A goal by Thomas Mueller was bad, but Brazil could have come back from that. The one by Miroslav Klose was crushing. When Toni Kroos knocked in Nos. 3 and 4, some fans began leaving the stands.
And when Sami Khedira made it 5-0, all of Brazil was stunned into silence. Never had it trailed a World Cup game by four goals, let alone five. Its 39-year unbeaten streak on home soil is now in jeopardy, too.
Worst of all, its hopes for winning a World Cup in the country where soccer is as sacred as any religion, are all but gone.
And then came the onslaught. The players were so shocked that, after Kroos’ second goal, Julio Cesar could be seen begging his teammates to play defense.
Germany is a great team. There’s a reason it’s made it to the semifinals – or better – at every World Cup since 2002. But this is Brazil. Playing in Brazil. This kind of collapse just doesn’t happen.
But it did, and Brazil will be reliving the nightmare for years.
Halftime — Germany 5-0 Brazil
The Brazilians lined up in a 4-2-3-1 at kick-off, but it’s been utter chaos ever since. Maicon is just freely roaming around, leaving space in behind for German midfielders bombing forward. Brazil’s centerbacks look as if they are allergic to each other. And its wingers have no interest in defending.
When Germany attacks, they are playing nine-on-two at times.
Big Phil Scolari has pulled all the right strings in his second stint as Brazil’s skipper, but he’s gotten his lineup and tactics horribly wrong in this one. He may be the scapegoat in Brazil for this embarrassment.
Jogi Low, on the other hand, can finally start to silence his critics back home. His decision to move Lahm to right back has energized this German squad.
