2014 FIFA World Cup: Germany Defeats Brazil 7-1, Reaches Final - ABC News 2014 FIFA World Cup: Germany Defeats Brazil 7-1, Reaches Final By Alyssa Newcomb Jul 8, 2014, 7:30 PM ET 0 Shares WATCH Fight Breaks Out as Thousands Watch Brazil's Big Win 0 Shares Email Brazil had a meltdown -- and the entire world was watching. Playing without star striker Neymar, the Brazilian team was battered by Germany today 7-1 during a semifinal match at the World Cup. Deflated Brazil fans were seen sobbing in the stands in Belo Horizonte during the first half as the Germans continued to score goal after goal without seeming to even break a sweat. The Germans led 5-0 after 29 minutes. Best World Cup Moments Told Through GIFs Defender David Luiz, who served as captain for the Brazilian side during the match, held back tears after the game when he expressed his disappointment for the devastating loss. Captain Thiago Silva was also absent, forced to sit out after previously receiving two yellow cards and serving a one-game suspension.

But the man on everyone's minds was the heart and soul of the team -- Neymar. Brazilian players wore hats honoring their teammate, who is sidelined with a back injury. Meanwhile, thousands of cardboard Neymar masks were handed out to fans as a way to help make it seem like Neymar was a part of the festivities. ESPN/ABC News PHOTO: Female Brazilian fan reacts to German goal. He clearly wasn't. After the dismal showing in the first half, it was clear Brazil's energy had been zapped. ESPN/ABC News PHOTO: Brazilian fan reacts to German goal. The team has never won a World Cup at home and felt mounting pressure to win the 2014 tournament. ESPN/ABC News PHOTO: Young fan reacts to German goal. The Brazilians lost the 1950 final 2-1 to Uruguay at Maracana Stadium, the only other time Brazil hosted the tournament. Before today, the worst loss ever by a Brazil team was 6-0, again to Uruguay, at the 1920 Copa America. Meanwhile, the Germans set a few records of their own.

Germany scored five goals in the first 29 minutes, the fastest any team has scored five goals in any game in World Cup history. In addition, Germany’s Miroslav Klose is now the highest goal scorer in World Cup history. Klose has 16 career World Cup goals, breaking a tie with Brazil’s Ronaldo who had 15. Once the game ended, Brazilian officials told German fans to stay inside the stadium for security reasons. Brazil fans walked out stunned by the loss. There were no reports of fan violence outside the stadium following the game. Leave it to supermodel Heidi Klum to show how her fellow Germans felt about the match. Can you believe this...I cant . 1...2...3.....4....5....6.....7...?????????????????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/sacRPiQG41 — Heidi Klum (@heidiklum) July 8, 2014 Sign up for occasional World Cup dispatches from Brazil delivered right to your phone -- including the best photos and limited highlights -- by "starring" this story in ABC News' phone app. Download ABC News for iPhone here or ABC News for Android here .

0 Shares Germany defeated Brazil 7-1 World Cup 2014 | Football Bible Germany defeated Brazil 7-1 World Cup 2014 Published on Jul 24, 2014 Germany defeated the Brazilians by astounding them to a 7-1 defeat at home, in the 2014 FIFA World Cup semi final, on 8th July. The home team was under pressure, especially after having a rather unsatisfactory performance earlier in the competition. It was the second time that Brazil was hosting the FIFA World Cup, with the first time being in 1950. At the semis, they were set to face one of the tournaments’ favorites, Germany. Without doubt, this was expected to be one heated up match, full of expectations for both sides. Well, no one could have closely predicted what an eventful day it would turn out to be. Qualifying For the Semi-Final The Samba Kings clinched victory over Chile at the knock out stage through a penalty shootout and later gave a better performance to beat Colombia, their quarter finals opponents. On the other side, Germany had a rewarding, steady performance during their campaign.

