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The FIFA disciplinary committee has ruled that Brazil captain Thiago Silva will be suspended for the Seleção semifinal match against Germany. The committee also ruled that no action will be taken against Colombian defender Juan Camilo Zúñiga over his challenge on Neymar, that ended the Brazilian star’s World Cup run.
For those who didn’t see the play that earned Silva his second yellow card of the tournament, here it is.
It is unlikely Brazil actually expected FIFA to overturn Silva’s suspension. Appealing against yellow cards is allowed only in “exceptional circumstances” (one example of this could be a mistaken identity for the booking). Had FIFA overturned this decision, it would of been ridiculously controversial.
Already minus Neymar, Brazil without captain Thiago Silva on their back line now takes the unusual role as underdog against Germany. That said, the stout Brazilian back four is loaded with star power with David Luiz (who will wear the captain band today), Dani Alves and Marcelo.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho thinks that the loss of Silva is more detrimental then the loss of Neymar for the Brazilians.
“Brazil need Neymar because he is a player who can win one-on-one situations, cause imbalance in opponents, score goals and is fantastic with set-pieces," Mourinho said reported by Marca. "But I would say that, probably, Thiago Silva is as or more important than Neymar at this moment. [He] will be an important absence because Brazil are based on that defensive structure. It's how Thiago gives great stability to the team."
Napoli man Henrique came in for Neymar following his injury and is an option to replace Silva. Mourinho thinks Bayern Munich man Dante could be the better choice because of his knowledge of playing against a lot of the German players with Bayern and in the Bundesliga.
As for the Neymar replacement, it is looking like it will be Willian or Bernard. Willian had a hip injury in training, but it is said that he will be fit for the match today. He is the likely bet of the two to start in our opinion and it would be his first international start of his career.
Willian will be just one of the players that has to step up to fill the void Neymar left after his tournament-ending back injury. (Photo: @FIFAWorldCup | Twitter)
FIFA also needs to look at its yellow card system as a whole during the tournament. The current rule is that if you receive two yellow cards in any two games until the quarterfinals are over, you will miss the next match following your second yellow card. The disciplinary slate is wiped clean after the quarterfinal match.
So, a defender has to go 5 games without two yellow cards in order to avoid being suspended from matches in the world's biggest tournament? In our opinion, it seems hard for defenders to be aggressive for five straight games while avoiding a card. It seems better policy to say a player's disciplinary slate would be cleared after the Round of 16. The current rule does try to limit rough play, but it favors the more loaded and deep European teams. We aren’t saying that Silva’s yellow card wasn’t warranted. The Brazilian captain should have been smarter and knew that a card was possible for interfering with the Colombian goalkeeper.
With all of this said, Brazil is not doomed against Germany. They have plenty of quality on their roster, and these players are surely up to the task to beat the loaded Germans. Oscar, Hulk and Fred will need to be in top form for their offense to go, and Willian will need to be fearless in how he plays. Brazil will look to their fans and each other to keep the dream of winning the World Cup on their home soil alive. Perhaps the loss of Neymar will motivate the Seleção, but nothing would help than more than an opening goal.
On the opposite end of the pitch, Germany has lost in the semifinals in the last two World Cups, and in the final in 2002, so they will surely be hungry and confident that they can beat a hampered Brazilian side. Germany have looked beatable this tournament, but we don’t think they have played a match to their full potential thus far. It is the matchup that most thought we would see in the semifinals, and even without Neymar and Silva it shouldn’t disappoint.
