87′ - Neuer is nowhere near troubled by a tame shot from Ramires. The Bayern Munich stopper has been absolutely marvelous all tournament. Robben, Van Persie, Messi - whoever faces him next will have a hell of a task on their hands. 85′ - Nothing at all happening on the pitch. Brazil did make a big deal about banishing the memory of the Maracanazo before the start of this tournament. Well, they did. In the most soul-crushing way possible. That match in 1950 no longer stands as the blackest day in Brazilian football. 83′ - This is merciless. The Oles ring around from the German supporters with a touch of irony as their side maintain possession with impunity. The Brazilian supporters are mostly still too shell- shocked to muster a response, but a few have sarcastically taken up the cheer. Can you blame them? Their team has embarrassed the nation. 81′ - Its official. Brazils worst ever defeat. It has never got as bad for them as here tonight in Belo Horizonte. The funny thing is that the Selecao could have had a few goals on the board themselves after a scintillating start to the half. But like so many dreams for Brazil tonight, it faded and died before it even began. 79′ - Assist - Thomas Müller (Germany) 79′ - Goal - Andre Schürrle (Germany) Quite possibly the goal of the bunch. Schurrle accepts a pass on the left side of the box and strides towards the byeline. With the angle decreasing by the millisecond, he slams a splendid finish into the roof of the net. What a way to make history! 79′ - ITS SEVEN FOR DIE MANNSCHAFT! 77′ - Khediras race is run for the night after a magnificent game in the centre of the park. Germany look so much better with him in midfield and Lahm at fullback. On comes Julian Draxler for his first action of the finals. He had a disappointing season with Schalke, mostly due to injuries. Lets see if he can make a late impact here. 76′ - Substitution Sami Khedira Julian Draxler (Germany) 75′ - Brazil lost 6-0 to Uruguay in the 1920 Copa America. That stood for almost a century as their biggest ever defeat. But like Klose on Ronaldo, the landmark has been equaled in 2014 and it may well be surpassed with a quarter of an hour still to play. 73′ - Neuer is more than equal to a desperate shot from Paulinho. It was never a favourable position as a cross looked to be the only sensible option for the Tottenham man. Moments before that, Willian, who came on for Fred, curled a shot high and wide. 71′ - Lost in all of that was a yellow card for Dante for a tackle on Muller and the departure of Fred from the field. Hes been the sorest sight for many Brazilians in their sides XI and he departs to a chorus of boos. Ill be surprised to see him start under Scolari again. Having said that, Id also be surprised to see Scolari at the helm of his nation after this. 70′ - Substitution Fred Willian (Brazil) 69′ - Assist - Philipp Lahm (Germany) 69′ - Goal - Andre Schürrle (Germany) Well that just piles on the agony. Lahm is afforded the freedom of the Mineirao on the right hand side to pick out a low pass to the top of the six yard box. Theyre lining up for the finish, and Schurrle is the man who gets there just ahead of Muller to slot home! 69′ - GERMANY DONT HAVE TO WAIT LONG! ITS SIX! 68′ - Yellow Card - Dante (Brazil) 67′ - JULIO CESAR HAS TO BE ALERT! The Toronto FC keeper takes a leaf out of his opposite numbers book. Just like Neuer did countless times against Algeria, Cesar strides to the very edge of his box to slide the ball off the toes of Muller, who is on the prowl for a sixth! 65′ - One side thats still watching this game with bated breath is Saudi Arabia. The Arab side hold the record for the heaviest World Cup defeat, losing 8-0 in the 2002 edition - to Germany no less. Theyre perhaps feeling a little short changed that their tormenters-in-chief have decided to take their foot off the gas pedal, which will keep them in the history books. 63′ - How can this get any better for Germany? A Neuer penalty save? A Mertesacker rabona? Its almost like theyve decided not to inflict further cruel and unusual punishment on the absolutely decimated Brazilian ranks. Make no mistake, theres more goals in this if Germany want. Im not sure I can say the same for Brazil. 61′ - MULLER NEARLY TASTES A SIXTH! Not to be outdone by the recently departed Klose, the Bayern man nearly makes further inroads on his countrymans World Cup scoring record. He just fails to dribble the ball around Cesar on one quick break before the Toronto FC keeper blocks him from a snap shot on the very next play. 59′ - Klose is celebrated by the German contingent as he makes way for Schurrle. A record breaking night and indeed tournament for the veteran striker. It could only get better for him if he manages to get his name on the scoresheet in the final. Oh yeah, were working under the assumption that Germany are getting there. 