With a well-oiled midfield and strikers of the calibre of Thomas Muller and Miroslav Klose, the Germans will start the title match against Argentina as favorites, says Mauktik Kulkarni.
Germany scored five goals in 18 first-half minutes on the way to a 7-1 destruction of Brazil in the semi-final on Tuesday to leave the host nation in a state of stunned disbelief at the most amazing World Cup result of all time.
Former Brazil striker Ronaldinho Gaucho said he has tested positive for COVID-19 and is self-isolating.
Rediff.com brings a selection of the week's best photographs from the sports world.
Brazil beat Chile 3-2 in a penalty shootout to reach the World Cup quarter-finals after their dramatic last-16 match in Belo Horizonte ended 1-1 after extra time on Saturday.
Germany striker Miroslav Klose scored after 23 minutes of the World Cup semi-final against Brazil on Tuesday to become the tournament's all-time leading scorer with 16 goals.
Brazil's Paris St Germain forward Neymar has had a successful operation
Fernanda Colombo Uliana, a 25-year-old assistant referee, is fast becoming an internet sensation. It is not just because of her model-like looks, but also her flag-waving work.
Find below a detailed look at the Rio Olympics schedule.
Rediff.com brings you a quick flashback of the Round of 16 matches at the World Cup through these stunning captures!
Even without prolific striker Radamel Falcao, Colombia start as favourites to qualify from World Cup Group C after finishing second in the South American qualifiers and taking decent results against Belgium and the Netherlands in friendlies.
The four key battles in Tuesday's World Cup semi-final between Brazil and Germany in Belo Horizonte's Mineirao stadium.
Eliminated three times by Brazil in past World Cups, Chile vowed a fearless and fighting approach on the eve of Saturday's second round knockout game against the hosts and favorites.
Former champions and perennial favorites England finished their World Cup campaign with a 0-0 draw against group winners Costa Rica at the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte.
Brazil's one million licensed prostitutes are reportedly preparing to cash in at the upcoming FIFA World Cup, where more than 3.7 million soccer fans are expected to pour in.
Photos of the third-place playoff match between Brazil and Netherlands
Following the latest 'disaster', Rediff.com takes a look at various sporting shockers, which shook the world.
The nation whose attacking soccer has thrilled the world for generations was left heart-broken on Tuesday after Brazil's humiliating 7-1 loss to Germany in the World Cup semi-finals.
At least one person died on Thursday when an unfinished overpass collapsed in World Cup host city Belo Horizonte, overshadowing the buildup to the first quarter-finals in which France face Germany and Brazil take on Colombia.
Images from the World Cup pre-quarterfinal match between Brazil and Chile at Belo Horizonte.
Lionel Messi's magical left-foot produced another inspirational goal as Argentina managed 1-0 win over gritty Iran in a Group F game of the World Cup in Belo Horizonte, on Saturday.
The Castelao Arena in the northeastern Brazilian city of Fortaleza became the first stadium to be inaugurated for the 2014 World Cup finals on Sunday.
Images from the first World Cup semi-final between Brazil and Germany at Estadio Mineirao in Belo Horizonte.
Brazil will play Germany next week in what the hosts' players are calling the final before the final and manager Luiz Felipe Scolari is facing selection dilemmas four days ahead of the semi-final in Belo Horizonte.
Brazil boss Luiz Felipe Scolari said his team were "three steps from heaven" after beating Chile on penalties to reach the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.
FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke has been taken to hospital during a visit to Brazil to assess progress for the next year's Confederations Cup and the 2014 World Cup.
Brazil were booed by their own fans after stumbling to a 2-2 draw with Chile in their first friendly at a 2014 World Cup stadium on Wednesday.
Fabio Capello, just a child when England last met the United States at the World Cup 60 years ago, is acutely aware a repeat of that famous result on Saturday would create another sensation.
The Brazilian defender was giving a radio interview on his cellular phone when armed robbers approached the car in which he was traveling and robbed the driver.
The Brazilian striker has been ruled out of the World Cup qualifier against Argentina because of a thigh strain.
Arch-rivals Brazil and Argentina drew 0-0 in a World Cup qualifier on Wednesday but moved closer to leaders Paraguay who lost 4-2 in Bolivia. The top four teams qualify directly for South Africa in 2010 and the fifth plays off against the fourth team from the CONCACAF region.
The Brazilian ace received a rousing reception from fans before his official presentation by the Brazilian champions Cruzeiro.
Adriano was recalled by Brazil for next month's World Cup qualifiers on Thursday, only the second time he has been picked by his country since the 2006 World Cup. The 26-year-old was included in a 25-man squad for the matches away to Paraguay in Asuncion on June 15 and at home to arch-rivals Argentina in Belo Horizonte three days later.
A Brazilian referee said he had no regrets after punching a fan who ran onto the field to attack him during a derby match on Sunday.
Tele Santana, one of Brazil's greatest coaches, died aged 74 in a Belo Horizonte hospital where he had been in intensive care since March.
The former Brazil coach had developed ischemia -- a decrease in blood supply caused by obstruction of the blood vessels -- in the leg following an earlier operation last week.
US team mates will be busy preparing for their showdown with England at the World Cup in Qatar.
Hosts Brazil suffered a huge blow when they lost leading forward Neymar for the rest of the World Cup through injury on Friday as they set up an epic-looking semi-final against Europe's biggest remaining team Germany.
On World Cup game days, many Brazilians get time off work to pack into bars and restaurants or gather for home barbecues to watch the games, rooting for a national team seeking its sixth world champion title in Qatar.
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