Photo: Germany celebrate (Getty Images)
On a day when the history books were rewritten in many ways, the world looked on in shock and bewilderment as European heavyweights and three times World Champions Germany put Brazil to the sword in Belo Horizonte. The Germans showed no mercy as they hammered the Selecao 7-1 thanks to a brace each for Toni Kroos and Andre Schurlle as well as strikes from Thomas Muller, Sami Khedira and Miroslav Klose. It was Brazil’s worse ever World Cup defeat and brought an end their 39 year competitive dominance on home soil.
The game started with the Selecao enjoying the early exchanges and had the first attempt on goal when Marcelo shot wide of the target in the 2nd minute. Brazil were the early aggressors but looked vulnerable when Germany broke on the attack with the pace of Muller and Khedira in particular, exploiting the space behind Marcelo. Germany took the lead on 11 minutes through Muller which was Germany’s 2000th goal in history. Muller managed to escape his marker and side-footed his effort past Julio Cesar from a Kroos corner to give Die Mannschaft the lead. That goal settled the Germans who then went in for the kill.
It was time for Bastian Schweinsteiger to get on the ball and dictate play feeding Mesut Ozil and Muller out wide also opening space for Khedira to run through midfield with his athleticism, pace and power. The lead was doubled on 23 minutes thanks to Klose’s 16th and record breaking goal in World Cup history. Toni Kroos picked out a brilliant run from Muller in the penalty area who passed to Klose. The 36 year old was denied on the first attempt by Cesar but then he casually stroked the ball into the net on the rebound. A minute later it was 3-0, Kroos deservedly getting on the score sheet.
Schweinsteiger played the ball out wide to captain Philipp Lahm whose cross was missed by Muller. It went straight to Kroos whose first time left-footed shot went in off the fingertips of the outstretched hand of Cesar. Khedira then set-up Kroos to make it 4-0 on 26 minutes following a fast break. Kroos won the ball off Fernandinho and played in Khedira who rolled the ball back to Kroos who simply passed the ball into the back of the net from the penalty spot. Khedira made it 5-0 on 29 minutes sealing their place in the final after linking up with Ozil with a give-and-go presenting the Real Madrid midfielder with another pass into the back of the net from almost the penalty spot.
Brazil was shell-shocked, making mistakes and looking like conceding every time Germany attacked. It was keep ball time for Die Mannschaft as they just stroked the ball around the pitch with ease like it was a walk in the park or a training session. At the half time whistle, there were boos coming from the Selecao fans as they voiced their disgust at what they were witnessing.
At the start of the second half, Per Mertesacker replaced Mats Hummels while Paulinho took the place of Fernandinho and Ramires took the place of Hulk. Brazil looked bright and carved out a few openings early on. Paulinho had a great opportunity when he was one-on-one with Manuel Neuer but the Bayern Munich goalkeeper made an excellent double save on 55 minutes. On 61 minutes, Cesar denied Muller his 6th goal of the tournament with an wonderful save tipping the ball over the bar.
Substitute Andre Schurrle made it 6-0 on 69 minutes when he converted a cross from Lahm. Khedira linked up well with his skipper and found Lahm in a pocket of space in the penalty area and he picked out the Chelsea attacker. Neuer then made a routine stop from a Paulinho strike which had some power behind it in the 75th minute. Schurrle scored the goal of the night on 79 minutes when he received a pass from Muller. He controlled the ball with his right foot and then lashed home with his left foot from a tight angle that went in off the cross bar.
The Germans went into keep ball mode again, passing the ball, running rings around the Brazilians and cries of ‘Ole’ rang out from the fans. They kept possession well slowly making progress towards the Brazil penalty area. Oscar got a late consolation in the 90th minute. He was played in behind by Marcelo before getting passed Jerome Boateng, and then kept his composure to place his shot beyond Neuer.
That brought an end to a match where the result was already known after just 30 minutes. Germany scored 4 goals in 6 minutes which is the fastest in World Cup history. Kroos’ brace is also the fastest at a World Cup while the 7-1 margin is the widest in World Cup semi-finals and Germany’s 7 goals was the most in a World Cup semi-final.
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