A stunning performance from Germany and a disgracefully amateur turn from Brazil led to a historic result in the first World Cup semifinal Tuesday afternoon from Belo Horizonte.
The hard-to-believe scoreline: 7-1, the greatest loss in Brazilian history. World Cup records are tumbling. Germany's Miroslav Klose just became the top scorer in the tournament's history with his 16th goal. To add insult to injury, Germany has overtaken Brazil in total World Cup goals scored. Here's how the game went down, in reverse order.
One goal for dignity
Finally, Brazil have a pulse. Oscar, one of the team's few playmakers at the moment, dirties Neuer's clean sheet at the end of the game -- and the German keeper is frustrated.
Total collapse
Brazil is still playing, technically, but it seems like few of the players are able to make any kind of impact on the game. Certainly the back four barely seem to exist. Schürrle sliced through the defense with breathtaking ease, and blasted a rocket in off the crossbar for his second goal -- and Germany's seventh.
End to end action
Germany may have slowed somewhat, but a sudden charge forward by Bastian Schweinsteiger forced Brazil's Julio Cesar right off his line. Minutes later, the Brazilian defense falls apart again -- and it's an easy goal for André Schürrle. 6-0.
Brazil battling harder
The home team seems to have recovered somewhat at half time, seeing several chances in the first 10 minutes of the second half and one well-placed corner. But there's still no way past German keeper Manuel Neuer.
This crying kid is our spirit animal
With two minutes until halftime and the proud host nation down by five, this sobbing kid speaks for many of us -- but most of all for Brazil's fans and players. What a brutal way to go out. Unfathomable.
It's all too much ...
... for some to take, according to Sam Borden of The New York Times in Belo Horizonte.
I never thought I'd say this: Brazilian fans are leaving, before halftime, of a World Cup semifinal in their home country. It's stunning.— Sam Borden (@SamBorden) July 8, 2014
5-0, Germany
And another goal puts Germany up by five goals with a Sami Khedira score in the 29th minute. Ugly, ugly, ugly.
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Aaaand it's a bloodbath.
Miroslav Klose scores to put Germany up 2-0, and Tony Kroos follows minutes later to put Germany up 3-0. Then Thomas Muller scores a minute later to make it 4-0 in the 26th minute. Brutal for the nation of Brazil, as fans are already sobbing in the stands. Here's Kroos' score. These things are coming too fast for GIFs. Nuts.
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German ballers
That Muller goal also came with a bit of history -- joining his own teammate Miroslav Klose.
Thomas Müller is the second player to score five goals at consecutive World Cups (Klose in 2002 & 2006). #GER— Paul Carr (@PCarrESPN) July 8, 2014
Goooooooal, Germany!
Thomas Muller puts it in in the 12th minute to put Brazil in a 1-0 hole.
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Here's another look.
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Miss you, Thiago Silva.
Fast start from both sides
Both sides got off to a fast start, playing aggressively and attacking. Looks like we're in fun a fun one, folks. Also, according to the Toronto Sun's Kurtis Larson, the atmosphere in Belo Horizonte is just as incredible as it looks on TV.
The volume is so loud here I'm seriously considering whether plugs would have been a good idea.— Kurtis Larson (@KurtLarSUN) July 8, 2014
Exit Neymar, enter Bernard
Bernard, a 21-year-old waterbug originally from Belo Horizonte, is the much-anticipated replacement for Neymar in Brazil's staring lineup. Miroslav Klose, one goal away from breaking Brazilian legend Ronaldo's career World Cup goals record, is starting for Brazil.
BONUS: World Cup 2014 Highlights (Ultimate Cat Edition)