Germany scored five goals in 18
astonishing first-half minutes on
their way to a 7-1 semifinal
mauling of Brazil on Tuesday
which shattered the host
nation's hopes of winning their
sixth World Cup.
It was the most shocking result
in the tournament's history,
Brazil's record World Cup defeat
and their first at home in 64
competitive matches since 1975.
Germany will meet Argentina or
the Netherlands in Sunday's final
in Rio de Janeiro after an
unbelievable performance in
which striker Miroslav Klose
became the tournament's
highest scorer of all time with his
16th World Cup goal.
"We started really super," Klose
said in a televised interview. "We
had such a great harmony, you
can see that in training. We're a
real unit and we showed that on
the pitch today."
The only consolation on a day of
abject misery for Brazil after a
match featuring truly abject
defending from Luiz Felipe
Scolari's men was a goal from
Oscar in the dying minutes.
"I just wanted to make my
people happy," Brazil defender
David Luiz said. "Unfortunately,
we couldn't. I'm sorry, I'm sorry
to all Brazilians, I just wanted to
see them smile, everyone know
how important it was.
"They were the best, they
prepared better, they played
better, we let in four goals in six
minutes. It is a very sad day and
we we'll learn from it."
Thomas Mueller started the rout
with an 11th-minute volley and
although Germany looked to be
the better team after an early
period of Brazil pressure, there
was little indication of the
devastation about to be
unleashed.
INJURED FORWARD
Brazil were playing without
injured forward Neymar and
suspended captain and defensive
linchpin Thiago Silva and it was
the latter's absence that proved
far more costly.
The hosts' defence simply caved
in.
They conceded four times
between the 23rd minute when
Klose made it 2-0 and the 29th
when Sami Khedira put Germany
5-0 in front. Andrea Schuerrle,
who replaced Klose in the 58th
minute added two more, the
second an angled shot that flew
in off the crossbar.
With Germany 1-0 ahead, Klose
scored from a rebound after
goalkeeper Julio Cesar saved his
initial shot for his 16th goal in
his 23rd World Cup appearance.
But worse was to follow for
Brazil a minute later when Toni
Kroos, lurking with intent but
unmarked at the edge of the
area, smashed home with the
outside of his left foot to make it
3-0.
He scored again just two minutes
to make it 4-0 and Brazil's pain
continued when Khedira made it
5-0 after a one-two with Mesut
Ozil in the 29th minute.
Any hopes Brazil had of saving
the game ended there but to
their credit they rallied at the
start of the second and forced a
series of saves from Germany
keeper Manuel Neuer before
Schuerrle struck after 69 and 79
minutes.
Oscar's late goal was greeted by
an ironic cheer from the
shocked, stunned home fans
who were in tears at the end of
the most incredible World Cup
game ever played.[i]Germany scored five goals in 18
astonishing first-half minutes on
their way to a 7-1 semifinal
mauling of Brazil on Tuesday
which shattered the host
nation's hopes of winning their
sixth World Cup.
It was the most shocking result
in the tournament's history,
Brazil's record World Cup defeat
and their first at home in 64
competitive matches since 1975.
Germany will meet Argentina or
the Netherlands in Sunday's final
in Rio de Janeiro after an
unbelievable performance in
which striker Miroslav Klose
became the tournament's
highest scorer of all time with his
16th World Cup goal.
"We started really super," Klose
said in a televised interview. "We
had such a great harmony, you
can see that in training. We're a
real unit and we showed that on
the pitch today."
The only consolation on a day of
abject misery for Brazil after a
match featuring truly abject
defending from Luiz Felipe
Scolari's men was a goal from
Oscar in the dying minutes.
"I just wanted to make my
people happy," Brazil defender
David Luiz said. "Unfortunately,
we couldn't. I'm sorry, I'm sorry
to all Brazilians, I just wanted to
see them smile, everyone know
how important it was.
"They were the best, they
prepared better, they played
better, we let in four goals in six
minutes. It is a very sad day and
we we'll learn from it."
Thomas Mueller started the rout
with an 11th-minute volley and
although Germany looked to be
the better team after an early
period of Brazil pressure, there
was little indication of the
devastation about to be
unleashed.
