By Tonte Davies (@IAmTonte)
Brazil suffered their first loss in a competitive match at home since 1975, against Germany. The game had all the traits of record-breaking and making. For starts, the Germans routed Brazil 7-1, a score line which sees Die Mannschaft convincingly advance to the World Cup final since 2002. Germany’s drubbing of Selecção was played in front of a capacity-filled Estádio Mineirao in Belo Horizonte.
Brazilian fans were upbeat ahead of the game despite the absence of poster-boy Neymar. The playmaker missed the match due to a back injury suffered in their quarter-final match against Colombia. Regardless, Selecção were not going to be laid-back by their star player’s absence. In Neymar’s stead, coach Luis Felipe Scolari gave diminutive striker Bernard his first World Cup start.
Germany who appeared in their record fourth semi-final set the tone opening their goals account in 11 minutes through Thomas Muller. The Brazilians looked more potent playing a high-paced game, it was the Germans banging in the goals. Within 29 minutes, Die Mannschaft netted five times sending shivering silence among Brazilian fans. The rate at which the goals kept coming proved difficult to handle as pro-Brazil fans stood shell-shocked.
Among the goal-scorers, Miroslav Klose made history scoring his 16th record goal in a World Cup career. The 36-year old struck 23 minutes into the first half but failed to celebrate with his traditional flip. “I got hit in my left foot while attempting a shot and I was not able to do the flip,” Klose said. Klose’s 16 goals surpasses Brazil legend Ronaldo’s 15 goals as all-time highest goal-scorer in a World Cup career.
Bayern Munich midfielder Toni Kroos struck twice in the first half inflicting more woes on Selecção. The 24-year old received Budweiser Man of the Match as his brace is the fastest in a FIFA World Cup tournament. “After we scored the first, the goals kept coming,” Kroos said after the game. “Had someone had said we’d have won 7-1, I wouldn’t have believed him, but I thought we were outstanding, that’s all I can say,” Kroos went on to say. Other goal-scorers include Sami Khedira, Andre Schϋrrle.
Obviously, conceding such number of goals was too embarrassing for the fans as some of them were caught on camera shedding tears. Coach Luis Felipe Scolari described the match as the “worst moment” in his football career. “It’s the worst moment of my football career and the worst day of my football life. But life goes on. Who is responsible for this result? I am, it’s me,” Scolari is quoted as saying. Though admitting his each member of his side should be blamed for this major but awkward loss, Scolari insists the line-up and tactics were his “choice” as such he is to blame.
Scolari’s German counterpart Joachim Low who could not hide his excitement said, “the emotions are great. We won, we’ve made it to the final.” Looking at who they might meet in the final, Mr. Low says “both Argentina and the Netherlands have huge qualities and it will be a difficult match.” Argentina will face off the Netherlands in the second semi-final decider as to who joins Germany in the final, later today.