58′ - Substitution Miroslav Klose Andre Schürrle (Germany) 57′ - Well this has been an amazing start to the second half for Brazil! Id be singing their praises more if they werent 5-0 down and if Germany didnt plunder four goals with a similarly dominant spell. Theyve come up against a goalkeeper in Neuer who is once again in inspired form. 55′ - SUPER NEUER! Some quite stupendous goalkeeping! Paulinho makes an ONSIDE run down the left and stings the palm of the German keeper with a powerful shot. That first save wasnt that remarkable, but what caught the eye was his quick rise to stick up an arm and block Paulinhos rebound! Thats what you call reflexes! 53′ - NEUER DOES WELL! Ramires has certainly made an impact off the bench as he links with Oscar quite tantalizingly. The playmaker has time and space to line up a shot in the box, but he cant beat Neuer with the outside of his boot! Great save! 51′ - BRAZIL FOILED! Finally we see a coordinated attacking sequence from the Selecao as Ramires tosses the ball to Fred at the top of the box, who does well to find the midfielders run with his return pass. However, Neuer covers his near post and denies the Chelsea man anything! 49′ - Mertesackers first action is to narrowly avoid conceding a penalty kick. Fred looked a little too desperate throwing himself to the turf to try to win a spot kick. His case was not helped by Oscar also going down easily. The referee waves both claims away. 47′ - Lets round up the subs from half time. Fernandinho, who was woeful during the buildup to at least two of Germanys goals, has been replaced by Paulinho. Hulk, probably the best of a putrid Selecao attacking bunch, goes off for Ramires. Germany take no risks with Hummels fitness and swap him out for Mertesacker. 46′ - Substitution Mats Hummels Per Mertesacker (Germany) 46′ - Substitution Hulk Ramires (Brazil) 46′ - Substitution Fernandinho Paulinho (Brazil) 46′ - Here we go again. … - Lost in all of this is the injured Neymar. But how could the Barca man even begin to factor into this game? Perhaps more important is the absence of Thiago Silva. David Luiz has had one of the worst games Ive seen from any player ever - closely followed by Dante. … - Youd have to go back to the 1950s to even get close to this big of a World Cup semi final defeat. Germany took only 29 minutes to race into that 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 has now overtaken Selecao legend Ronaldo to stand as the World Cups all time top scorer with 16 goals. … - Two goals from Kroos and further strikes from Klose and Khedira rammed the knife down Brazils back. Ive never seen a top side disintegrate into nothing like that, out of absolutely nowhere. … - Muller opened the scoring after 11 minutes and that perhaps sparked Brazil into a bit of a frenzy to get back on level terms. Then, in a devastating six minute spell, Germany laid the smack down. … - Drink this in: Brazil 0-5 Germany. This match will live on for all of eternity. It will become an ubiquitous anecdote in casual football conversation. The only certainty from this extra-terrestrial event is that Germany are heading to the World Cup finals. I will light myself on fire if thats not proven true at the end of the day. 45′ + 1 - Boos rain down from the stands without mercy as a pitiful Brazil side trudge off to the tunnel. Germany stride into the break with their pride visible on every face. Weve reached the half-time interval. 45′ - The loneliest minute of added time to endure for the Selecao as the boos ring out in full force for the first time tonight inside the Mineirao. Hulk makes a spirited run down the flanks but hes swiftly cut out by Lahm. Brazil badly need a reset. 43′ - One German football stereotype that Die Mannschaft have fully embraced tonight is ruthlessness. They were merciless punishing Portugal in their opening World Cup game but at least Paulo Bentos men could point to Pepes sending off. We would need Rust Cohle and Lester Freamon to get to the bottom of this catastrophe. 41′ - Oscar advance but sees a shot blocked. That got the Brazil fans out of their seats for one glorious second. It was the first remotely positive contribution from the men in yellow for almost half an hour. The miniscule sanctuary of the dressing rooms at half time is minutes away. 39′ - Its like Brazil have forgotten how to play. Theres more than a few disconsolate faces in the stands and on the touchline. Brazils heaviest ever loss was to 6-0 to Uruguay in the 1920s. Id be surprised if theres still a bookie accepting bets on that scoreline repeating itself. This could get historically farcical by the end. 37′ - Manual Neuer played a lot of the Algeria match well outside his own area and he may well fancy a run up front here in Belo Horizonte before all is said and done. And why not? Hes had nothing to do for a very long while and its all coming up aces for his side! 35′ - JUST WIDE! This is staggering! Its all I can do to keep my cool here as we witness history. Germany narrowly see a chance at a sixth go begging. Kroos nearly wraps up a first half hat trick from his zone at the top of the box, but it takes a nick off Luiz and bobbles agonizingly wide! 33′ - This match is playing out like a training exercise here. Which is never what you expect from a World Cup semi-final. Its been a bloodbath on the field. Absolute carnage. The fear of God is palpable in the Brazil ranks now on every German advance. Its almost not fair. 31′ - Can Germany let us breathe now? My fingers are worn down to the bone here! Quite possible the most devastating six minute spell weve ever seen at the top level in football. FOUR Germany goals in that period, a 5-0 lead, a place in the final all but sealed and a nation brought to their knees. 