Germany smash Brazil and advance to World Cup final

ANKARA 

Germany hammered Brazil with a sensational 7-1 victory in the semi-final at Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte, on Tuesday, sending the European side to the tournament final.

Germany made a flying start to the game. Thomas Muller scored from a corner taken by Bayern Munich teammate Toni Kroos in 11th minute, 1-0. It was Muller's fifth goal in the competition.

Nicknamed Die Mannschaft (The Team), Germany doubled the score against Brazil through Miroslav Klose in 23rd minute. Veteran striker Klose’s first shot was denied by Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar but Klose followed the loose ball and put it in the back of the net, 2-0. Klose became the all-time greatest World Cup goalscorer with his 16th goal.

A minute later German midfielder Toni Kroos increased the gap to three after receiving captain Philipp Lahm's pass. Kroos smashed the ball with his left foot, 3-0. This goal surely sealed the victory. Brazil were torn apart.

In the 26th minute Germany made the score 4-0 through Kroos' simple tap-in. Germany's Sami Khedira led the counter-attack and passed to Kroos for his second goal of the match.

On 29 minutes, midfielder Khedira followed a one-two pass with Mesut Ozil with a simple finish in the bottom corner, 5-0. By this stage Germany were looking rampant and Brazil despondent.

In the opening minutes of the second half Brazil tried to score a consolation goal but goalkeeper Manuel Neuer deflected four shots.

In the 61st minute Germany were close to scoring their sixth when Muller fired the ball into the top corner but was denied by Cesar as the Brazilian goalkeeper tipped the ball away.

Eight minutes later Germany made it 6-0 when Chelsea forward Andre Schurrle found the net from inside the six-yard area after receiving a decisive pass from Mesut Ozil.

During the final ten minutes of the play Germany made it 7-0 after Schurrle scored his second goal. The German forward shot from a tight angle and beat Cesar again. Germany were trouncing Brazil.

In the 90th minute Brazil finally found the net. Chelsea midfielder Oscar calmly finished to get a consolation goal, 7-1.

After this brilliant victory, Germany advanced to the final while Brazil, who suffered the heaviest loss in their footballing history, go on to compete for third place.

The winners of the Netherlands vs Argentina match will meet Germany in the final on Sunday. The third place game will see the loser of that match take on Brazil on Saturday.

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