They emerged top of their group and went on to knock out Algeria. The win against France at the quarters meant they were going to face Brazil next. Both teams reached the semi final with an unbeaten record. Either team stood a chance to outweigh the other. But there were concerns with the Brazil squad as they were going into the match without two of their key players. Thiago Silva, the team captain and defender had been suspended after accumulating two yellow cards while the sensational forward, Neymar, had sustained a fractured vertebra during the game against Colombia, ruling him out for the remaining part of the tournament. Looking back, playing without the two crucial players was a major blow for the team. More so since they were going to play the team with a record four-consecutive semi finals and Brazil was only playing its first semi final after their 2002 World Cup win. However, the previous time that Brazil lost a semi final match in the World Cup was in 1974. It won all the six semi finals it qualified for in the later years. History Was Made On this incredible day, records were broken and history was set.

The seven goals scored by Germany were the most to be scored by a team at the semi final stage in World Cup history. The six-goal margin was the largest margin victory in the semi final of FIFA World Cup competition, and was double of the previous record margin. Thomas Muller scored the first goal of the match in the 11th minute to equal his tally in the previous World Cup tournament. A few minutes later, the Germans scored four goals in 6 minutes, with Toni Kroos bagging two goals. The first half ended in 5-0, making it an impossible task for Brazil to beat the mean German team. Oscar pulled one back for the Brazil team in the dying minutes but this was not enough to save them the humiliation. Hearts were broken, dreams were shuttered and tears were shed.

11' - Thomas Müller (Germany 1 - 0 Brazil) 23' - Miroslav Klose (Germany 2 - 0 Brazil) 24' - Toni Kroos (Germany 3 - 0 Brazil) 26' - Toni Kroos (Germany 4 - 0 Brazil) 29' - Sami Khedira (Germany 5 - 0 Brazil) 69' - André Schürrle (Germany 6 - 0 Brazil) 79' - André Schürrle (Germany 7 - 0 Brazil) 90' - Oscar (Germany 7 - 1 Brazil) This brought an end to the impressive 62 home-match unbeaten run in competitive matches in 39 years. The last time Brazil had lost at home was in 1975, in the Copa Americana semi final. They lost by 1-3 to Peru. Another record was broken. Miroslav Klose, Germany, scored the second goal of the match to reach 16 goals and become the World Cup all-time record goal scorer, a title held previously by the legend Brazilian, Ronaldo.

That’s not all with record-breaking on this memorable day. Germany surpassed Brazil’s 221 goals to reach 223 goals and become the team with most goals scored in the World Cup tournament. The four speedy goals were the fastest in World Cup history. Surely, the Germans were ruthless in their quest. As The Host Country Previously, no host country had suffered such loss in the World Cup. Keeping in mind that Brazil is the only team to have played in every World Cup this could not have got any worse. On a side note, there are much more humiliating score-lines in history of the World Cup, but not at the Semi Finals. Among the World Cup winners , Brazil was looking to better their record of five times world champions while Germany were seeking to add on their three stars. This was one decisive match for each team, only that the superb Germans were too good for the prolific Brazilians. Brazil vs Germany 1-7 highlights 2014 FIFA World Cup Semi Finals. - YouTube Brazil vs Germany 1-7 highlights 2014 FIFA World Cup Semi Finals. Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content.

Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Nov 24, 2014 This is full highlights of the legendary game that shocked the world. Sorry if the editing is not the best also before you download this video so you can post it please ask me :) Hope you guys enjoy it :D Subscribe for more highlights and leave a like ;) Thank you so much for watching. Category World Cup 2014 semi-final: Germany demolish Brazil 7-1 FULL TIME: Brazil 1-7 Germany 90'- GOAL! OSCAR A beautiful ball has Oscar behind the German defense. He cuts in from the left beating Boateng, makes his way to the middle and shots. Neuer came out but could not prevent the goal from going inside the back of his net. 89'- Pass played into Ozil has him through on goal. He is one one one with the keeper with Schurrle for support. He drags his shot just wide off the upright. 88'- Willian's though ball set Oscar behind the German defense. He receives the ball on the left inside the box, steadies himself.