29′ - Assist - Mesut Özil (Germany) 29′ - Goal - Sami Khedira (Germany) No hiding place for Brazil here as the Germans swarm all over them! Khedira pings the ball sideways to Ozil, who deftly returns the favour to his former Real Madrid teammate. Hes left with all the time in the world to slot home simply! This is unbelievable! 28′ - ITS FIVE! MIND BLOWING! 26′ - Assist - Sami Khedira (Germany) 26′ - Goal - Toni Kroos (Germany) Its amateur hour at the back for Brazil! All too simple for Germany as Khedira is threaded through on the left side of the box, squaring simply for Kroos to tap in his second in two minutes! 26′ - ITS FOUR! INCREDIBLE! INSANE! IS IT ALL OVER? 24′ - Assist - Philipp Lahm (Germany) 24′ - Goal - Toni Kroos (Germany) Brazil are falling apart defensively here as they concede yet another cheap goal! A German cross drops kindly to Kroos on the top of the box and with a swing of his boot, he plants it into the bottom corner! 24′ - ITS THREE NIL! 23′ - Goal - Miroslav Klose (Germany) Thats 16 and counting for Klose - overtaking Ronaldo as the highest ever World Cup goalscorer! Once again, Germany were quickest to react inside the area. Klose sees a snap shot saved but hes onto the rebound in a flash, prodding it into the back of the net! 23′ - WORLD CUP HISTORY FOR KLOSE! 21′ - Klose at the moment looks very isolated inside the area, with Brazil at last getting men back to defend whenever they lose the ball. Muller hasnt gotten involved much since his goal. 19′ - There are quite a few gaps at the back should Germany care to counter. At the moment its all Brazil but with the likes of Luiz, Marcelo and Maicon heavily involved in the final third, the Selecao are leaving themselves ripe for the picking. Something to watch if Germany continue to hold the advantage. 17′ - To Brazils credit, they are dashing forward at every opportunity. - not that the fans inside the Mineirao would accept any less, mind. Lahm needs to make a superb challenge on Marcelo inside the area to prevent a clear shot or cross. Appeals for a penalty quite rightfully go unanswered. 15′ - All the onus is on Brazil to get their way back into this game. Germany have lived up to a lot of their old stereotypes in this tournament, winning against Portugal, USA and France without conceding a goal - and coming within seconds of holding a clean sheet against Algeria as well. 13′ - David Luiz attempts to get his side back on track right away with a towering stride through the middle. The ball gets worked out quickly to Hulk on the left and suddenly, his options in the box look plentiful! However, Germany escape thanks to a poor delivery from the Zenit man into the first defender. Should have been a lot more than it was. 11′ - Assist - Toni Kroos (Germany) 11′ - Goal - Thomas Müller (Germany) It had to be Muller, didnt it! Brazil are shambolic defensively from a corner and Germanys top scorer easily pulls away from his man towards the far post. Somehow, he has the space to sidefoot the ball home. Clinical finish as ever, but he should not have had it that easy! 11′ - GERMANY SCORE! BRAZIL STUNNED! 9′ - A real back and forth rapport developing between these two teams. Brazil, as ever, are looking to move the ball quickly from the flanks to the centre amongst their front four, but Germany are looking increasingly poised at the back and on the break. 7′ - Both these sides scored early goals in their quarter final matchups and they both look hungry for something quick here as well. Khedira adopts a good shooting position at the top of the box but sees his attempt blocked by one of his own men, Kroos. Better from Lows team. 5′ - Neuer has to be alert to intercept ahead of Bernard and Germany then manage to manufacture their first sustained spell of possession, following an eager start from the Selecao. It doesnt last long though, as sloppy play from Kroos allows the opposition a brief foray forward. 3′ - A sneaky shoulder barge from Schweinsteiger into Gustavo goes unpunished by the referee despite the howls from the Brazil fans. Their side go on the offensive soon after and see the first shot of the game, when Marcelo pulls one off target with a bouncing attempt! 2′ - It was exactly this day 24 years ago that Germany last won the World Cup. Back then they played as West Germany, and thanks to Andreas Brehmes late penalty, they defeated Argentina 1-0 in the 1990 final at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Does history beckon again? 1′ - And here we go!
Posted on: Tue, 08 Jul 2014 21:53:56 +0000
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