Brazil 1, Germany 7: Shock of the century as Brazil ripped apart by Jogi Loew's side in semifinal

Surely among the most shocking results in international football history, the hosts Brazil were routed by a dominant German midfield 1-7 in the semifinal of a World Cup. It equals Brazil’s worst ever international loss on the biggest of stages, and ends a home record of 62 competitive matches undefeated for the Selecao going back to 1975. That it happened in a World Cup semifinal makes it all the more incredible. 

It was some dreadful defending from Brazil that led to a six minute collapse in the first half, with Maicon and Marcelo out of position and David Luiz and Dante completely outnumbered against a ruthless midfield consisting of Toni Kroos, Mesut Ozil, Thomas Muller and Sami Khedira.

This result could forever change the Brazilian game, top to bottom, and could bring the debate over Brazil’s decision to host the tournament back into the public mind.   

The Goals

GOAL! Thomas Muller (GER) 11th min. Sami Khedira wins a corner to the right of goal. Khedira's delivery finds the feet of Thomas Muller unmarked, who side passes it under Julio Cesar for Germany’s opener. David Luiz to blame? Or was he ‘picked’ out of the play by the German attackers?

GOAL! Miroslav Klose (GER) 23rd min. Miroslav Klose gets the record! An incredible 16 World Cup goals for the veteran goal poacher means he surpasses Ronaldo as the tournament's highest scorer. Kroos finds Klose in acres of space in the Brazilian area, and Klose is able to pick up his blocked shot and score the rebound. Brazil left acres of space in their own 18 yard box.

GOAL! Toni Kroos (GER) 24th min. A cross comes in from the right, baubles across Mueller’s body, then behind Mesut Ozil, then into the path of a fully unobstructed Toni Kroos who finishes easily past a prone Julio Cesar. Brazil’s defenders are completely out of position, and Maicon in no mans land. Brazil are ripped to pieces.

GOAL! Toni Kroos (GER) 26th min. Kroos muscles the ball off of Maicon strolling back to his own keeper, and then plays a give and go with Sami Khedira until Kroos gets a shot at the open goal and puts in Germany’s fourth. Shots of crying Brazil fans. Brazil are a total shower, and Maicon is again at fault.

GOAL! Sami Khedira (GER) 29th min. Okay. Seriously now. Three German attackers rush into the area. Sami Khedira plays to Mesut Ozil on the left, who pings the ball back to him and Khedira scores easily. Germany’s fifth goal. In a World Cup semifinal. Against Brazil. In Brazil.

GOAL! Andre Schurrle (GER) 69th min. Philipp Lahm finds himself in space on Brazil's right side, sends in a routine cross to a wide open Andre Schurrle who gets there before Mueller, and just like that Brazil equal their worst ever result. In a World Cup semifinal. At home. Am I getting this point across?

GOAL! Andre Schurrle (GER) 79th min. Thomas Muller whips in a hopeful cross to the left of goal while hanging out at the corner flag and Andre Schurrle picks it up and lashes an incredible goal, pinging down on the cross bar past Julio Cesar. Gorgeous from Schurrle, a goal of wonderful skill.

GOAL! Oscar (BRA) 90 + 1 min. Oscar picks up a long pass and finishes the consolation goal smartly all alone past Neuer, which sends the German keeper (and Jerome Boateng) into a total rage. 

The Man of the Match - Neymar

Neymar managed to miss out on Brazil’s worst ever international defeat through injury. For that alone he gets the award.

In all seriousness, Miroslav Klose has his goal record and will go down in German football history and should get a mention in this space. But Germany barely got into second gear. The amount of space in the back afforded by Brazil was unconscionable. A dreadful defensive performance from Brazil, perhaps the worst in national team history.  

The Controversy

During the match several Twitter accounts with popular followings tweeted out a photo of unrest in Brazil with protesters approaching a barricade on fire, claiming “riots had already started.” The photo was from the 2013 Confederations Cup. Using social media responsibly can be difficult at the best of times but it was very unfortunate to see.

What did Germany do to win?

Attack in numbers. All the “pragmatism” talk ahead of the match, particularly involving Germany potentially pursuing a negative approach against a talented Brazil side, went out the window after Germany’s third goal.

Brazil handed this game to Germany. David Luiz got a lot of the blame but he was completely exposed by the two full backs in Maicon and Marcelo, who failed to track back or defend with any sense of awareness. Fernandinho was poor and Luiz Gustavo completely ineffective in helping out in defense. What should have been a battle from the favoured home side quickly devolved into a rout.

Felipe Luis Scolari will have to take some of the blame for his team selection and tactical choices. Yet despite all this, Germany should get praise for their preparation, their strength, their depth, their ruthlessness in front of goal. The demons of the last few international tournaments are behind them. Germany came to play.

The Takeaway

Germany are off to their first World Cup final since 2002 against one of two teams they’ve beaten in the last game of the tournament before. Argentina and Netherlands are excellent opponents for this incredible, scarily good German side.

As for Brazil, they will play a humiliating third place match on Saturday. It will be a testimonial for Brazilian football. The hosts are out. How the country will respond is as yet unknown.  

The 1,000 Words

Stray Thoughts

Bad enough that Brazil were destroyed by Germany, but Miroslav Klose overtook Ronaldo as the World Cup’s highest ever scorer. Ronaldo was graceful at half time—he congratulated Klose on Brazilian TV.

A weirdly excellent performance from Manuel Neuer in the beginning of the second half as Brazil came out brightly. Neuer made four saves in a short span of time.

What the hell happens? Is this really worse than Brazil losing 2-0 to Uruguay in 1950? Time will tell I suppose but man oh man this is going to be a huge problem for Brazilian football and Brazilian politics in the coming weeks and months.