World cup 2014: Germany vs Argentina : Preview

Contest between Germany and Argentina will revive memories of World Cup finals of the late 80s and 90s as the sides face each other for a record third time in Brazil

Joachim Loew's men have had the upper hand in their most recent World Cup contests, defeating Argentina on penalties on home soil in 2006, before thumping Maradona's men 4-0 in South Africa.

But this game will be about much more than that.

Argentina has shown that it can play just as tactically as the Germans, eking out narrow victories and doing whatever is needed to win. Germany, meanwhile, has put on two of the most explosive displays of the tournament - beating Portugal 4-0 in its opening game and then demolishing host Brazil 7-1 in the semifinals.

Germany`s defense, midfield, goal stopper is much brilliant that Argentinians.

But Argentina  have most dangerous attack so far in this tournament.

Argentina has Messi, and two other top forwards to boot. While Messi hasn't scored in the three knockout games, his four goals in the group stage reminded everyone of why he's a four-time world player of the year. Even with Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain in the team, Messi has always been the key to Argentina's success - and never more so than in the biggest game of his career. For Argentina to have a chance, Messi will have to create goals - either for himself or for his teammates.

Germany aren't bad up front either: Klose netted his 16th career World Cup goal against Brazil, and his teammate Thomas Mueller already has 10 in just two tournaments

Microsoft releasing new video-editing app for Windows Phone 8.1

Microsoft is releasing a new video-editing app for its Windows Phone 8.1 operating system, Digital Spy said.
The Video Tuner app allows users to make a selection of changes to captured and imported clips, from trimming to filters.
The free app also enables Windows Phone 8.1 owners to adjust playback speed, crop images, rotate orientation and add an alternative MP3 track from your library into the mix.
Video Tuner can be used as well to share videos with Instagram, and onto Microsoft's cloud storage service OneDrive.
The app's arrival coincides with the launch of the Nokia Lumia 930, which has already landed in some territories and will go on sale in the UK on July 17.
Video Tuner will be available to download for free from the Windows Phone Store.
Last month, it was reported that a forthcoming update for Windows Phone may come with folder options.

Samsung Galaxy K Zoom with 20.7 MP camera out for Rs 29999 in India

The Samsung Galaxy K Zoom phone with a 20.7 MP camera has been launched after the official announcement came forth about it being priced at Rs 29990 and featuring as an Amazon India exclusive. The new Galaxy Zoom has landed in the country through the online retail giant even though Samsung has its very own store for selling its branded products.

If you’re unsure about buying this hybrid of sorts, will the Rs 6000 worth of gifts Amazon is bundling in tempt you? The extra bait includes a colorful auto pop cover for the lens, 6 movie tickets, a 32GB SanDisk microSD card and Rs 1000 of discount coupons on watches as well as bags sold through the website and these will be packed in with the Samsung Galaxy K Zoom at launch.

When smartphones started replacing point-and-shoot snappers more than ever before, Samsung took it to its head that there was an emerging market for a new breed of devices. Hence the South Korean company’s camera phones which look like handsets from the front and digital cameras from the backside. You’ll find a camera of 20.7MP resolution with a 10x retractable zoom lens on the rear of the K Zoom and a xenon flash unit too.

Samsung Galaxy K Zoom specs:

– Android 4.4 KitKat OS
– 4.8-inch 720p S-AMOLED display
– 1.3GHz quad core + 1.7GHz dual core chip
– 2GB RAM, 8GB internal memory
- Up to 64GB microSD card support
- 20.7MP main camera, 2MP webcam
– 137.5mm x 70.8mm x 16.6mm – 20.2mm
– 200g
– 2430mAh battery

Germany thrash Brazil 7-1 to reach World Cup final

Germany crushed shambolic World Cup hosts Brazil with a record 7-1 defeat on Tuesday to book their place in the tournament final in a match that shook football's superpower to the core.
Brazil were booed by their fans and gathered shell-shocked on the Mineirao pitch with coach Luiz Felipe Scolari after the worst defeat in their 100 years of competitive football.The team who have won five World Cups have never put on such a chaotic defensive performance as during an 18 minute first half period when Germany scored four goals, three of them in just 179 seconds.Brazilian fans were left in tears -- many just left the stadium unable to put up with the pain.Thomas Mueller scored in the 11th minute, Klose after 23 to take his World Cup total to a record 16, Toni Kroos in the 24th and 26th minutes, Sami Khedira after 29 and substitute Andre Schuerrle in the 69th and 79th minutes. Oscar scored Brazil's goal in the 90th minute.Germans fell just short of their World Cup record 8-0 win over Saudi Arabia in 2002.With superstar Neymar out with a fractured vertebrate and captain Thiago Silva suspended, Brazil fell into disarray on an emotionally-charged night as the Germans exploited gapping holes.Mueller began the rout with only 11 minutes gone, before Klose made history of his own with his 16th World Cup goal to become the tournament's all-time sole top scorer.With the Selecao defence shaken and their fans leaving in droves after just 25 minutes, Kroos scored twice in as many minutes before Khedira added the Germans' fifth.Substitute Schuerrle then added Germany's sixth and seventh before Oscar grabbed Brazil's late consolation goal.Kroos floated in a corner and Mueller was left unmarked at the far post to tap home with 11 minutes gone.
The goal rattled the hosts and Germany ran riot with four goals in six incredible minutes.Klose made history on 23 minutes as he slotted home Julio Cesar's parried save to become the sole World Cup top-scorer having equalled Brazil legend Ronaldo's record in the group stages.Kroos then floored the hosts with two goals in two minutes after firstly latching onto Philipp Lahm's teasing pass across the box to fire past Cesar for Germany's third on 24 minutes.Hundreds more Brazilian fans left after Kroos grabbed his second on 26 minutes and the only sound to be heard in the stadium was the small pocket of German fans singing "Oh, wie ist das Schoen!" - "Oh, isn't it beautiful!".With the Brazilian defence in disarray, Khedira led a German counter-attack and selfishly passed off to Kroos for a simple tap-in on 26 minutes.The Brazilians had barely caught their breath when Khedira made it five with just 29 minutes gone.Mesut Ozil and Klose combined to lay the ball back and Khedira slammed his shot into the bottom left corner.Coach Felipe Scolari made two changes at the break with Hulk and Fernandinho making way for Paulinho and Ramires, but it was too little, too late for Brazil.Tottenham Hotspur's Paulinho was denied by two rapid-fire saves from Neuer straight after the break.Germany coach Joachim Loew took off centre-back Mats Hummels and Klose to keep them for the final.Klose's replacement Schuerrle then compounded the hosts misery with his two strikes, the second of which on 79 minutes from the right which gave Cesar no chance.Oscar pulled a 90th-minute goal back for the Selecao as Germany's Manuel Neuer was finally beaten, but there was no denying the ruthless Germans. 