INJURED FORWARD
Brazil were playing without
injured forward Neymar and
suspended captain and defensive
linchpin Thiago Silva and it was
the latter's absence that proved
far more costly.
The hosts' defence simply caved
in.
They conceded four times
between the 23rd minute when
Klose made it 2-0 and the 29th
when Sami Khedira put Germany
5-0 in front. Andrea Schuerrle,
who replaced Klose in the 58th
minute added two more, the
second an angled shot that flew
in off the crossbar.
With Germany 1-0 ahead, Klose
scored from a rebound after
goalkeeper Julio Cesar saved his
initial shot for his 16th goal in
his 23rd World Cup appearance.
But worse was to follow for
Brazil a minute later when Toni
Kroos, lurking with intent but
unmarked at the edge of the
area, smashed home with the
outside of his left foot to make it
3-0.
He scored again just two minutes
to make it 4-0 and Brazil's pain
continued when Khedira made it
5-0 after a one-two with Mesut
Ozil in the 29th minute.
Any hopes Brazil had of saving
the game ended there but to
their credit they rallied at the
start of the second and forced a
series of saves from Germany
keeper Manuel Neuer before
Schuerrle struck after 69 and 79
minutes.
Oscar's late goal was greeted by
an ironic cheer from the
shocked, stunned home fans
who were in tears at the end of
the most incredible World Cup
game ever played.[/i]Germany scored five goals in 18
astonishing first-half minutes on
their way to a 7-1 semifinal
mauling of Brazil on Tuesday
which shattered the host
nation's hopes of winning their
sixth World Cup.
It was the most shocking result
in the tournament's history,
Brazil's record World Cup defeat
and their first at home in 64
competitive matches since 1975.
Germany will meet Argentina or
the Netherlands in Sunday's final
in Rio de Janeiro after an
unbelievable performance in
which striker Miroslav Klose
became the tournament's
highest scorer of all time with his
16th World Cup goal.
"We started really super," Klose
said in a televised interview. "We
had such a great harmony, you
can see that in training. We're a
real unit and we showed that on
the pitch today."
The only consolation on a day of
abject misery for Brazil after a
match featuring truly abject
defending from Luiz Felipe
Scolari's men was a goal from
Oscar in the dying minutes.
"I just wanted to make my
people happy," Brazil defender
David Luiz said. "Unfortunately,
we couldn't. I'm sorry, I'm sorry
to all Brazilians, I just wanted to
see them smile, everyone know
how important it was.
"They were the best, they
prepared better, they played
better, we let in four goals in six
minutes. It is a very sad day and
we we'll learn from it."
Thomas Mueller started the rout
with an 11th-minute volley and
although Germany looked to be
the better team after an early
period of Brazil pressure, there
was little indication of the
devastation about to be
unleashed.
INJURED FORWARD
Brazil were playing without
injured forward Neymar and
suspended captain and defensive
linchpin Thiago Silva and it was
the latter's absence that proved
far more costly.
The hosts' defence simply caved
in.
They conceded four times
between the 23rd minute when
Klose made it 2-0 and the 29th
when Sami Khedira put Germany
5-0 in front. Andrea Schuerrle,
who replaced Klose in the 58th
minute added two more, the
second an angled shot that flew
in off the crossbar.
With Germany 1-0 ahead, Klose
scored from a rebound after
goalkeeper Julio Cesar saved his
initial shot for his 16th goal in
his 23rd World Cup appearance.
But worse was to follow for
Brazil a minute later when Toni
Kroos, lurking with intent but
unmarked at the edge of the
area, smashed home with the
outside of his left foot to make it
3-0.
He scored again just two minutes
to make it 4-0 and Brazil's pain
continued when Khedira made it
5-0 after a one-two with Mesut
Ozil in the 29th minute.
Any hopes Brazil had of saving
the game ended there but to
their credit they rallied at the
start of the second and forced a
series of saves from Germany
keeper Manuel Neuer before
Schuerrle struck after 69 and 79
minutes.
Oscar's late goal was greeted by
an ironic cheer from the
shocked, stunned home fans
who were in tears at the end of
the most incredible World Cup
game ever played.