FIFA World Cup 2014 Semi Final : Brazil 1-7 Germany - Five Talking Points

A first-halfblitzkrieg thatsaw Germany score four goals in six minutes was enough to seal a comfortable 7-1 victory over hosts Brazil and march into their eighth World Cup Final. Two goals each from Toni Kroos andAndr Schrrle and one each from Thomas Mller, Miroslav Klose and Sami Khedira was enough to see Germany through and condemn Brazil to their heaviest-ever defeat andfirst competitive home loss since 1975.Here are the five major talking points from the game:

#1 German finesse beats Brazilian muscle

Brazil’s clash against Germany was billed as the clash of two very different midfields. It was Germany’s technical trio of Khedira, Kroos and Schweinsteiger who were set to go up against the more physical duo of Fernandinho and Luiz Gustavo. It was supposed to be a battle between brain and brawn, German technique against Brazilian physique. In the end, it was the Germans who got the better of the Brazilian midfield, not just technically and tactically but also physically and psychologically.

With Schweinsteiger sitting in front of the back four, both Kroos and Khedira had the freedom to push forward. Buoyed by the freedom afforded to them by not just Schweinsteiger, but the frail Brazilian defence as well, the duo got forward with great effect. Not only did they score three of the seven goals, they also created opportunities for the others by pressing Brazil higher up the pitch. The fourth goal was a testament to that as Kroos dispossessed Fernandinho, played a one-two with Khedira before calmly slotting the ball into an empty net.

What was supposed to be a tight, tense affair turned into a rout, thanks in no small measure to Kroos and Khedira, the duo who exemplified the modern German midfielder: technically proficient whilst also capable of being physical when the situation demands.