Germany reach World Cup final after humiliating Brazil 7-1

Belo Horizonte (Brazil), July 9 :

A ruthless Germany Tuesday dumped hosts Brazil out of the FIFA World Cup in a humiliating fashion, beating them 7-1 at the Minerao Stadium to march in the finals.

In the record defeat for Brazil, Toni Kroos (24th min, 26th) and Andre Schurrle (69th, 79th) netted twice while Miroslav Klose (23rd), Sami Khedira (29th) and Thomas Muller (11th) were also on target in a rampant display that saw them score four goals in six minutes in the first half.

Chelsea midfielder Oscar scored the consolation for Brazil in the 90th minute. But it looked one of the worst performance from a back four in the World Cup finals.

The Germans were clinical and looked like scoring everytime they attacked.

Even as an attacking threat, Brazil posed little danger to Manuel Neur’s goal in the first half, only testing him in an early flourish in the second half.

Brazil too often lost their shape and discipline and were made to pay dearly for their frailties at the back.

Brazil no doubt missed their star Neymar but perhaps more important was the absence of captain Thiago Silva.

Stand-in captain David Luiz had one of his worst games, closely followed by Dante, who was just as woeful.

Germany will meet either Argentina or the Netherlands in the final at Rio’s Maracana stadium July 13 while Brazil will contest the third place play off a day earlier.

Germany took only 29 minutes to race into the five goal lead, the quickest ever mark for that tally.

To add further icing on the cake for Germany and another dash of insult to Brazil, Klose overtook Selecao legend Ronaldo to stand as the World Cup’s all time top scorer with 16 goals.

Muller scored his fifth goal of the tournament to open the rout for Germany.

Two goals from Kroos and further strikes from Klose and Khedira rammed the knife down Brazil’s back.

Brazil, to their credit, started the second half brightly and had two three chances to get a goal back but Neur was up to the task.

Germany took the gas of the pedal and left just Muller upfront.

But that still didn’t stop them from attacking swiftly on the counter attack as once again Julio Cesar’s goal came under threat.

They did, though, get past Cesar for a sixth and a seventh time as substitute Schurrle piled on the agony for Brazil, scoring a brace.

Oscar finally got one past Neur right at the death to grab a consolation for Brazil.

(IANS)