Overview of semifinals.. Germany vs Brazil & Argentina vs Holland..

Brazil versus Germany (July 9)

Brazil produced their best performance of the World Cup in their quarter-final 2-0 win over Colombia. While their opponents were below-par, and Brazil received some favourable treatment from officials, the hosts looked more fluent and solid throughout the match. They had to scramble in the final 20 minutes though, and their defence continues to look dodgy.

Brazil will also have to cope without the suspended Thiago Silva, a rock at the back, and star man Neymar, who has suffered a fractured vertebra. Neymar’s absence will weaken a side who depend on the 22-year-old’s pace, movement and ball skills to instigate and finish attacks.

Germany secured their fourth consecutive World Cup semi-final after defeating France 1-0 in the quarter-finals. They scored early through central defender Mats Hummels before putting in an efficient and controlled performance to shut-down the French attack.

The return of Hummels transformed the side that laboured against Algeria in an extra-time round of 16 win, and Thomas Mueller put in a great shift on the right wing. Germany’s defensive structure and discipline, coupled with their attacking ability, should see them overcome Brazil. They’ve also conceded just one goal in their last three games.

Key Players
Brazil – Hulk, David Luiz, Julio Cesar
Germany – Mats Hummels, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Mueller

Major changes
Brazil have been underwhelming, and now face the semi-finals without both their captain (thiago silva) and star player (neymar). 

Netherlands versus Argentina (July 10)

This is Argentina’s first appearance in the semi-finals in 24 years, an amazing statistic considering the talent they consistently produce. The team have progressed in this World Cup against inferior opponents, and they have failed to light up the stage despite their quality attacking line-up.

In the 1-0 win against Belgium in the quarter-finals, they scored early through Gonzalo Higuain and then defended with two banks of four. While they haven’t conceded in the knockout rounds, they should face a sterner test against the Netherlands.

Argentina are also without the talents of winger Angel di Maria, and are sweating on the fitness of Sergio Aguero. With Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Higuain so far failing to play on the same wavelength, the Netherland’s five-man defence could prove too resolute.

The Netherlands had shot after shot against Costa Rica in their quarter-final showdown, but couldn’t make them stick. Wesley Sneijder went close with two blistering shots, but coach Louis van Gaal will be looking for better finishing.

In the previous four matches the Netherlands were averaging three goals a game, and will be confident of producing again after a minor blip. Van Gaal has shown in this World Cup just how great a tactician he is, the decision to bring on substitute keeper Tim Krul for the penalty shootout against Costa Rica his latest masterstroke.

Key Players
Argentina – Lionel Messi, Ezequiel Garay, Gonzalo Higuain
Netherlands – Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben, Bruno Martins Indi

Major changes
Argentina will miss the talents of Di Maria, who took a lot of pressure off Messi in previous games. 

Sony`s selfie phone Xperia C3 with 5MP front camera and flash is now official.

Sony’s selfie phone or the Xperia C3 is now official. The company has also announced a dual-SIM variant dubbed Xperia C3 Dual. The smartphone is aimed at selfie lovers and hopes to cash in on the trend with special features for the front camera.

The highlight of the device is 5MP front shooter along with a 25mm wide lens. It supports Superior Auto mode, but lacks autofocus. There’s an LED flash on front too. It comes with auto scene recognition function that works with HDR and LED flash for optimal lighting when you click a selfie. Sony also adds AR effect on the front camera. Users can also access Portrait Retouch camera app to style close-ups in real-time and post pictures in one of 10 different Deco frames. The back camera, which is clearly not the focus here, is an 8MP unit with LED flash.

“Xperia C3 is a unique new smartphone from Sony, created to offer the ultimate social sharing experience with a new powerful ‘PROselfie cam’. It also presents a combination of the best of Sony, with leading digital imaging technology and brilliant specs and performance all for a mid-range price” says Calum MacDougall, Director of Xperia Marketing at Sony Mobile Communications. “The rise of selfies shows no signs of abating – its usage has increased by 17,000% since 2012 with the word officially being added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2013. We’re excited to offer SONY’s first ‘PROselfie Smartphone’ and play a part in this global phenomenon.”

Specs-wise, it comes with a large 5.5-inch HD IPS display. It’s powered by a quad-core  Snapdragon 400 chipset clocked at 1.2GHz and coupled with 1GB RAM. It also includes Adreno 305 GPU.  Sporting a 7.6mm sleek profile, the device tips the scale at 150 grams. On the storage front, it gets 8GB onboard storage.

Dipped in black, white and mint, the Xperia C3 will be available in August. Initially it will be launched in China, followed by a global launch.