He shoots using the outside of his boot but the ball goes out. 87'- Marcelo misses the ball and Schurrle has the ball. He cuts the ball in the middle but Dante clears it out for a corner. 84'- Ramires picks up the ball and tries to score a consolation goal. His effort from distance was saved by Neuer by going down on his knees and making a safe collection near the upright. 83'- Germany continue passing the ball around effortlessly. Brazil fans now chanting Ole as Germans play keep ball. 81'- Fair to say even Heidi Klum is thrilled to bits with that scoreline. Can you believe this...I cant . 1...2...3.....4....5....6.....7...?????????????????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/sacRPiQG41 — Heidi Klum (@heidiklum) July 8, 2014 79'- GOAL! SCHURRLE Muller pulled out a long ball near the corner flag and fired in a cross. Schurrle who was the only player in the middle, struck a left footed volley from a tight angle despite David Luiz marking him.

The ball hit the underside of the crossbar and made its way into the net. 75'- Germany make another change. Young Julian Draxler comes on for Sami Khedira. 72'- Just as the Germans were celebrating that goal, Scolari took off Fred and replaced him with Willian. Fred was booed loudly by home fans as soon as his face appeared on the giant screen. 69'- GOAL! SCHURRLE Khedira plays the ball to Lahm on the right. He cuts the ball in the middle and Schurrle finishes with his right foot. If he missed, Muller was right next to him. 66'- Germany were through on goal again with two players behind the Brazil defense. Cesar acts as sweeper and comes out with a sliding challenge to prevent Schurrle from scoring. 64'- Fred is being booed by the home crowd. Every time he gets a touch on the ball, there are jeers inside the stadium. 61'- Luiz plays in a ball over the German defense. Maicon comes around the back and takes the ball down. A challenge comes in and the ball goes out for a corner.

Maicon goes down theatrically to appeal for a penalty. Germans are furious with his antics. Nothing given though. 60'- Khedira has the ball on the left. He cuts inside and plays a sideways ball to Muller who shifts the ball on his left foot and fires a shot from outside the box. Cesar tips it over. 59'- Muller was though on goal and he tried to round off the keeper. But Cesar managed to push the ball out for a corner. 58'- Germany take off record goalscorer Miroslav Klose and bring on Andre Schurrle. 56'- England cricketer Kevin Pietersen has some advice for the Brazil team. The obvious reference here is the 5-0 Ashes whitewash that got him dropped from the side. I've seen 5-0 a few times before...it's not the end of the world, Brazil! ?? — Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) July 8, 2014 53'- NEUER WITH A DOUBLE SAVE! INCREDIBLE Germany were cut open by the Brazil with Paulinho through on goal. He fired is left shot from inside the box on the volley.

Neuer saved that with his body but the rebound fell straight back to Paulinho again. He fired another powerful shot and Neuer saved again with his hand before his face. 51'- Neuer denies Oscar. The German pulls off a great save from close range as the Chelsea man fires in a shot from inside the box after he was played in. 50'- Fred threads a ball through to Ramires who fired in a low cross with Oscar waiting in the middle to tap the ball inside the bet. But Neuer stretches out and cuts the cross. 48'- Maicon floats in a lovely ball from Brazil's right. But Hulk can't get on the end of it. Good solid defending by Germany. 46'- The second half is underway.. Boos ring inside the stadium as the ref blows the half time whistle. Germany have put 5 past Brazil in less than 30 minutes. Klose got his world record beating 16th World Cup goal. This is a scoreline none of us would have seen coming. The game is almost over now. It only remains to be seen whether Germany sit back now or continue to attack.

