messi. And while his coach knows he needs to pickup experience, he is also aware he has something special on his hands. Low:

"He is amazing with the ball. For his age, he is already very advanced.

"He finds good solutions and has an eye for his team-mates, but his development is not over yet."

Meanwhile, Brazil doesn't have the luxury of easing in youngsters Neymar and Ganso. They were thrust into the spotlight at the Copa America Cup, and it was with less than stellar results.

While Brazil failed as a team at Copa America, and that cannot be pinned on the youngsters, the hopes of them turning it around for the 2014 World Cup are. Brazil manager Mano Menezes knows they have some work ahead:

"Our youngsters need to mature and games like this are the best opportunities for them to do that.

"They don't get the same amount of room to play in internationally as they do in Brazil, therefore they will have to learn how to deal with that.

"The only way they can do that is when they are put under pressure."

This match will provide invaluable experience, at the highest level, for all of these guys. All of these guys will get plenty of playing time and plenty of an opportunity to shine on the international level.

Stay tuned to Bleacher Report's World Football Page for all up-to-date news and analysis.

—Richard Langford

Germany is about to set themselves apart from the rest of the world football pack. They are already among the elite, as they suffered a narrow loss to the eventual World Cup Champs, Spain, in the semifinals of the 2010 World Cup. They are now prepared to take the next step.

19-year-old Mario Goetze has already shown the potential to be just the difference maker Germany needs. Goetze should get plenty of opportunities to flash his talent on the international stage as Germany will host Brazil for a friendly match on Wednesday night.

German coach Joachim Low has said Goetze will probably be in the starting lineup for the friendly match vs Brazil on Wednesday. The match will be Gotze's seventh cap as he picks up some much needed experience as the Germans prepare for the 2014 World Cup.

And while Goetze is still raw, he has still produced in his limited experience and is already far ahead of where any 19-year-old should be. His play is drawing some lofty praise from all the right places.

Goetze's performance in Germany's 3-1 win over Hamburg last Friday led to German legend Franz Beckenbauer comparing him to Lionel Messi. And while his coach knows he needs to pickup experience, he is also aware he has something special on his hands. Low:

"He is amazing with the ball. For his age, he is already very advanced.

"He finds good solutions and has an eye for his team-mates, but his development is not over yet."

Goetze still has a long way to go before he takes the stage as one of the world's premier players, but at the rate he is progressing he appears to be on an accelerated time table. It is clear that Joachim Low is intent on giving him as much experience as he can. And that experience is going to prove invaluable when the 2014 World Cup rolls into Brazil.

With Goetze's amazing potential for play making Germany will have enough firepower to combat Spain, and anyone else trying to get in their way of winning the World Cup.

Stay tuned to Bleacher Report's World Football Page for all up-to-date news and analysis.

—Richard Langford

Germany's 19-year-old Mario Goetze is about to show Brazil everything they want their young players to be. And he should get an ample opportunity to display his talents.  

German coach Joachim Low has said Goetze will probably be in the starting lineup for the friendly match vs Brazil on Wednesday. The match will be Gotze's seventh cap as he picks up some much needed experience as the Germans prepare for the 2014 World Cup.

Goetze is already far ahead of where any 19-year-old should be, and his play is drawing some lofty praise.

Gotze's performance in Germany's 3-1 win over Hamburg last Friday led to German legend Franz Beckenbauer comparing him to Lionel Messi. And while his coach knows he needs to pickup experience, he is also aware he has something special on his hands. Low:

"He is amazing with the ball. For his age, he is already very advanced.

"He finds good solutions and has an eye for his team-mates, but his development is not over yet."

Goetze recent play shows that he is better equipped to handle the tighter spaces and intense pressure of international football than Brazil youngsters Neymar and Ganso.

Neymar and Ganso are coming off a disappointing Copa America run. They certainly weren't the only ones on Brazil to underwhelm. That was a team effort of ineptitude. However, the pressure to turn around that performance and build some momentum for the 2014 World Cup falls largely on the shoulders of these two talented and young players. Brazil manager Mano Menezes knows they have some work ahead:

"Our youngsters need to mature and games like this are the best opportunities for them to do that.

"They don't get the same amount of room to play in internationally as they do in Brazil, therefore they will have to learn how to deal with that.

"The only way they can do that is when they are put under pressure."

Mario Goetze has already shown he is better prepared for that pressure. This match will be a great test for all the youngsters, and provide them all an opportunity to shine on the international level, and when it is over, I expect Goetze will be shining the brightest.

Stay tuned to Bleacher Report's World Football Page for all up-to-date news and analysis.

—Richard Langford

Brazil was horrid at the 2011 Copa America. They are a young team, but they are certainly not without talent, and their shockingly anemic offensive output at Copa was alarming. However, that is in the past. They now must try to leave that behind them as they attempt to fulfill their ample potential in their preparations for the 2014 World Cup. 

That quest starts Wednesday as they take on Germany. It is just a friendly, but it is an important friendly. For Brazil, all international matches are key right now. They need to figure out how to put the goal in the net. 

The majority of their starters will be on the pitch. Alexandre Pato, Robinho, Neymar and Paulo Henrique Ganso will front the talented, but under-performing attack. They will be without the services of Lucas Leiva, who is suspended, and David Luiz, who has a knee injury.

Brazil has dominated Germany throughout their history. In 20 meetings, Brazil has won 12 to Germany's three, and the other five were draws. Germany has not defeated Brazil since 1993. However, much has changed since these two teams last met in 2005 in the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup.

Brazil took that match 3-2 on the strength of two goals from Adriano and one from Ronaldinho. Right now, it is hard to imagine Brazil scoring three goals on a talented Germany team. Brazil scored just six goals in four Copa America matches, and four of those game in one game in group play.

Brazil was shutout by Paraguay in elimination play, and they didn't even net one goal in the deciding penalty shootout. If Brazil is going to step up their attack than they need youngsters Neymar and Ganso to rapidly mature. Brazil manager Mano Menezes spoke on this:

"Our youngsters need to mature and games like this are the best opportunities for them to do that.

"They don't get the same amount of room to play in internationally as they do in Brazil, therefore they will have to learn how to deal with that.

"The only way they can do that is when they are put under pressure."

This match may be just a friendly, but there is no doubt Germany will apply the pressure Menezes knows these guys need.

Stay tuned to Bleacher Report's World Football Page for all up-to-date news and analysis.

—Richard Langford