Miroslav Klose became the World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer as
Germany cruised past a shambolic Brazil with a 7-1 win to book their
place in the final.
The hosts started relatively brightly, but found themselves behind
after just 11 minutes when Toni Kroos’ corner picked out Thomas Muller
unmarked inside the area and the Bayern Munich man side-footed beyond
Julio Cesar.
Klose then doubled the Germans' lead, slotting
home the rebound after Cesar had pushed away his initial effort, and
his record 16th goal in the tournament - taking him ahead of Ronaldo -
signalled an unthinkable capitulation for Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side.
Kroos
hit a quick-fire double as he drilled a strike past Cesar with the
outside of his boot following Philipp Lahm’s cut-back, before making it
four after Sami Khedira’s unselfish pass capitalised on some lacklustre
Brazilian defending.
Khedira then got in on the act himself
when he guided Mesut Ozil’s pass into the bottom corner after David
Luiz’s error typified an abject showing from Scolari’s men, who were
booed off at the break.
Brazil looked to restore some pride in the
second half as Oscar and subsitute Paulinho were both denied by Manuel
Neuer, while Muller was prevented from making it six as Cesar tipped his
effort over the bar with a fine save.
Germany replaced Klose just
before the hour mark and it was his replacement, Chelsea's Andre
Schurrle, who added a sixth when he converted Lahm's low cross from
inside the box with a simple tap-in.
Schurrle then added his
second and Germany's seventh of the night with a smart finish off the
underside of the crossbar. Oscar grabbed a late consolation goal but the
final whistle soon sounded as Low's side reached the final for the
first time since 2002.
The Germans will now go into Sunday's final at the Maracana to face Argentina or the Netherlands on the highest of highs.
With
Brazil looking to take inspiration from their missing talisman, Neymar,
the opening period was always going to be a testing one for Germany,
with the partisan crowd baying every Brazilian touch and tackle.
Marcelo
was cheered wildly after sending a 25-yard shot skimming a couple of
yards wide, but there was a frantic feel to it, as though the Neymar
emotion had spilled over into a frenzy, with Germany capable of
punishing any slackness.
That almost happened early on when Ozil delivered a sweet cross for Khedira to volley only for his shot to strike Kroos.
A
break by Khedira then led to the corner from which Germany took the
lead in the 11th minute. Kroos took it, and it was straightforward
enough but Brazil's marking went into meltdown and Muller slotted it
home low past Cesar while Luiz beat the ground in frustration.
Marcelo
burst into the Germany penalty area and a pinpoint sliding tackle by
Lahm stopped him in full stride but Brazil's high tempo only served to
make them vulnerable on the break and Germany made them pay again, this
time Klose becoming a World Cup's record-breaker.
A delightful passing move saw Muller lay the ball off and although Cesar stopped his first effort, Klose buried the rebound.
Two
minutes later and it was 3-0, Lahm's cross going all the way across the
area for Kroos to slam home left-footed from 18 yards.
Another
two minutes, another goal. From a goal-kick Fernandinho was robbed by
Khedira who unselfishly played in Kroos for a virtual tap-in for 4-0.
By this time Brazil fans were in tears and a few leaving their seats, but the German machine marched on mercilessly.
Less
than half an hour gone and the hosts were 5-0 down. Mats Hummels strode
forward and Ozil, who had come alive in this match, set up Khedira for a
first-time finish.
Neuer had been barely tested in the first half
but only he prevented Brazil getting on the scoresheet, first defying
Oscar and then Paulinho.
Cesar had to be at his best to tip over
Muller's curling effort from 25 yards, but Germany were not to be denied
and Lahm's penetrating cross was struck home by substitute Schurrle.
It
was Chelsea midfielder Schurrle who piled on the agony, a breathtaking
finish into the top corner after pulling down Muller's instinctive
cross.
Ozil should have made it an embarrassing eight but slid
wide when through on goal before Oscar's crisp finish in the last minute
provided a glimmer of light in the darkness.
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/ 2324Xclusive Sport: Germany reach the final after 7-1 demolition of Brazil in Belo Horizonte
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