45'- HALF TIME: Brazil 0-5 Germany 42'- Final ball has been disappointing by Brazil whenever they have managed to get into good positions. Fred has not been involved in this game at all. 40'- Oscar has the ball on the left. He cuts inside and fires in a curling shot. But his effort is blocked by the first defender. Brazil come again. 37'- Manuel Neuer has been a virtual spectator in this game. Not a shot on target that he has had to save. Incredible! 35'- Not even the Brazil fans inside the stadium know what has hit them. David Luiz and Dante have not been in sync from the minute this game started. 33'- This has to be the most shocking bit of defending one has ever witnessed. Brazil defense is absolute shambles. 29' - GOAL! KHEDIRA Germany cut open Brazil and have three players up front. They play around the ball and cut the ball back to the open Khedira who slots the ball into the bottom low corner. 26'- GOAL! KROOS Brazil are opened up again by Germany.

Kroos plays it Khedira who unselfishly plays the ball back to Kroos who scores his second of the match. 24'- GOAL! KROOS Ozil finds Lahm on the right who fires in a dangerous ball. Kroos blasts in the ball with a left footed volley. 22'- GOAL! KLOSE! Kroos after capitalizing on a defensive error, played in Muller who came in from the right. Muller laid the ball off to Klose whose shot was parried away by Cesar. The rebound fell to Klose again and he didn't make another mistake and slotted the ball inside the back of the net. 20'- Khedira plays a give and go with Klose outside the box. The striker shifts the ball on his left foot and fires in a weak left-footer. The ball rolls into Cesar's hands. 18'- So far this has been an open game. Brazil have not been subdued after they let in the first goal. They continue to attack and press forward. Germany may just hit them on the counter. 16'- Hulk was through on goal on the left in the box.

Lahm executes the most precise and measured tackle to prevent him from getting the shot away. Brazil players surround the ref for a penalty. Some pushing and shoving between the two sets of players. Ref is unmoved and gives a corner. 14'- Thomas Muller becomes the second player to score five goals in two consecutive World Cups. The first was of course his current striking partner - Miroslav Klose. 12'- Muller with his 5th goal of the tournament and surely the easiest one. He could not believe his luck there. 11'- GOAL! MULLER! Kroos with a delivery off a corner has Muller left open and unmarked. The German side-steps the ball into the net. Shocking defending from Brazil. Germany score off their first corner. 9'- Luiz with a glorious ball finding Hulk who can't take down the crossfield diagonal ball on his first touch. 7'- Cross comes in from the right for Germany. But the ball misses everyone and falls to Ozil on the left. The Arsenal man spots an open Khedira and finds him. The volley of the Real Madrid man is blocked. 4'- Hulk has the ball near the byline.

He crosses the ball but fluffs at it. The weak ball is cut out by Neuer before Bernand can reach it. 3'- Marcelo takes the first shot of the match. His attempt from outside the box is dragged across the face of the ball and goes out of the far post for a goal-kick. 2'- Oscar takes the corner, but his delivery is easily headed out by the German defense. 1'- First corner of the match awarded to Brazil As Fernandinho's cross is blocked by Schweinsteiger. 1'- Germany to get this match underway. They are playing in their red and black jersey. Muller and Kroos on the ball. Here we go.. Julio Cesar and David Luiz hold Neymar's jersey as they sing the national anthem. They want to do this for their golden boy. Time for the national anthems of both countries. German anthem followed by the host nation Brazil's. Huge responsibility on Bernard. The Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder has the daunting challenge of replacing Neymar. As of Dante, he will know this Germany team better than most. Six of his Bayern Munich teammates start for the Germans. Brazil and Germany have met just once in a World Cup.

