Naldo reflects on the 7:1 victory against Brazil in the 2014 World Cup semi-final
The semi-final of the 2014 World Cup will forever be etched in history books. With a stunning 7:1 victory, the German national team triumphed over Brazil. Former Bundesliga player Naldo recalls the match in the podcast „Der vierte Stern“ and reminisces about how he empathized with his friends on the field.
On July 8, 2014, at the Estadio Mineirao in Belo Horizonte, the World Cup semi-final between Germany and the host nation, Brazil, took place. It became one of the most memorable games in football history, a moment that Ronaldo Aparecido Rodrigues, known in Germany as Naldo, vividly remembers.
Born in 1982 in Londrina, Naldo initially made a name for himself as a talented defender in the Brazilian league. His journey led him to Werder Bremen in 2005, where he became a key player and fan favorite. Naldo enjoyed successful years in Germany, living the dream of thousands of Brazilian children aspiring to be football professionals. With nearly 15 years in the Bundesliga playing for Bremen, Schalke 04, and VfL Wolfsburg, Naldo’s career left a lasting impact.
„Football has been a part of me since birth. It’s always on my mind. After school, I head straight to the field. Even when I’m disappointed by the national team, my support never wavers,“ Naldo expressed in the podcast „Der vierte Stern.“
As the World Cup progressed, Naldo followed the matches closely until he had to return to Germany for VfL Wolfsburg’s training camp. Watching the Brazil vs. Germany semi-final with his family, Naldo reflected on the tournament’s dynamics and the loss of key Brazilian players like Neymar and Thiago Silva. Despite Brazil playing at home, Naldo believed Germany was the favorite for the World Cup victory.
The semi-final match unfolded as Thomas Müller scored in the eleventh minute, followed by four more goals in a mere six minutes. The final score stood at a resounding 7:1 in favor of the German national team. While one nation celebrated, the other mourned. Naldo shared how his friends on the Brazilian team, including Dante and Luiz Gustavo, felt devastated by the loss. The memory of the 7:1 victory still lingers fresh in his mind even after all these years.
The new kicker podcast, „Der vierte Stern,“ takes listeners on a journey through a tournament where victory wasn’t initially guaranteed for the German team. Through emotional and entertaining anecdotes, players like Sami Khedira and reporters like TV commentator Béla Réthy reflect on their experiences during the World Cup in Brazil.
Listeners can tune in to the first three episodes of „Der vierte Stern“ on the kicker app, kicker.de, and various podcast platforms, reliving the passion and fervor of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.