Brazil 1-7 Germany

Brazil lost heir first competitive game at home since 1975 when they were hammered 7-1 by a ruthless German side in the semi final of the World Cup in Belo Horizonte tonight. Two goals from Toni Kroos and Andre Schuerrle and one each from Thomas Meuller, Miroslav Kose and Sami Khedira mean that Germany qualified for the World Cup final for the first time since 2002.

After a slow start to the game Germany soon got into their stride and nearly took the lead in the 8^th minute when Sami Khedira's goalbound shot hit his team mate Thomas Meuller. However just a couple of minutes later they did go in front.

Toni Kroos took a corner from the right hand side which picked out his Bayern Munich club mate Meuller who was unmarked and he finished cooly from the edge of the six yard box to net his 5^th goal of this tournament and his 10^th World Cup Finals goal in total. Soon after Jocheim Low's side scored 4 goals in 7 minutes to end the game as a contest.

They managed to doubled their lead in the 23^rd minute when Miroslav Klose made history. Kroos played it into the area to Mueller whose touch found Klose. His first shot was saved by Julio Cesar but when the rebound came back to the Lazio striker he finished to the empty net to score his 16^th goal in the World Cup which means that he has now scored one more goal than Ronaldo and is the leading scorer in the history of this competition.

Remarkably just two minutes later it was 3-0. After Philip Lahm crossed from the right Thomas Mueller miskicked it in the direction of Toni Kroos who finished beautifully into the corner of the net on his left foot past Julio Cesar.

Germany got a fourth just a minute later. Kroos was involved again. He dispossessed Fernandinho deep inside his own half before Khedira played him in and the German midfielder finished calmly to the net to score his second of the night.

It was all too easy for Germany and Sami Khedira, who was outstanding in the first half got in on the scoring act on the half hour mark. Mats Hummels beat David Luiz, who was caught in no mans land in a challenge. Khedira controlled the ball, played a one two with his former Real Madrid team mate Mezuit Ozeil before finishing all too easily past the helpless Brazil goalkeeper to net his first goal of the tournament.

Brazil started the better of the two teams in the 2^nd half and managed to create a chance in the 50^th minute. Fred played in substitute Ramires on the right. The Chelsea midfielder's cross looked destined to find the unmarked Oscar who would have had an open goal to aim at but Manuel Neuer managed to dive full length to cut out the cross. Then in the space of a couple of minutes Neuer saved from both Oscar and Paulinho.

However it wasn't too long before there was to be more misery for the host nation. Midway through the second half Marcelo was caught out of position and captain Philip Lahm got forward from right back to play in substitute Andre Schuerrle who took it off the toe of Thomas Meuller before side footing it into the net to make it 6-0.

Schuerrle created more history for Germany in the 79^th minute. They became the first team to score 7 goals in a World Cup semi final when the Chelsea player finished brilliantly on the half volley with his left foot from a narrow angle.

Brazil did manage to score a late goal. Marcelo's ball over the top picked out Oscar who cut inside Jerome Boateng before finally beating Manuel Neuer to give the host nation the smallest bit of consolation.

Soon after the Mexican referee blew the final whistle on a night when Germany fully exposed the weaknesses and limitations of this Brazil side, particularly in the absence of Neymar and Thiago Silva. The result means that the Germans qualified for their 8^th World Cup final. They will play either Argentina or Holland in Rio on Sunday.

Brazil; Julio Cesar; Maicon, David Luiz (c), Dante, Marcelo; Luiz Gustavo, Fernandinho (Paulinho 46); Bernard, Oscar, Hulk (Ramires 46); Fred (Willian 70).

Booked; Dante (68).

Germany; Neuer; Lahm (c), Boateng, Hummels (Mertesacker 46), Howedes; Khedira (Julian Draxler 77), Schweinsteiger; Mueller, Kroos, Ozeil; Klose (Andre Schuerrle 58).

Referee; Marco Rodriguez (Mexico).

© Seamus Egan 2014.