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WC MOTD – Brazil 1-7 Germany

By on July 8, 2014

World Cup semifinals are reliably among the hardest fought, tightest World Cup matches. To be knocked out at the semifinal stage is one of the most painful of tournament losses: you are so close, yet so far at the same time. And of course, that helps explain why in the past twenty-eight years, or five World Cup’s previous to this summer’s tournament, only one semifinal has been won by more than a single goal – Germany 0-2 Italy, when both of Italy’s goals were scored in the final minute-and-a-half of extra-time.  So, when Brazil scored the final goal of their semifinal with Germany tonight, if history is anything to go by it would either have been the winner or at least an equalizer, as the final goal in open play has been seven of the previous eight World Cup semifinals.  But nothing history can offer can rival what the goal actually was – a consolation goal to offset seven others from Germany.

World Cup 2014 is the ninth World Cup to use the group and knockout stage system, but never before has seven goals been scored in both of the semifinals combined during ninety minutes of football, much less scored by a single team in a single semifinal match.  Brazil’s appalling defending has put them on the wrong end of history tonight – their loss is the biggest ever World Cup semifinal defeat of all time.  And the most incredible part was that it was over well before the halftime whistle as Germany had attained a five goal lead just twenty-nine minutes in, the fastest a five-goal lead has ever been attained in a World Cup match.  All those came in the space of just eighteen minutes, as well, in itself a World Cup record. And none of those five goals were Brazil’s.

The host nation of the tournament might have come into the match without arguably their two best players, Neymar to due injury and Thiago Silva due to suspension, yet even the worst critics could not have foretold that Brazil relied that much on their key man at the back and key man up front, in Neymar.  And even then, not even Brazil manager Luiz Scolari came up with answers when asked what happened. Brazil embodied a complete lack of organization in the first half, could hardly get a touch on the ball after the first goal, and were all around out-classed, outperformed, and out-played by Germany.

The Selecao didn’t start poorly, though. In the opening ten minutes they controlled periods of play, and Marcelo sliced a twenty-five yard daisy-cutter not far off just three minutes in. For the most part, Brazil’s offense didn’t look horrible throughout the match, too. But when Germany got in behind Brazil, their defense completely disintegrated. Brazil found themselves caught out pushing too many men forward when Bernard found himself dispossessed near the halfway line, and Joachim Low’s side were off to the races. Brazil cleared it out for a corner, but Thomas Muller was given all the space and time needed just to peel off the back of his non-existent marker, and cool as you like, guide home a low sitter, with miles of space at the far post.

“That’s a Sunday morning goal – certainly Sunday morning defending.” – ESPN commentator Steve McManaman

Brazil simply never recovered from the goal. Twelve minutes later their defense was once again picked apart – Kroos slipped a wonderful through ball into the diagonal run across the box of Muller, who in turn laid it off to Miroslav Klose. Klose’s first low effort was parried back out by Julio Cesar, but the poacher that is Klose latched onto the rebounded and tucked it into the bottom left corner past a helpless Cesar from eight yards out. And then the walls came crashing down. Brazil seemed to lack any energy to press, mark German men right on the edge of their own box, or to even close down the spaces along the outside of and even inside their own penalty area. It was like watching men against boys. You didn’t need to check with the history books that it was undoubtedly the worst defending seen in a World Cup semifinal in a long, long time.

Not even two minutes after their second came in, Germany found a third. The ball was spread out to Philipp Lahm on the right, and in miles of space with no one closing him down, Lahm picked out a perfect low cross to Muller, and although the midfielder scuffed his effort the ball rolled onto Kroos on the edge of the box at the far post. The Bayern Munich man sliced a brilliant first time half-volley into the bottom left corner, and the match was basically done and dusted already. Just to make sure, though, Germany found a fourth just moments after the restart. Kroos took the ball off of a completely uninterested and lacking Fernandinho twenty-five yards out from the Brazil goal, before slipping Sami Khedira through down the left side of the box. Khedira attracted Cesar out off his line, but instead of shooting completely unselfishly cut the ball back to Kroos, who had the simplest of finished into the open goal from twelve yards out.

And barely three minutes later, Khedira himself was rewarded for his unselfishness with a goal of his own, and Germany’s fifth. The German center-back Matts Hummels was allowed to venture halfway through the Brazil half, before poking it through to Khedira. Brazil were completely unwilling to make a challenge, and the midfielder played it into the feet of Mesut Ozil on the left side of the box. In similar fashion to Germany’s fourth, Ozil cut it back to Khedira on the top of the box with absolutely no marking, and the Real Madrid man cooly placed the ball into the bottom left-hand corner. Five goals in twenty-nine minutes. Not even a half hour in the match was all but over – utterly done and dusted in style.

Until halftime Germany just toyed with Brazil, who were still lacking any belief, organization, or will to win.

“If this were boxing, the referee would be stopping it (the match) to save Brazil from further punishment.” – ESPN commentator Ian Darke

At least, Brazul responded well from a much needed halftime break. Manuel Neuer was forced into his biggest work of the match to deny Fred down the left side of the box with a double save – first blocking the forward’s ten yard effort and then fantastically tipping Fred’s second shot wide – after Oscar had found his outside-of-the-boot ten yard effort denied by the leg of the goalkeeper.

And yet, for all they put forward Brazil were still caught out at the back. Substitute Andre Schurrle bagged Germany’s sixth, before finding himself slipped in through a wide open Brazil defense and slamming a seemingly impossible volley from a right angle to the left of goal in off the crossbar. Ozil then found himself one-on-one with Cesar, only to waste the chance with a low effort straight at the goalkeeper.

But right at the death Brazil did get one back. Oscar found himself in on goal with only Neuer and Jerome Boateng to beat, and after cutting inside and losing the latter, slammed home Brazil’s sole goal of the match. It is hard to say it was deserved.
Man of The Match: Toni Kroos

Main Thought: Brazil are not looking forward to their third place match against either the Netherlands or Argentina, even though it could mean slight redemption for them with a win.

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.