That was the final of the 2002 edition. Brazil won 2-0. The big news so far is Bernard takes Neymar's place, while Dante gets his first game of the World Cup as he comes in for the suspended Thiago Silva. We have the team line-ups for both teams: Brazil: César; Maicon, Dante, Luiz, Marcelo; Gustavo, Fernandinho, Hulk, Oscar, Bernard; Fred Germany: Neuer; Lahm, Hummels, Boateng, Howedes; Schweinsteiger, Khedira; Muller, Kroos, Ozil; Klose Welcome to our coverage of the first semi-final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup between Brazil and Germany at the Estadio Mineirao in Belo Horizonte. Brazil will be without Neymar after he suffered a broken vertebra in the quarterfinal against Colombia. Captain Thiago Silva picked up his second yellow card in that match and will have to sit this one out as well. In his absence, David Luiz will wear the captain`s armband. Dante is expected to replace Silva, while Willian will have the daunting task of taking Neymar`s place.

Germany have lost Shkrodran Mustafi for the remainder of this tournament after he picked up a thigh injury against Algeria in the Round of 16. Per Mertesacker missed the last game against France due to a viral flu. He will undergo a late fitness test. Miroslav Klose who started the last match will go back to the bench. Mario Gotze is expected to take his place. The atmosphere is expected to be emotionally surcharged as the team have said they want to win the World Cup for Neymar. The partisan crowd will get behind their side more than ever and act as the 12th man. Germany have not been tested so far. This may well turn out to be their first big test. When the two teams met last time in a World Cup match, it was a final in 2002. Brazil ran out 2-0 winners. Germany have made every semifinal since 2002. This is Loew`s second semifinal as head coach. Scolari on the other hand is not new to the big occasion. This is his second semifinal with Brazil and third overall as he got Portugal to this stage in 2006.

First Published: Tuesday, July 08, 2014, 21:57 World Cup 2014: Germany hammers Brazil 7-1 in semi-final in worst-ever defeat for host nation - World Cup 2014 (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) World Cup 2014: Germany hammers Brazil 7-1 in semi-final in worst-ever defeat for host nation Updated July 09, 2014 11:55:08 Sorry, this video has expired Map: Brazil Germany scored five goals in 18 astonishing first-half minutes on its way to a 7-1 semi-final mauling of Brazil on Wednesday morning which shattered the host nation's hopes of winning its sixth World Cup. It was the most shocking result in the tournament's history, as well as a record World Cup defeat for Brazil and its first at home in 64 competitive matches since 1975. Look back at how the carnage unfolded in Grandstand's live World Cup blog . "We started really super," Klose said in a televised interview. "We had such a great harmony, you can see that in training.

We're a real unit and we showed that on the pitch today." The only consolation on a day of misery for Brazil after a match featuring truly abject defending from Luiz Felipe Scolari's men was a goal from Oscar in the dying minutes. "I just wanted to make my people happy," Brazil defender David Luiz said. "Unfortunately, we couldn't. I'm sorry, I'm sorry to all Brazilians, I just wanted to see them smile, everyone knew how important it was. Records tumble Germany's 7-1 win over Brazil saw a host of records smashed, much like Brazil's defence in Belo Horizonte.

Brazil's equal-heaviest defeat Previous record: 6-0 to Uruguay in 1920 Brazil's heaviest defeat on home soil Previous record: 5-1 to Argentina in 1939 Brazil's heaviest World Cup defeat Previous record: 3-0 to France, WC final in 1998 Most goals conceded by Brazil at a World Cup Previous record: Brazil 6-5 Poland a.e.t in 1938 Heaviest defeat for a World Cup host Previous records: Sweden 2-5 Brazil (1958) Mexico 1-4 Italy (1970) South Africa 0-3 Uruguay (2010) Most goals conceded by host nation in single game Previous record: Switzerland 5-7 Austria in 1954 Biggest World Cup semi-final win Previous records: Argentina 6-1 USA (1930) Uruguay 6-1 Yugoslavia (1930) West Germany 6-1 Austria (1954) "They were the best, they prepared better, they played better, we let in four goals in six minutes.

