FIFA World Cup 2014 Semi-Final Results: Brazil Slaughtered By Germany 7-1

The 2014 FIFA World Cup dream is over for host nation Brazil and they went out in the most difficult way possible after being slaughtered by Germany 7-1 in the semi-finals. The chance at vindication at the Maracana on Sunday has been cut short after a promising run that ended so tragically just when they got so close to the final. Everything unraveled for the Seleçao in Belo Horizonte in the hands of Joachim Loew's German side.

Germany 7-1 Brazil

(Muller 11', Klose 23', Khedira 29', Kroos 24', 26', Schurrle 69', 79')

(Oscar 90')

While the opening rounds of the 2014 FIFA World Cup have been generous with goals, the knockout stages have been more conservative. Everything changed again in the first semi-final between Germany and Brazil when the German side chalked up 5 in the first half alone.

Brazilian Handicap

The Germans showed brilliance but the lack of defensive coordination by the hosts was a big factor that contributed to their downfall.

Coming out of a very physical quarterfinal game against Colombia, Brazil arrived at the Estadio Mineirao with a major handicap. Two of their key starters were missing from the line up and while everyone was focused on the injured striker Neymar Jr., team captain Thiago Silva was also going to miss the game due to a double yellow card suspension. The breakdown of Brazil's defence showed that Silva's absence might have been the bigger loss for the hosts.

The Germans knew that the hosts were inspired to win the cup for their fallen striker who suffered a broken vertebra after being kneed in the back and they prepared accordingly. The handicaps in the Brazilian team were seen as a threat and not as a weakness.

German Goal Fest

The Germans capitalised from the lack of defensive coordination and Thomas Muller and Miroslav Klose both scored virtually unmarked in the German penalty box all within the opening 23 minutes. Plenty of time was still left for Brazil to fight back but the complete opposite happened.

Once first blood was drawn, it was a complete rainfall of German goals with four balls finding the net in the span of only 6 minutes. Toni Kroos fired a rocket into the net in the 24th minute just one minute after Klose scored the team's second goal in the 23rd to bring the Germans up 3-0. Kroos wasn't finished however, and the Brazilians were never able to compose themselves and regroup as he was back on the attack a few minutes later. He and Sami Khedira took the Brazilians to school when they powered down to a stranded Julio Cesar who could do nothing against the onslaught. By the 26^th minute, it was 4-0 and the nightmare unfortunately for Brazil, has just begun.

Khedira and Kroos seem to have found their groove on the pitch and the pair went on to make a tandem attack which this time saw Khedira take the shot instead of Kroos. It was 5-0 after 29 minutes and the Brazilian crowd was left stunned just like their players on the pitch.

Second Half Overkill

The Brazilians tried to redeem themselves in the second half and they were finally able to threaten Manuel Neuer on the goal but the German keeper was ready for them. Neuer was able to save shots from Oscar and Paulinho before the Germans went on the offensive again.

Just when the Brazilians were starting to open up opportunities for themselves, the Germans scored the death blows by setting loose Andre Schurrle from the bench. He found the net two more times both with relative ease and found little resistance from the Brazilian back line.

In the closing moments of the game, Brazil did manage to score a goal when Oscar put a shot over Manuel Neuer but the slaughter was complete.

No Vindication for Brazil

The home dream is over and vanquishing the ghost of the Maracana from the defeat against Uruguay in 1950 will have to be put away for another time. This World Cup it seems has even created yet another ghost to haunt Brazilians for generations to come.

The Germans, meanwhile, are now one step closer to another World Cup title as they await the winners of the Argentina clash against 2010 runners-up Netherlands for a showdown at the Maracana on July 13.