Germany and Brazil won't compete in World Cup semi-finals, a first in 88 years

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With Brazil's elimination from the World Cup on Saturday at the hands of Belgium, this year's FIFA tournament set another record – for the first time in 88 years, neither Brazil nor Germany will be playing in the semi-finals.

The last time this happened was in 1930 at the first FIFA World Cup in Uruguay. Germany didn't even attend the tournament and Brazil was eliminated during the group stage.

Since then, the two teams have always made it to the semi-finals in the World Cup. Brazil has won a total of five World Cups. For three consecutive tournaments (1982, 1986, and 1990), Germany competed in the final, and won the trophy in Italy in 1990.

Brazil and Germany faced each other in Japan in 2002, with Brazil coming out on top to take home their fifth World Cup. Then Brazil's home country in 2014, Germany took vengeance by directing the famous 7-1 “slaughter” against the host team at the Estadio Mineirao before taking their fourth World Cup title.

FIFA ‘European’ Cup

European countries have bagged all four seats of the semi-finals at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. /VCG Photo

The knockouts of Uruguay and Brazil on Saturday has also turned the 2018 FIFA World Cup into a “civil war” among European countries: France, Belgium and two winners from England vs. Sweden, Russia vs. Croatia. It's the fifth time that European countries have taken all seats in the semi-finals and means the World Cup trophy will go home with a European country for the fourth time in a row.

This phenomenon occurred in 1934, 1966, 1982 and 2006, when the tournament was hosted in a European country, similar to this year. In each of the four cases, Italy took home the title, with England winning one in 1966. Because Italy didn't even make it to Russia, this could be a sign that England could win.

Kazan is not a lucky place for World champions

The Kazan Arena is not a lucky place for World Cup champion teams. /VCG Photo

The Kazan Arena witnessed the knockout of Brazil on Saturday, the third time a FIFA World Cup winner has been eliminated in the stadium. Of the six matches that's been played at Kazan Arena, Germany, Argentina and most recently Brazil were all eliminated here.

A possible sign of good news for the rest of the World Cup: no more matches will be held here.