Ticket tout probe as last 8 looms
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AS France and Germany prepare to serve up the first dish of a mouth-watering World Cup quarterfinal menu, a ticket tout inquiry continued yesterday with Brazil’s 2002 title winner Ronaldinho’s brother one of those wanted for questioning.
Brazilian authorities are investigating whether members of the Brazilian, Argentine and Spanish football federations were involved in the illegal sale of World Cup tickets after police dismantled a scalping gang. The brother and agent of Ronaldinho, Roberto de Assis Moreira, will be questioned in the case, though he is not under investigation, said Marcos Kac, the Rio de Janeiro prosecutor.
The probe comes as the 2014 World Cup prepares to enter its final stage.
Rio’s iconic Maracana Stadium is the fitting backdrop for today’s meeting of the two European powerhouses, with France falling to Germany in the semifinals at the 1982 and 1986 World Cups.
The victor will face either host Brazil, or one of the sensations of the tournament Colombia, who clash in the day’s second quarterfinal in Fortaleza.
The last eight drama continues tomorrow with Argentina facing Belgium and the Netherlands up against minnow Costa Rica.
History hangs heavy over the clash as it evokes memories of the ‘82 semifinal which Germany won 5-4 on penalties after a dramatic 3-3 extra-time draw.
The ‘Tragedy of Seville’ attained notoriety when Germany keeper Harald Schumacher shoulder-charged Patrick Battiston, leaving the Frenchman unconscious on the ground.
Under 1998 World Cup winning captain Didier Deschamps Les Bleus have left behind the miserably chaotic last World Cup campaign in South Africa.
“Didier Deschamps has turned France around since 2010 and we’re looking forward to another classic,” said his German opposite number Joachim Loew.
A cluster of former German captains have queued up to attack Loew’s selections with playmaker Mesut Ozil struggling and center-backs Jerome Boateng and Benedikt Hoewedes being played out of position as wing-backs.
“That was the worst performance for years,” Michael Ballack said after the 2-1 extra-time last-16 win over Algeria, while Oliver Kahn was equally unimpressed: “This line-up isn’t working anymore”.
Five hours after the Maracana match, up the coast in Fortaleza, talismanic striker Neymar and company will have 200 million Brazilian hearts fluttering again as they embark on the latest step of a journey they pray will lead to a sixth world title and first since 2002.
In its first ever World Cup quarterfinal, Colombia has only beaten Brazil twice in 26 meetings.
But top-scorer James Rodriguez suggested Brazil should be just as worried about him as his countrymen should be about Neymar. “We’re facing a very tough rival, which has great players, but they also have to think that we have great players,” said the Monaco playmaker.
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