From the handicap article: [Among semifinalist teams, only Argentina has maintained ball possession more often than Germany, and nobody makes more short passes

From the handicap article: [Among semifinalist teams, only Argentina has maintained ball possession more often than Germany, and nobody makes more short passes per game than the Germans. Germany’s approach is to patiently work the ball into the opponent’s territory, passing it around until its players can create a high-percentage scoring opportunity. Brazil, on the other hand, loves to dribble the ball and create chances by taking on defenders in one-on-one situations.] http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/world-cup-semifinal-crib-notes-brazil-vs-germany/ http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/world-cup-semifinal-crib-... So here's what happens in nearly every sport. A team focused on individual brilliance and passionate "opportunities" gets clobbered by a disciplined opponent who remains patient. Situations like this often turn into a rout.