Germany looking ahead
Germany coach Joachim Loew is relishing the chance to take on hosts Brazil in Tuesday's World Cup semi-final as his side bid to win a fourth world title. "What can be more beautiful in a football dreamland than to play a World Cup semi-final against the hosts?" Loew said after his team trained yesterday. "It will be a huge game in Belo Horizonte." Germany booked their semi-final place with a 1-0 last-eight win over France at Rio de Janeiro on Friday. The Germans are bidding to reach an eighth World Cup final. Hosts Brazil stand in the Germans' path to the Maracana on July 13, but the Selecao will be without star Neymar, who has a fractured vertebra, and suspended captain Thiago Silva at Belo Horizonte's Mineirao Stadium. Lothar Matthaeus, who captained Germany to win the 1990 World Cup, said Loew's side face a tough challenge against the hosts, but "otherwise we have nothing to fear from this [Brazil] team". Matthaeus said Neymar's injury was good for Germany but bad for football: "He is one who stands out", while Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski tweeted "can't wait to face Brazil, sad for Neymar, hope you get better soon".
Younger Hazard on loan
Borussia Moenchengladbach have signed Belgian attacking midfielder Thorgan Hazard on loan for one season from Chelsea. The Bundesliga side said the 21-year-old Hazard, the younger brother of Belgium star Eden, has signed a deal through June 2015. Hazard spent the past two seasons on loan at Belgian side Zulte Waregem. He scored 14 goals in 39 league games and two more in 10 Europa League games last season. He was voted Player of the Year in Belgium for 2013. Moenchengladbach sporting director Max Eberl said: “Thorgan is a promising talent. He can play across several positions in attack and we’re happy that he’s decided to take the next step in his career at Borussia.” Hazard, who played for Belgium’s youth sides from Under-15 level, has one appearance for the senior side.
Choupo-Moting signs
Schalke have signed Cameroon forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting on a free transfer from Bundesliga rivals Mainz. Schalke said in a statement that Choupo-Moting, 25, signed a deal through June 2017. Choupo-Moting played for Germany’s youth sides up to Under 21 level before opting for Cameroon’s national side and played at the World Cup.
Di Stefano in hospital
Real Madrid legend Alfredo di Stefano, one of the greatest players in history, is in a coma in hospital after suffering a heart attack yesterday, officials said. Medics battled to revive the former player, who turned 88 on Friday, after his heart and breathing stopped while he was in central Madrid, a source at Madrid Emergency Services said. The Argentine-Spaniard is lying in a coma in the cardiac ward of the hospital, a hospital spokesman said. Leading newspaper El Pais said Di Stefano had been eating with his family near the Santiago Bernabeu stadium when he felt ill and sat down on his wheelchair. Di Stefano helped Madrid win five straight European Cups and was voted European Player of the Year in 1957 and 1959.
Abidal off to Greece
Greek champions Olympiakos confirmed they have signed veteran French defender Eric Abidal on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee. Last week, Monaco had announced that their 34-year-old captain, who had a liver transplant in 2012 while playing for Barcelona, would extend his contract for another season. But instead he will join up with the Olympiakos squad tomorrow.
