Brazil Suffered Greatest Home Defeat in World Cup History, Lost 7-1 to German Machines(Video)

• Germany 5-0 up in 29 mins
• Klose record World Cup scorer
• Brazil's biggest World Cup defeat
• First competitive home defeat in 39 years

Brazil's World Cup dreams ended in humiliating and brutal fashion as Germany inflicted their heaviest defeat in the first semi-final in Belo Horizonte.

A thunderous occasion that began with Brazil riding a tidal wave of emotion was reduced to a nightmare as Germany were 5-0 up inside 29 remarkable minutes in front of a disbelieving Estadio Mineirao crowd.

Brazil's players mourned the absence of the injured Neymar before kick-off, butcaptain Thiago Silva was an even bigger loss. The result was their first competitive home defeat in 39 years, and the end of their hopes of making it to the World Cup final at the iconic Maracana on Sunday.

Instead, Germany will meet either Argentina or the Netherlands, who play on Wednesday in Sao Paulo.

Thomas Muller gave the three-time winners an early lead before a period of utter chaos saw Miroslav Klose break the World Cup scoring record, Toni Kroos add two more in the space of 179 seconds and Sami Khedira net a fifth.

Chelsea striker Andre Schurrle, on as a substitute, added two more after the break before Brazil's followers delivered what must be regarded as the defining insult to their national team - cheering every German pass and applauding their goals.

Many Brazil supporters, swamped with such anticipation as they gathered in their thousands around the ground hours before kick-off, were reduced to tears after less than 30 minutes, and reduced to such a state of shock that it was only at half-time that they registered their first serious dissent.

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Defeat worst day of my life - Scolari

This equalled Brazil's heaviest margin of defeat, a 6-0 loss at the hands of Uruguay in the 1920 Copa America, but the impact of this reverse, not just on the world stage but in their homeland, will put this alongside the 1950 World Cup final defeat by the Uruguayans in Rio as their darkest football day.

Muller's early goal was a big enough setback, but the manner in which Luiz Felipe Scolari's side crumbled in the space of seven minutes is likely to be a matter of national debate in this country for years to come.

This was Brazil's first defeat at home for 12 years. The loss for a country built on sporting pride, and at their own World Cup, will be bad enough to take. The scale of defeat will take the inquests to a new level.

The statistics stacked up like pieces of rubble around the feet of Scolari and his players. This was the first time a team had scored seven in a World Cup semi-final, and the biggest defeat in one of these games - beating West Germany's 6-1 victory over Austria in 1954.

BBC Sport

World Cup 1998: How Zidane's Double Header Helped Crush Brazil(Video)

GOALS                 27'  1-0  Zinedine Zidane (assist - Emmanuel Petit)
                      +45'  2-0  Zinedine Zidane (assist - Youri Djorkaeff)
                      +90'  3-0  Emmanuel Petit (assist - Patrick Vieira)

To bill the 1998 final as a Ronaldo vs Zidane finale would be a tad bit unfair. Though Ronaldo and Zidane were both charismatic and important players to the team, Brazil and France were by no means a one-man army.

Led by Leornado and Rivaldo in the midfield, with Dunga sitting as the holding midfielder, the 1998 Brazil squad was a fine balance of talent, youth and experience. Cafu and Roberto Carlos provided the team with width on the wings with Ronaldo and Bebeto leading the attack upfront.

France on the other hand was orchestrated by Zidane, Petit and Deschamps in the midfield and played infront of an adoring stadium that egged them on for a historic victory.

Zidane looked like a man on a mission in the finals and was brilliant for France in the midfield. The French maestro showed his worth on the biggest stage as he rose to head in twice in the first half, giving the hosts a comfortable lead going into the second half.

Ronaldo on other hand looked subdued, much like his other team-mates and wasted the few opportunities he had in front of a brave and competent Barthez.

In the end France won 3-0 as Petit scored a late counter-attacking goal and Zinedine Zidane was awarded the Man of the Match.

Ronaldo though returned to Brazil with his team-mates and the national football team was soon embroiled in a controversy that stained the fabric of the Brazil football jersey in the years to come.

Following Brazil’s dramatic loss in the World Cup finale, the details surrounding Ronaldo’s sickness was made public. Such was the public reaction to the news that an official enquiry was made to find out what exactly happened to the Brazil national team before the finals.

