Concentration and focus

[SANTO ANDRE, Brazil] Germany have spent most of their time at the World Cup behind the high walls of their Campo Bahia fortress on the shores of the Atlantic - largely avoiding contact with fans, locals and the media.

With their uniquely meticulous style of doing things, the Germans have created an almost impermeable cocoon around their exclusive resort with its 14 luxury villas, shielding their players from the outside world and its distractions.

It is hard to argue with the success of the German formula of "Konzentration und Fokussierung", as they call it, because the three-time World Cup winners have reached a fourth straight semi-final…