Brazil were sent crashing to their all-time record defeat – and the heaviest World Cup semi-final loss on record – by a skillful and relentless Germany side.
The World Cup hosts – strong favourites to win the tournament for the sixth time – sunk to new depths in Belo Horizonte, losing 7-1 and conceding four goals in six first-half minutes.
Brazil 1-7 Germany
2014 World Cup semi-final
Mineirao, Belo Horizonte
8 November 2014
Brazil, shorn of their star turn Neymar and their captain Thiago Silva, collapsed after Thomas Muller scored the opening goal after 11 minutes. The Bayern Munich forward, who was completely unmarked at a corner kick, evaded the attentions of the Brazilian defence and effortlessly volleyed past Julio Cesar from eight yards out.
Then the defensive errors came thick and fast, and while Germany cut through at will with some slick passing and movement, Brazil were hopelessly outclassed.
Miroslav Klose made history when he notched Germany’s second goal 12 minutes later, tapping home at the second attempt to become the World Cup’s leading all-time goalscorer with his 16th tournament strike.
The impressive Toni Kroos made it three within two minutes of Klose’s landmark moment, expertly smashing home from the edge of the box after meeting Philipp Lahm’s cross from the right.
The Bayern midfielder was at it again shortly afterwards, combining well with Sami Khedira to beat Julio Cesar for the fourth time, while Khedira got in the act himself after a neat exchange of passes to make it five just before the half-hour mark.
Substitute Andre Schurrle rubbed salt into the hosts’ wounds with a clinical brace as he completed the rout and put the gloss on a performance of scarcely believable quality, while Oscar pulled one back in the dying moments before the referee blew his whistle and ended Brazil’s misery.
Germany face either Holland or Argentina in Sunday's final, while Brazil face a third/fourth-place playoff and an inquest.
