Ignore the 7-1, Brazil v Germany is completely different

Forget the 7-1 drubbing Germany inflicted on Brazil in the 2014 World Cup semi-final. The gold medal match in the Rio Olympics between the same two sides will be played out between a completely different set of players.

Yes Neymar will play in the showpiece on Saturday (1730 Rio time) and was in the 2014 squad, but he did not play in the semi-final back then because of a back injury. Germany's Matthias Ginter, in the Olympic set-up, was just a 2014 squad player and did not come on in the semi.

Even the coaches are different.

"There is no link between that match and this one. I am sure the final with Germany will be a great match but it has nothing to do with the past," Brazil Olympic coach Rogerio Micale said.

That incredible semi-final was also played in Belo Horizonte, not the Maracana where the Olympic final takes place.

This is also a final, a crucial difference to a semi-final. In 2014, Germany effectively had nothing to lose against the hosts. Now they have a gold medal to possibly miss out on.　

The other big difference is experience. Olympic squads are for under 23s with three over 23 players allowed. Most of the Germany side have never played in a match this big before, in contrast to the seasoned professionals who turned out for "die Mannschaft" in 2014.

Neymar meanwhile has the necessary know-how to deal with the pressure of a gold medal match. Germany on the other hand decided against taking a big gun to Rio. Clubs just would not have allowed it.

So, taking all this into account, it is difficult to see why the Brazil team will be psychologically damaged from 2014 going into the match, or indeed who exactly will be playing for revenge.　

Yes, there is possibly extra pressure on Brazil given they are at home, the women's team flopped and the Rio Games has so far not been memorable because of the brilliance of Brazilian athletes. Yes, the Games in some way probably need a Brazil soccer gold to lift the spectacle away from constant controversy.

But Germany will not find it easy either. With thoughts already drifting towards next week's start of the Bundesliga, can a young side made up of the likes of Schalke's Max Meyer and Bayer Leverkusen's Julian Brandt really offer enough bite to beat the Brazilians and their wild fans in the Maracana?

They also have the added burden of the German women already having claimed gold. Do not be fooled that the Olympics do not matter.

"It is simply indescribable. We are so excited for the game. There is nothing better than this for a footballer," Germany's Hoffenheim defender Niklas Süle told www.dfb.de.

Remember Brazil in 2014 rather limped into that semi-final before their pasting. This time around they come off thrashing Honduras 6-0.

One thing is for sure, it will not be 7-1 again.