Germany roars to Final

Football fans arrive at the stadium prior the World Cup semifinal soccer match between Brazil and Germany at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Tuesday, July 8, 2014. AP

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil—Brazil’s World Cup dream was smashed into oblivion as majestic Germany ran riot to win an extraordinary semifinal, 7-1, on Tuesday and send the South American hosts crashing to their worst defeat in their 100-year football history.

The astounding scoreline is sure to overshadow Miroslav Klose’s record-setting 16th career World Cup goal as the Germans advanced to their eighth World Cup final.

Germany will face either Argentina or the Netherlands on Sunday with a chance to win for the fourth time.

Brazil was playing without Neymar, the team’s key player and the poster boy for the World Cup. The Barcelona striker was ruled out of the tournament with a broken vertebra after getting kneed in the back in the quarterfinal win over Colombia.

Brazil also missed Thiago Silva, who was suspended for collecting two yellow cards.

The atmosphere at the start of the match was spine-tingling, but the euphoria soon turned to tears as the Germans scored five goals in the first 30 minutes—including a four-goal blitz in a devastating seven-minute span.

“It was very important to stay calm, cool and courageous in facing Brazilian passion,” Germany coach Joachim Loew said.

Sixty-four years after Brazil was plunged into national mourning after its loss in the 1950 final, the hosts were torn apart in another traumatic defeat.

Tearful Brazil captain David Luiz immediately apologized to the nation after the rout.

“Apologies to everybody, apologies to all the Brazilian people,” said Luiz, his eyes red from tears.

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari echoed the mood of despair: “We ask for forgiveness.”

Germany star Thomas Mueller, who plundered his fifth goal of the tournament in the thrashing, admitted he was shocked by the scale of the victory.

“I don’t know what to say to be honest,” Mueller said. “I can’t believe it. It’s something totally crazy.”

Mueller opened the scoring on 11 minutes while Klose’s cool finish on 23 minutes was the cue for the floodgates to open.

Toni Kroos struck twice in the 24th and 26th minutes to make it 4-0 and Sami Khedira made it 5-0 on 29 minutes.

The torture continued on 69 minutes when Andre Schuerrle swept in Germany’s sixth.  Schuerrle then grabbed his second on 79 minutes to make it 7-0, and confirm the worst defeat in Brazil’s history.    The previous record loss had been 6-0 to Uruguay in 1920.

A late goal from Oscar was barely applauded by the Mineirao Stadium crowd.

Klose broke the mark of 15 goals he shared with the retired Ronaldo, who worked the game as a TV commentator, after a corner by Toni Kroos. His first effort was parried by Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar, but Klose calmly stroked the rebound home.

“Miro is incredible. To set the record and to do it in Brazil is a great performance,” Loew said. “It really means a lot to all of us.”  AFP, AP