Germany routs Brazil 7-1, reaches World Cup final
Germany's Mats Hummels, left, and Brazil's Maicon challenge for a ball during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between Brazil and Germany at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Tuesday, July 8, 2014. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Germany's Mesut Ozil, left, and Brazil's Maicon go for a header during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between Brazil and Germany at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Tuesday, July 8, 2014. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Brazil's Oscar, left, and Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger vie for the ball during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between Brazil and Germany at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Tuesday, July 8, 2014. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana, Pool)
Brazil's coach Luiz Felipe Scolari gives instructions to his players during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between Brazil and Germany at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Tuesday, July 8, 2014. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil — Germany handed Brazil its heaviest World Cup loss ever on Tuesday with an astounding 7-1 rout in the semifinals that stunned the host nation.
Miroslav Klose scored a record-setting 16th career World Cup goal in a five-goal spurt in the first half as Brazil’s defense was torn apart. Brazil’s previous biggest World Cup loss was 3-0 to France in the 1998 final.
The Germans will face either Argentina or the Netherlands in Sunday’s final at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
Brazil was playing without the injured Neymar and suspended captain Thiago Silva.
Toni Kroos and Andre Schuerrle scored two goals each for Germany, while Thomas Mueller and Sami Khedira added the others.
Oscar pulled a late goal back for Brazil.