It is a very sad day and we'll learn from it." Thomas Mueller started the rout with an 11th-minute volley and although Germany looked to be the better team after an early period of Brazil pressure, there was little indication of the devastation about to be unleashed. Brazil was playing without injured forward Neymar and suspended captain and defensive linchpin Thiago Silva and it was the latter's absence that proved far more costly. The hosts' defence simply caved in. Brazil conceded four times between the 23rd minute when Klose made it 2-0 and the 29th when Sami Khedira put Germany 5-0 in front. Andre Schuerrle, who replaced Klose in the 58th minute added two more, the second an angled shot that flew in off the crossbar. With Germany 1-0 ahead, Klose scored from a rebound after goalkeeper Julio Cesar saved his initial shot for his 16th goal in his 23rd World Cup appearance. After Brazil's 7-1 humiliation at the hands of Germany, look back on some other seismic results in World Cup history .

But worse was to follow for Brazil a minute later when Toni Kroos, lurking with intent but unmarked at the edge of the area, smashed home with the outside of his left foot to make it 3-0. He scored again just two minutes later to make it 4-0 and Brazil's pain continued when Khedira made it 5-0 after a one-two with Mesut Ozil in the 29th minute. Any hopes Brazil had of saving the game ended there but to the hosts' credit it rallied at the start of the second and forced a series of saves from Germany keeper Manuel Neuer before Schuerrle struck in the 69th minute and again 10 minutes later. Oscar's late goal was greeted by an ironic cheer from the shocked, stunned home fans who were in tears at the end of the most incredible World Cup game ever played. 2014 FIFA World Cup semi final Brazil vs Germany 7-1 Highlights BBC - YouTube 2014 FIFA World Cup semi final Brazil vs Germany 7-1 Highlights BBC Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content.

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SargeThePlayer 84,416 views 33:55 World Cup 2014: Germany humiliate Brazil 7-1 World Cup 2014: Germany humiliate Brazil 7-1 World Cup Match Report Replay Video Icon World Cup fans stampede in Rio RAW VISION: fans watching the World Cup get caught in a stampede in Rio de Janeiro after robberies started occurring in the crowd. PT1M8S 620 349 July 9, 2014 Klose sets World Cup scoring record Belo Horizonte: This was not just a humiliation, a beating, a complete and utter demolition job. It was the ritual disembowelling of a team, the deconstruction not just of a squad of footballers, but of a nation's hopes and dreams. Teams don't win World Cup semi-finals 7-1. It simply doesn't happen.

Surely not in the modern day and age, But yes, it did, and it is Germany who will now head to Rio to try to win their fourth World Cup on Sunday (Monday AEST), and Brazil who must bear the shame and the ignominy, the dishonour, discomfiture and degradation of such a slaughter. Time Scorers Players Thomas Müller (11' mins), Miroslav Klose (23' mins), Toni Kroos (24' mins), Toni Kroos (26' mins), Sami Khedira (29' mins), André Schurrle (69' mins), André Schurrle (79' mins) And it wasn't as if Germany had to be particularly brilliant. They were good, of that make no mistake. But when a team wins this easily it's hard to know just how good. It wasn't as if they were scything Brazil apart with sumptuous flowing football of the kind that will leave the rest of the world looking on, breathless.

Advertisement But its relentlessness as it powered on and on to get to the final tally of seven had a terrible beauty about it, the total subjugation of an opponent who, before this match, seemed to think it had a divine right to be in the final. In fact the scoreline and the poverty of the Brazilian performance distorted even the fact that this was a game in which a record for the ages was set: Miroslav Klose's goal, Germany's second, was his 16th in World Cups , making the 36-year-old veteran of four tournaments the record goalscorer in the history of the competition. Early goal: Thomas Mueller put Germany in front. Photo: Reuters He and his teammates were aided and abetted by some of the worst defending ever seen in a game at this level. So simple was it for Die Nationalmannschaft that to compare it even to stealing sweets from a child's pram is understating the ease with which Brazil was ripped asunder time and again. Brazil left-back Marcelo, with his impetuous desire to get forward, continued to leave gaps on his side of the pitch which weren't covered.

