Date: July 8, 2014

Result: Brazil 1-7 Germany

Scorers:

Brazil:

  • Oscar 90

Germany:

  • Muller 11, Klose 22, Kroos 24, 25, Khedira 29, Schurrle 69, 79

Venue: Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte 

Attendance: 58,141

Match overview: An historic night in Belo Horizonte. Germany reached their eighth World Cup Final after utterly humiliating hosts Brazil in the most one-sided semi-final ever seen at World Cup. Their seven goals included a 16th World Cup goal for Miroslav Klose, who became the tournament’s top scorer, eclipsing Brazil’s Ronaldo.

After a frantic opening 10 minutes, in which Brazil competed with intensity, willed on by a furious rendition of the Brazilian national anthem, Germany took the lead from their first corner. Thomas Muller side-footed home with Brazil’s defence nowhere to be seen.

Then, in the space of seven extraordinary minutes, Germany scored four further goals as Brazil’s defence utterly capitulated. As the full realisation of an impending defeat dawned upon them, Brazil’s players went to pieces, standing by and watching the ball as Germany’s attack ripped them to pieces. For Germany’s fifth goal, midfielder Fernandinho dallied on the ball and was robbed by Sami Khedira, who exchanged passes with Thomas Muller as Germany virtually walked the ball into the net.

Brazil coach Felipe Scolari had chosen local-born Bernard as the replacement for the injured Neymar, in the hope that the little winger might offer Brazil something different. But Germany were given space to play their normal game, and Brazil quickly lost heart, their weaknesses cruelly exposed for the world to see.

At half-time, Scolari took off Fernandinho and Hulk, replacing them with Ramires and Paulinho. Brazil’s midfield had more balance and briefly threatened Germany’s goal, but Manuel Neuer came to Germany’s rescue with a series of saves.

As the Brazilian crowd in the Estadio Mineirao turned on Brazil’s players, mercilessly booing the striker Fred, Germany extended their lead. Substitute Andre Schurrle scored twice, the second a brilliant shot that crashed in off the underside of the bar, to inflict the worst defeat in Brazil’s history, eclipsing the 6-0 suffered to Uruguay in 1920.

Another substitute Julian Draxler even had a chance to make it eight, but his shot was well saved by Julio Cesar, before Oscar scored for Brazil in the dying moments of the game.

Boos rang around the Mineirao stadium on the final whistle. The Brazilian people had expected so much of this World Cup, but their dreams were shattered by a ruthless Germany side on a night when Brazilian football suffered its greatest humiliation.

Key moment: Germany’s opening goal, in the 11th minute, gave a hint of what was to come. Thomas Muller was left completely unmarked at his side’s first corner, although there were seven Brazilians in the six-yard box when Muller side-footed his shot past Julio Cesar.

Man of the match: Toni Kroos. Any one of Germany’s midfield could have been selected, but Kroos scored twice in the first half and played a part in a number of Germany’s other goals.

Matter of fact: Miroslav Klose became the World Cup’s all-time top scorer, beating Ronaldo’s previous record of 15.

Talking point: Prior to this humiliating defeat, Brazil had not lost a competitive game on home soil since 1975. The country that had been haunted by defeat to Uruguay in the final match of the 1950 World Cup now has to come to terms with suffering the worst semi-final defeat in the history of the World Cup.

Stats:

Goal attempts

  • Brazil 13
  • Germany 13

On target

  • Brazil 8
  • Germany 10

Corners

  • Brazil 7
  • Germany 5

Line-ups:

Brazil:

  • 12 Julio Cesar
  • 23 Maicon
  • 04 David Luiz (c)
  • 23 Dante
  • 06 Marcelo
  • 17 Luiz Gustavo
  • 05 Fernandinho (Paulinho 46)
  • 07 Hulk (Ramires 46)
  • 11 Oscar
  • 20 Bernard
  • 09 Fred (Willian 69)

Germany:

  • 01 Neuer
  • 16 Lahm (c)
  • 05 Hummels (Mertesacker 46)
  • 20 Boateng
  • 04 Howades
  • 07 Schweinsteiger
  • 06 Khedira (Draxler 76)
  • 18 Kroos
  • 18 Muller
  • 08 Ozil
  • 11 Klose (Schurrle 57)

Yellow cards:

Brazil:

  • Dante 68

Germany:

  • none

Referee: Marco Rodriguez (Mex)