Germany tear Brazil to pieces in unforgettable semi-final
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ByEurosport
Updated 09/07/2014 at 02:29 GMT
World Cup semi-final, Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte - Brazil 1 (Oscar 90) Germany 7 (Mueller 11, Klose 23, Kroos 24, 26, Khedira 29, Schuerrle 69, 79)
David Luiz and Germany
Image credit: AFP
Brazil suffered the worst defeat in their footballing history as they were crushed 7-1 by Germany in the World Cup semi-final in Belo Horizonte.
As well as being Brazil's heaviest ever defeat - eclipsing a 6-0 Copa America defeat by Uruguay in 1920 - and their first competitive loss on home soil since 1975, it was also the biggest ever victory in a World Cup semi-final.
The home side actually started brightly, but Joachim Loew's German outfit took the lead after just 11 minutes as Thomas Mueller, left totally unmarked at a corner, sidefooted home.
And barely 10 minutes later Brazil's World Cup dream imploded in horrifying style as the Germans scored three times in 179 seconds, with Miroslav Klose breaking the all-time World Cup scoring record before Toni Kroos added two goals to make it 4-0. Sami Khedira then made it 5-0 just before the half-hour mark, giving Germany five goals in an 18-minute spell.
After the break Brazil came out looking determined and forced two outstanding saves from Manuel Neuer - but Germany soon regained control, and Andre Schuerrle scored twice to make it 7-0.
In the dying moments Mesut Ozil blew a perfect chance to make it 8-0 - and Brazil responded by darting up the other end where Oscar scored the consolation goal.
Germany will be red-hot favourites to win their first World Cup as a unified nation, no matter what happens in the other semi-final between Argentina and Netherlands.
As for Brazil, wholesale changes are expected as the nation suffered its largest and most humiliating defeat ever - a night that finally expunges memories of the Maracanazo in 1950, but in the worst possible way: by worsening the pain rather than exorcising the demons.
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David Luiz Germany Brazil
Image credit: Eurosport
KEY MOMENTS
4' – BRAZIL CHANCE: Luiz finds Hulk with a sweeping switch of play and he looks for Bernard in the middle, but Neuer is alert to the danger and claims at the feet of the diminutive winger.
11' – GOAL! It is that man Mueller, who is unmarked at the back of the six-yard-box to volley Kroos’ corner past Julio Cesar. Poor, poor defending.
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3D goal: Thomas Mueller for Germany
22' – GOAL! Klose! Some neat passing cuts open the Brazil defence and Klose has his first shot blocked but follows up to open a two-goal advantage. He takes the record to boot.
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3D goal: Miroslav Klose for Germany
24’ - GOOAL! Three goals to the good! What a strike from Kroos: on the half-volley, with his left foot from outside the box following Lahm’s cross.
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3D goal: Toni Kroos' first for Germany
26’ – GOAL! Kroos capitalises on Fernandinho taking a heavy touch. He finds Khedira inside the box but instead of shooting he slots it back to Kroos who tucks away.
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3D goal: Toni Kroos' second for Germany
29’ – GOAL! Germany cut through the Brazilian defence. Khedira charges forward and finds Ozil who cuts it back to Khedira, who slots home from the edge of the box.
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3D goal: Sami Khedira for Germany
69’ – GOAL! Lahm crosses for a queue of German players. Schuerrle is at the front of that queue and he tucks home.
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3D goal: Andre Schuerrle's first for Germany
79’ – AND ANOTHER ONE: Mueller is in down the left and he slots back to Schuerrle on the edge of the six yard box who thrashes into the top corner from a tight angle.
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3D goal: Andre Schuerrle's second for Germany
90’ – CONSOLATION? GOAL! Oscar gets a consolation. He gets behind Mertesacker and comes back on himself before lifting the ball over Neuer. 7-1.
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3D goal: Oscar for Germany
KEY STATS
Germany are the first team to score seven goals in a World Cup semi-final.
This is the biggest margin of victory ever recorded in a World Cup semi-final.
Prior to tonight, Brazil had never conceded more than five goals in a World Cup game (won 6-5 v Poland in 1938).
This is Brazil's biggest defeat in World Cup Finals history. Before tonight, it was the 3-0 defeat to Paris in the 1998 World Cup final.
Miroslav Klose is now the all-time top scorer in World Cup history, with 16 strikes, moving one clear of Ronaldo.
Germany have now scored 223 World Cup goals, two more than Brazil who are in second place.
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Kroos Klose - Brazil vs Germany - World Cup 2014 (AFP)
Image credit: AFP
André Schuerrle scored with his sixth touch of the game.
There were just 179 seconds between Germany's second and fourth goals.
Thomas Mueller is the third player (after Cubillas and Klose) in history to score 5+ goals in two different World Cups.
Mueller is the 13th player to reach double figures for World Cup goals and the 5th German to do it.
Thomas Mueller has scored 10 goals and provided six assists in just 12 World Cup matches.
Germany netted as many goals in this semi-final as they had in their previous six World Cup semi-finals (1982-2010).
It is the first time since 1938 that Brazil have lost a World Cup semi-final, they had progressed in their previous six.
Brazil failed to have a shot on target in the first half.
Germany were 5-0 up faster than any other team in World Cup history (29 minutes).
This game equalled Brazil’s all-time biggest margin of defeat (lost 6-0 to Uruguay in 1920).
Germany (10) only had two more shots on target than Brazil (8) in this match.
Germany scored two more goals tonight than England have in their past two World Cup campaigns combined.
TALKING POINT
Where exactly were Brazil’s tactics? Brazil have been widely criticised for their disruptive tactics during this World Cup but after giving away the first goal they completely lost the plot. There was none of those tactical fouls or any form of tactics. It looked amateurish and they completely deserved to be on the end of this sort of beating. Ultimately, the buck stops with Luiz Felipe Scolari.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Sami Khedira (Germany): The Real Madrid man was peerless in the first half. He broke up play but also distributed it potently. He also added his name to the scoresheet. What is all the more impressive is that he missed much of the domestic season with a knee injury.
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Thiago Silva, Oscar and Maicon after the game against Germany
Image credit: AFP
PLAYER RATINGS
Brazil: Julio Cesar 3; Maicon 3, Dante 3, David Luiz 3, Marcelo 2; Luiz Gustavo 3, Fernandinho 3; Hulk 3, Oscar 4, Bernard 3; Fred 2. Subs: Paulinho 4, Ramires 4, Willian 4
Germany: Neuer 8; Lahm 9, Boateng 7, Hummels 7, Hoewedes 7; Schweinsteiger 7, Khedira 9; Mueller 9, Kroos 9, Ozil 8; Klose 8. Subs: Mertesacker 7, Schuerrle 8, Draxler 7
THE MATCH IN A TWEET
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