What happened to Ronaldo before the game? Was he poisoned or drugged and was there a major conspiracy behind his ‘timely’ fit? And if Ronaldo was so sick, why was he allowed to play in the finals? Who allowed him to play? Was he forced by Nike or were the medics irresponsible enough to play with the striker’s life?

The Hard Tackle

EPL Great Moments: Aguero's Last Minute Goal Denied Man U the Title(Video)

Of the many tense title races there had been in the Premier League era, none quite matched the drama of the 1988-89 Division One conclusion—as Arsenal got the last-minute goal they needed, at Anfield, to pip Liverpool to the title on goal difference.

That changed in 2012, however, as Manchester City and Manchester United played out the most dramatic Premier League conclusion ever. After beating Sunderland 1-0 at the Stadium of Light, United knew they would be champions as long as City continued to draw 2-2 with relegation-threatened QPR at the Etihad Stadium.

Then, deep into injury time, Sergio Aguero struck.

Manchester City had duly won their first title in 44 years, beating out their arch-rivals in the process thanks to a last-minute goal. You almost couldn't script it.

Bleacher Report

EPL Great Moments: 16-year old Rooney Ends Arsenal's Unbeaten Run (Video)

There are ways to announce your arrival on the national stage, and then there is the way Wayne Rooney chose to do so.

The trainee, on just £80, came on against the Premier League's best side at that time and ended their 30-match unbeaten run with a truly outstanding goal—taking the ball down over his shoulder, spinning on it and curling a pinpoint effort that evaded David Seaman's despairing dive as it kissed the underside of the bar on its way into the net.

From The Guardian report of that game:

If it had to end, this was as fitting and captivating a finale as any. Arsenal, untouchable for 30 league matches, are human after all, though they left Merseyside wondering whether the teenager who spoiled that record in a late blur was similarly of this world.

"He's supposed to be 16," Arsène Wenger winced in disbelief, his normally phlegmatic dead pan wrecked by Wayne Rooney.

The Frenchman's team have overcome all comers en route to establishing themselves as the best in the country but they could muster no resistance to the £80-a-week teenager's clever control and blistering 30-yard curler within 10 minutes of his entrance and 28 seconds from the end.

Rooney became the Premier League's youngest-ever scorer with the strike, beating Michael Owen by 149 days. Everyone could see he was destined to be something special, as could Arsene Wenger:

Owen's a complete striker but I didn't see him play at 16, ... At that age, Rooney is already a complete footballer. The guy can play.

He's the best English under-20 I've seen since I came here [in 1996]. He can play people in, he's clever and a natural, built like a Gascoigne with his low centre of gravity. And he can dribble—I like strikers who can dribble.

Bleacher Report

UCL: Torres Dubiously Red-carded as Suarez gave Barcelona a 2:1 Advantage ( with Video)

FC Barcelona 2-1 Atletico Madrid – Highlights

 [ UEFA Champions League, 1st Leg ]

1. 25′ 0 – 1 Fernando Torres scored totally against the run of play when he finished off a great counter attacking move.
2. 35′ Fernando Torres got sent off in 35th minute for his second yellow card in space of 5 minutes.
3. 63′ 1 – 1 Luis Suarez flicked home the equalizer from close range bring Barcelona back in the game.
4. 73′ 2 – 1 Luis Suarez finished off a superb Dani Alvez cross to get Barcelona 2-1 in front.

FC Barcelona got the better of Atletico Madrid once again at Vincente Caldron with Suarez scoring two quick goals in second half to get Barcelona to a 2-1 away win and pretty much settles the tie looking at both teams form. Torres had sent home side 1-0 up but his sending off allowed Barcelona even bigger chunck of possession and Barcelona made them pay with two goals in second half.


An eventful first half saw Atletico go in front when Torres finished off a superb counter attacking move with a nice finish from edge of the box. Barcelona dominated possesion and failed to convert chances came there way. Atletico Madrid however made lives difficult for them when Fernando Torrest was sent off just 10 minutes after scoring the goal in what was seen as a dubious decision by the referee. His received his marching orders after second yellow card inside 5 minutes. Credit to Atletico as they hanged in there for best part of hour but an scrappy goal from Suarez brought Barcelona back in the game.


Luis Suarez scored twice inside 10 minutes to put Barcelona 2-1 up and take the massive away goal lead which will prove to be crucial for Barcelona. Suarez first was a tap in from close range with a nice flick while second was a thumping header after Alves found him with a inch perfect pass.

The second leg comes on April 13 at Camp Nou.



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