GERMANY TEAR UP THE RECORD BOOKS...
Germany tore up the record books as they annihilated Brazil in the World Cup semi final. Here are some of the highlights. It was:
- Brazil's worst ever defeat, beating the 6-0 loss to Uruguay in 1920.
- Brazil's worst ever defeat at the World Cup, eclipsing the 3-0 defeat to France in the 1998 final
- Brazil's first competitive defeat at home since 1975
- The first time a team has scored seven goals in a semi-final
- The first World Cup match to feature eight goals since 2002
- The biggest ever defeat for a host nation at a World Cup (although Switzerland lost 7-5 in 1954)
...AND STEAL BRAZIL'S CROWN...
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Brazil still have the most World Cup wins under their belt with five, but they lost some other records to the Germans, who overtook Brazil:
- To become the highest scorers in World Cup history with 223 goals
- Make their eighth World Cup final
...AS KLOSE TAKES RONALDO'S RECORD
Just to add insult to Brazilian misery, German striker Miroslav Klose's goal made him the leading goal-scorer in World Cup history, overtaking Brazilian legend Ronaldo in the process. The veteran German forward bagged a trademark poacher's goal in the 22nd-minute – taking his World Cup tally to 16. Although none of his World Cup goals, scored in four tournaments, have come from outside the box, Klose "has proven himself as reliable a scorer as the game has seen", says the Bleacher Report.
CAFU THROWN OUT
The last Brazilian captain to lift the World Cup, Cafu, was thrown out of the dressing room as he attempted to console the current crop of players in the wake of their 7-1 humiliation at the hands of Germany in the World Cup semi-final. The man who led Luiz Felipe Scolari's first generation to victory in Japan was ordered to leave by the president of Brazil's football federation as the inquests began. "To my surprise, I was practically thrown out," said Cafu.
ANOTHER ARGENTINE JOURNALIST DIES
Away from the Brazil shock, journalists at the World Cup are in mourning after a second Argentine reporter was killed in Brazil. Jorge Lopez, a reporter for the paper Ole who was due to cover tonight's semi-final, was killed in a car crash in Sao Paulo hours after Brazil's exit from the tournament. He was the passenger in a taxi that was hit by a stolen car. Earlier in the tournament another Argentine journalist, Maria Fernandez, died when her car plunged off a cliff.
DEMICHELIS WARNS ROBBEN
Argentine centre-back Martin Demichelis reckons the best way to stop Arjen Robben is to give the flying Dutch winger a genuine reason to dive. Speaking ahead of the semi final between Argentina and Holland, the veteran Man City defender admitted that although Robben is a "phenomenon" he "doesn't like physical contact, so you have to make him feel it and get under his skin". Robben is known for going to ground at the first opportunity and will no doubt keep Demichelis's comments in mind when the meet on the pitch.
VAN PERSIE'S 'INTENSTINAL PROBLEMS'
Robin van Persis is a doubt for tonight's semi-final clash with Argentina, according to the Daily Mail. The Man United striker was forced to train separately yesterday, with head coach Louis van Gaal admitting rather bluntly: "He has some intestinal problems so it's best not to train with him". The Dutch captain, who has 46 goals in 89 international appearances, was described as "very important to us" by Van Gaal, who added: "In principle my captain always plays, but he has to be fit".
