Why was Brazil humiliated in the semifinals against Germany?

Annihilation, Carnage, Demolition, Destruction, Humiliation, Massacre.You can add as many as nouns sounds similar as it’s entirely befitting last night Fifa World Cup 2014 semifinal between Brazil and Germany.“The disgrace of all disgraces”, “The biggest shame in history”, “The biggest shame in history” – pick of the headlines of Brazil’s newspapers as Germany won the match 7-1, first team to score seven goals in a World Cup semi-final. Let’s look at the 5 talking points of the most talked sports in twitter history.

1) Absence of Local Heroes for Brazil

Even before the start of the semi-final, Brazil received a huge blow to their World Cup chances, when Colombia’s Camilo Zuniga kneed in the back of local hero Neymar which ended Neymar’s world cup with a broken vertebra. The entire nation is shell shocked when their top scorer of the tournament, taken in strecther to the hospital and its huge loss for Scholari to replace a player of Neymar’s calibre in the lineup. Like adding more insult to the injury, Brazil Captain Thiago Silva received his second yellow card of the tournament against Colombia, ruled him out of the quintessential semi-final clash against Germany. Thiago Silva’s absence not only left a void in the defense and also cost an inspirational captain out of the semis.

Brazil’s Superhero Neymar was injured in the Quarterfinals match.
Photo by: Dipanjan Biswas

2) Germany’s Fearsome Attack

Germany started the world cup on a high note, when they routed Portugal 4-0 in their opening match. But they performed below par against Ghana (2-2), USA(1-0) in the group stage.  In the round of 16 against Algeria, they failed to break the deadlock in 90 minutes, sailed to quarter finals with 2 goals in extra time and courtesy to Matt Hummels header they defeated France in Quarters. But they struck the world speechless in the first 30 mins of last night.  Miroslav Klose, Toni Kroos, Thomas Mueller and Sami Khedira have had an unforgettable night of their life. It all started with unmarked Mueller’s volley in 11th minute, his 5th goal of the tournament, followed by a spree of 4 goals in 6 minutes. Klose, the 36 year old veteran, scored a record breaking goal in a second attempt shot at 23rd min, rewrote the pages of the history as he overtook Ronaldo as the highest ever World Cup goal-scorer. Before the celebrations settle down, Germany invaded the Brazil defense again, this time Real Madrid target Toni Kroos scored with a swing of his left boot from Philip Lahm’s cross. He doubled his tally in next very minute, when Khedira caught Fernandinho in possession and teed up to Kroos for a cheeky tap in. Khedira, who used to sit back and dominate the midfield, enjoyed the game of his life, scored the fifth goal of the match in 29^th minute, after a return from former Real Madrid team mate Mesut Ozil. Brazil fans in the stadium were couldn’t believe what has happened in front of their eyes and the game has been pretty much decided in the span of 6 minutes.

3) Brazil’s toothless defense

Much been expected from the Brazil’s stand-in Captain David Luiz, in the absence of Silva, but he’s turned as the one of the culprits of Brazil disastrous performance. Luiz, who enjoyed a superb run in the tournament, especially sensational free kick against Colombia, ended up having a worst nightmare of his life. Luiz stayed up high on the pitch, left a hole in their defense, and Boateng struggled to cover up the back without his centre back partner. Luiz and Marcelo tried hard to overcame the goal deficit by surging ahead gave their opposition little work to explore those holes with creative passes from Kroos and Khedira, ran goal riot in the middle. You couldn’t complain Brazil Goal Keeper Julio Cesar, when the defenders gave space that much space to the opponents. No wonder that Brazil’s lack of discipline in the defense left them in shatters.

4) Super Subs

After a bizarre first half, Scolari replaced woeful Fernandinho, Hulk with Paulinho and Ramires respectively. The change of players brought co-ordination and made a sudden impact, as Brazil forwards started knocking the door of Neuer. Neuer, who was enjoying like a man enjoyed vacation in Caribbean islands, made fine saves to stop Brazil efforts. As Brazil started playing confidently and looking for their first goal, Loew introduced Andre Schurrle(57’) for World Record holder Klose, which turned out to be super sub. Schurrle got his name in the score sheet in 69^th min and doubled his tally in 79^th min, with a stunning goal into the roof of the net from left side of the box, best goal of the match. The scoreboard looked unreal, read 0-7 and thousands of Brazilians wiping their tears in the stands.

5) Tale of two managers

Before the start of the match, Joachim Loew was under media scrutiny for Germany’s average performance against Ghana, Algeria, France and his persistence with the same tactics and line up. Everyone voiced for Schrulle inclusion and Ozil’s exclusion in the line up but he stick to the lineup played against France in the quarter finals. Within a first half, he answered all critics in style and his players justified the faith Loew put on them. Loew’s men dismantled Brazil in a lethal way, took revenge for their 2002 world cup finals loss. Brazil suffered the worst defeat in its 100-year footballing history and their first defeat in home since 1975. Loew didn’t take the greatest world cup semifinal win in history to his head and remain grounded in his post match interview.

“After we went 2-0 up, they were disorganized and we took advantage. There’s no euphoria in the dressing room, we are very happy, but we are not getting carried away. Nobody should feel invincible”.

Felipe Scolari, on the other hand, facing the wrath of millions of Brazilians for their catastrophic performance in own soil. He has picked up an inexperienced side and relied on his players performance in Confederations cup triumph. Scholari left out experienced trio Kaka, Ronaldinho, Robinho and proven youngsters Miranda, Felipe Luis, and he rightly accepted blame for the defeat.

“I am responsible result ,I made the choices. I was responsible. We ask for forgiveness for the result. Germany played their best game of the World Cup, and we played our worst. This is probably the worst day of my life.”

As far as this world cup concerned, it’s quite obvious that Brazil played thuggish, ugly football. They kept on elbowing opponents, foul acting for penalties, committed a total of 31 fouls against Colombia without a single red card and largely benefitted of local referees. Germany are clinical and professional in their approach, and this massive victory gave the land of football an unforgettable trauma which will take decades to overcome.