David Luiz, captain on this most notorious of days, and his centre back partner Dante, drafted in to replace suspended skipper Thiago Silva, stood immobile and unaccountable, the antithesis of what is required at the highest level. Miroslav Klose became the World Cup's top scorer. Photo: Reuters The midfield lacked bite, the wingers rarely threatened, and Fred, the figure of fun up front? He simply lumbered as ever, in ever-less threatening positions. Every time Germany came forward they either scored, or looked like doing so, as the Brazilians gazed, ball-watched, made half-hearted challenges or simply gave the ball away in dangerous areas. It was like a surreal dream as Brazil first crumbled, then collapsed before finally capitulating in such a supine fashion. Destruction: Toni Kroos grabbed two goals. Photo: AP If this was any other sport, one which involved a mercy rule, the contest would have been stopped - and all of Brazil would have applauded. The players themselves looked like fighters who know that this was one bout too many, one test for which they had been overmatched.

They looked as though they would have been happy to quit on their stools and throw in the towel to save themselves further punishment and the agony of another hour of futile football. Brazil have never been convincing in this World Cup. They have had the benefit of fanatical home support, of some dubious refereeing decisions and they have ridden their luck. And they have relied on the quality of Neymar, their superstar, to create something out of nothing. Brazilian fans were left devastated by the mauling. Photo: AP They have drawn widespread criticism for the physicality of their approach, for the lumpen nature of their play and the lack of imagination in their midfield. Brazil has run on a high octane mix of emotion and energy, of hype and hysteria, fuelled by a fan base whipped into a frenzy by a media dreaming of the ultimate glory. This was the day the chickens came home to roost, the day when the world saw that the Emperor had no clothes. Andre Schurrle came off the bench to score twice. Photo: Getty Images Much was made of Neymar's absence leading into this match; fans in the stands carried cardboard cut outs of the absent striker.

Captain for the day Luiz and goalkeeper Julio Cesar carried a flag bearing his name. The team arrived for the game all wearing hats bearing the legend ''Forza Neymar''. Was too much emotional capital spent on acknowledging the team's hero? Did the players believe they could not win without him? Or is the truth more prosaic, that without the organising talents of the suspended Silva and his robust defensive qualities Brazil were a rabble at the back and paid the heaviest of penalties. Brazil's Marcelo left devastated. Photo: Reuters This wasn't the Brazil of the earlier games in other ways, either. The physicality of their approach was muted - it was as if all the criticism had got to them - and, after Germany scored, all the energy went out of their play. And Germany held the key to this game. Perhaps they were the first side - even more than the excellent Colombia and Chile - who had come up against Brazil in this tournament and had not considered themselves inferior. The first team who glanced at the Brazilian team-sheet and who saw not threats and concerns but opportunities and weak links.

View all 20 photos After taking the heat out of the Brazilian early onslaught they silenced it in the best possible fashion, with that early goal by Thomas Mueller, left completely unmarked at a corner to volley home. The second virtually put the game beyond doubt when Klose stuck his record-breaking goal, his first shot saved by Julio Cesar, the striker banging home the rebound while the defenders looked on. Therein followed, in quick succession, two goals to Toni Kroos in a three-minute burst (23rd and 26th minutes) and a fifth to Sami Khedira in the 29th. All that was left for Brazil in the second half was to save face. They tried, and it was a more even contest. But just to rub salt in the wound German substitute Andre Schurrle came off the bench to nab the sixth in the 69th minute, popping up between Luiz and Dante to sweep home. The stand in central defender must surely have felt at this stage as if he was in all nine circles of hell simultaneously: certainly Brazil were, and their pain only intensified when Schurrle got away from the lumbering Luiz to smash a seventh in off the crossbar.

