FOR a few weeks, it was one hell of a knees-up. Then it ended in the space of
179 seconds.
A bit like the moment the music stops at a house party, the lights are flicked
on and the police pile through the front door.
On any other occasion, we would have been talking about Miroslav Klose
becoming the World Cup’s all-time top scorer. But this has not been any
other World Cup.
Instead, for years to come, we will remember the most incredible football
capitulation in this tournament’s history and one which left the host
country embarrassed, choked and numb with pain.
Particularly how Brazil conceded their second, third and fourth goals in less
than three minutes.
Maybe, though, we should not have been surprised that what will now surely be
remembered as the greatest-ever finals had a trick or two up its sleeve.
We can only wonder what on earth Holland versus Argentina will bring us
tonight along with Sunday’s final, which will involve the Germans.
Everyone in the football world — even inside this stadium — would admit
Germany were absolutely brilliant.
Boss Joachim Low had accused Brazil of being brutal in their win against
Colombia, the irony was his team were just that, here.
Only there were no foul or dirty tricks, just a clinical display of finishing
against a defence which was absolutely hopeless — to the point the TV
cameramen had little difficulty in picking out shots of fans bursting into
tears.
The players had been doing the blubbing for a few games and now it was the
turn of these wonderful fans who have brought such joy and vibrancy to these
finals.
Now, though, they are off to Brasilia for the third-place play-off and it will
not be quite the same.
The police and military will have been on red alert last night fearing massive
demonstrations, which threatened to ruin this country, would now begin.
Luiz Felipe Scolari, along with all his team, arrived at Belo Horizonte’s
Estadio Mineirao wearing white caps with the slogan ‘Forza Neymar’ on the
front.
And while you could argue this was all a bit over the top, Julio Cesar and
David Luiz both clutched his No 10 shirt during the national anthems.
But last night, had Neymar been fit, you could have stuck him in defence and
they could not have been any worse. You have to praise Germany.
They took their chance but at no stage would you expect a team to abandon ship
quite so spectacularly as Brazil. Luiz, the stand-in skipper, did a runner.
Germany’s first shot from Sami Khedira was blocked by the backside of Toni
Kroos but after that, in this mind-boggling opening spell, everything else
went in.
Brazil were frail throughout and the first goal after 11 minutes was the sign
of things to come.
Kroos’ right-footed, outswinging corner was decent enough but there was enough
time for the defence to attack the ball.
But Luiz got caught up in a tangle then completely lost concentration,
allowing Thomas Muller to find himself unmarked before sidefooting the ball
in from six yards.
Goals in international football do not come much easier than this.
Mexican ref Marco Rodriguez, who missed Luis Suarez’s bite, was always going
to have his hands full. But he got a big call right when Marcelo turned on
the theatrics in an attempt to win a penalty.
It was, in fact, a stunning tackle by Philipp Lahm. Angry Jerome Boateng
shoved Marcelo and a melee followed.
At that point, Brazil still had some hope. After 23 minutes, it was all over.
Mesut Ozil and Muller were involved in the build-up, Kroos laid the ball off
to Klose — but while his shot was saved by Cesar, the ball fell perfectly
for the Lazio star who overtook Ronaldo with his record-breaking 16th World
Cup finals goal.
More followed in quick succession. Muller only made vague contact on a cross
from Lahm and the ball fell to Kroos, who hammered it in from 16 yards.
Immediately from the restart Fernandinho sloppily lost the ball and it was in
the net again seconds later.
Kroos played the ball to Khedira who unselfishly played it back to his
team-mate and the Bayern star coolly finished.
We were not even at the half-hour mark and it was 5-0. Khedira found Ozil and
the ball was returned for him to sweep it in from 12 yards.
The boos finally kicked in, but it was hardly any surprise.
Brazil had a few chances after the break yet it was always Germany who looked
more likely to score.
And in the 69th minute sub Andre Schurrle delivered a clever finish from
Lahm’s cross eight yards out.
Brazil had lost 6-0 once before — against Uruguay in the 1920 Copa America —
but that was topped when Chelsea’s Schurrle lifted in his second 10 minutes
later.
Oscar gained scant consolation in the dying seconds.
But you wonder how long it will take Brazil to get over this. If, indeed, ever.
DREAM TEAM RATINGS
STAR MAN: TONI KROOS (Germany)
BRAZIL: Cesar 3, Luiz 3, Fernandinho 3 (Paulinho 46, 4), Marcelo 3,
Hulk 4 (Ramires 46, 4), Fred 4 (Willian 71, 4), Oscar 4, Dante 3, Gustavo 4,
Bernard 4, Maicon 3. Booked: Dante.
GERMANY: Neuer 7, Hoewedes 7, Hummels 7 (Mertesacker 46, 6), Khedira 8
(Draxler 76, 6), Schweinsteiger 8, Ozil 8, Klose 7 (Schurrle 59, 8), Muller
8, Lahm 8, Kroos 9, Boateng 7.