The Samba boys of Brazil were left dismayed at the
incredibly exemplary way the German machines tore them to shreds in last night’s
historic affair. It was Brazil that started the brightest with Bernard, the
chosen heir to Neymar’s throne, tormenting Benedikt Howedes in what was still
early doors. Hulk also delivered a good cross that Manuel Neuer quickly came to
gather. Then the 3-time World Champions ran amok.
With the speed of lightning, Germany opened the
scoring. A Toni Kroos corner was left for the quest person you would ever leave
alone and he duly dispatched with aplomb to put his team ahead in front of
70,000 vociferous, demanding and intimidating Brazilian fans. Tomas Muller took
his World Cup goal tally to 10 overall and 5 for this tourney with a first time
shot that was too hot for Cesar to even see. They hadn’t even left second gear
yet. What was to happen next was simply ground breaking. On his 136th
International appearance, Miroslav Klose was given the freedom of the Garden
City (nickname for Belo Horizonte) to register his 16th World Cup goal. What that meant was that
he repaid an old favour (Ronaldo broke ‘Da Bomber’s’ record in Germany) and
went ahead of the great Luis Nazario Da Lima (Ronaldo) in the list of highest
goal scorers in World Cup History. It was also his 71st
International goal. Something he is yet to achieve with any of the clubs he has
represented. There’s something about Germans and World Cup records. Germany
became hungrier and it wasn’t long until they found plenty of food. Toni Kroos
turned from provider to scorer when he scored a trademark goal to increase the
heart beat rate of every Brazilian. SIXTY-EIGHT seconds later, Sami Khedira put
one on a plate for the aforementioned player and he made it 4. Khedira got on
the act also, netting a 5th goal for the Germans and condemning the
SELECCION finally.
The second half started with Oscar and co testing
the Mannscaft’s defensive resolve. Manuel Neuer, undisputedly the World’s
safest hands, denied the hosts and down trodden team any lifeline. Andre
Schurrle was brought in for record breaker, Klose and he got on the act ten
minutes after his introduction. 6-0? Unimaginable. That was not all. Schurrle
blasted his second of the night, third of the tourney and Germany’s 7th
to put DIE NATIONAELF in seventh Heaven. Oscar scored a needless goal in the 90th
minute to at least remove a bit of shame. The clobbering was confirmed. In the
semi-final of the World Cup, a team defeated the HOST country and firm
favourites by 7 goals to 1. Nothing of sort has never been witnessed and may never
be.
The main protagonist in all of these was Sami
Khedira. The man who prevented Michael Ballack from reaching 100 caps for
Germany, was at it again. Fully fit and back in form, he bestrode the entire
pitch like a Colossus and rampaged round in ways typical of a willy German
shepard. The Real Madrid man totally outclassed Fernandinho and pocketed him
and his replacement, Paulinho until he finally gave way for Schalke’s Julian
DRAXLER to make his World Cup debut 14 minutes from the end of the
annihilation. Khedira was MOTM for me.
The Selecao missed Captain, Leader and organiser,
Thiago Silva. In his absence, the burden of leadership and organisation fell on
the shoulders of his new club mate, David Luiz. The stand in Skipper fumbled,
crumbled and collapsed under pressure and was subsequently punished for his
failings. Dante Bonfim seemed lost beside Luiz and together, they inadvertently
conspired to bring their country to a state of utter shambles. Luiz was foraging
forward at times, but at the back, he was like a motionless effigy. Certainly,
he wouldn‘t want to watch a replay of his lacklustre display ever again. Fernandinho
was chasing shadows and seemed to be gasping for breath anytime the
SCHWEINSTEIGER-KHEDIRA combination clicked and to be fair, there wasn’t a
moment it didn’t.
Luis Felipe Scolari’s luck ran out of him, Haven
scrapped through Chile and Colombia, the circle was completed. No amount of
luck would have saved him and even if Neymar’s vertebrae was doubled, it would
never have mattered. After that first goal, his defence went into slumber and
boom, the German machine operated without any hitch. It remains to be seen
whether the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) will still keep him.David Luiz went from the consoler (was there for James Rodriguez when Colombia lost) to the disconsolate/inconsolable in the space of four days. He was visibly distraught at the end of the match. I am sure he has never been confused all his life.
On the basis of this performance alone, whoever
makes it through in the Holland-Argentina match may have to call upon the likes
of Frank De Boer, Jaap Stam, Roberto Fabian Ayala, II Trattore Zanetti, etc to
help the defence line because the Germans are unstoppable at the moment and
very much want that 4th WORLD CUP trophy. It’s been 24 years. The
football gods may just listen to them this time.
Ohireime P Eboreime
@ohiskaka1990