By the time Oscar pulled one back it was purely academic. This was the tournament that, in popular myth, was going to be the World Cup where the Selecao erased the nightmare of 1950, when they were defeated at home in the final by Uruguay. Instead they have an even bigger nightmare to deal with now. Brazil is a nation in meltdown, on the field and in the stands. Germany march on, and in truth Joachim Loew might want to make sure he has a stiff probables v possibles match in training before Sunday (Monday AEST) - it will give his first team the sort of work out they didn't receive here. FIFA World Cup semi-final: Brazil vs Germany - Preview FIFA World Cup semi-final: Brazil vs Germany - Preview Last Updated: Tuesday, July 08, 2014, 14:19 Belo Horizonte (Brazil): As Brazil and Germany prepare to do battle in their World Cup semi-final here on Tuesday, old stereotypes of both countries` football philosophies are being rewritten. Amazingly for two World Cup powerhouses with 24 semi-final appearances, this will be just their second meeting in the competition after the 2002 final.

Back then a rugged German side that battled it`s way to the final with a series of 1-0 wins on the back of the best goalkeeper in the tournament, Oliver Kahn, faced a Brazil side containing a magical front three of Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo. ==================================================================================== Fixtures & Results» ==================================================================================== That night an uncharacteristic Kahn mistake put Luiz Felipe Scolari`s Brazil on their way to a fifth title. However, the only constants from 12 years ago may be that Scolari is back as Brazil boss and Germany still have the best `keeper in the tournament in Manuel Neuer. Even Neuer represents the German`s style shift in the past decade with his sweeper-like ability to flee from his box and become an extra outfield player in building the play from the back. Germany have played 500 more successful passes than anyone else in the competition and more than 1,000 more than Brazil, who still lag behind Chile despite having played a game more. Since committing to attack when hosting the tournament in 2006, Germany have scored 40 goals in the last three World Cups helping them a record run of four consecutive semi-finals.

Their passage to the last four in Brazil by beating Algeria and France has also seen them lay to rest some ghosts of German football`s less than glorious historical moments. West Germany`s perceived collusion with Austria to knock out the Algerians and Harald Schumacher`s assault on France`s Patrick Battiston as they reached the final 1982 was seen as the height of their win at all costs mentality. The German sides of recent years will be much more fondly remembered by the football world at large, yet that attractive football hasn`t got them over the line in the final stages. Defeat in the final of 2002 was followed by semi-final defeats in 2006 and 2010. Brazil`s approach to hosting the tournament has been rather different. Winning at their own World Cup is all that counts, no matter what reputations or opposing players take a battering in the process. Scolari`s men committed 31 fouls in their hunt of Colombia and, in particular, James Rodriguez in Friday`s quarter-final, the most of any side in a game at this World Cup.

"I am all for hard, clean challenges, but there were one or two tackles which were over the limit," said Germany`s Bastian Schweinsteiger on Sunday. "The Brazilians aren`t the magicians here of old, the team has changed and so has their playing style." "Hard challenges definitely belong to that, it`s something we have to be careful of and the referee as well." The strategy was hardly an isolated one, Brazil also committed 28 fouls against Chile in the previous round. Brazil`s poster boy Neymar insisted he had no problem winning ugly before facing the Colombians, but the ugliest sight of all for his fans, teammates and coaches was him leaving the field for the final time at this World Cup on a stretcher after suffering a broken vertebrae minutes from the end of the quarter-final. The Barcelona forward was the one residual element of the famous `Jogo Bonito` left in this side. As 1970 World Cup winning forward Tostao concluded earlier in the tournament: "Brazil have two strategies: number one, give it to Neymar; number two give it to Neymar." Without his flair there seems little other option than to fight their way to the final. AFP

Question: What country defeated Brazil 7-1 in the semi-finals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup?
Answer: Germany