World Cup semifinal live: Germany crushes Brazil, 7-1

Brazil's Oscar scores in the closing minutes, but it's too little, too late as Germany crushes Brazil, 7-1.

2:35 p.m.

Though much less inclined to attack in the second half, Germany still makes it a six-pack of goals in the 69th minute.

Yet again, Germany moves into scoring ground with minimal resistance. Lamm feeds Andre Schuerrle into the box, and it's 6-0 with still a half-hour left in the dream (for Germany) and the nightmare (for Brazil).

2:25 p.m.

Germany gives Miroslav Klose 12 minutes of second-half work before bringing out the 36-year-old who can add to his career Cup goals count in the Sunday finals.

Thomas Mueller nearly draws closer to his teammate for total goals, but a laser in the 60th minute zooms over the bar.

Brazil, desperate, attempts to lure a penalty kick as Maicon hits the turf on negligible contact in the box.

Germany demands a yellow card for diving. The referee splits the difference and signals the teams to play on.

2:17 p.m.

Brazil spends two of its three allowed substitutes at the start of the second half. Hulk gets yanked in favor of Ramires on the forward line. Along the midfield, it's Paulinho in for the more defensive Fernandinho.

The Germans remove defender Mats Hummels, who missed a prior game with flu symptoms, for Per Mertesacker.

Those Brazilians fans who can bare to watch finally are treated to some soccer familiar to them. Their team strings together three hopeful chances, but all are thwarted by suddenly active goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

Halftime

An amazing half statistic: Of 10 shots by Germany, all but three have been on goal. Usually explosive Brazil, meantime, has two attempts, none on goal.

If Brazil wished to turn the match into a foul-fest, as it did against Colombia, the opportunity has not presented itself. Five fouls have been whistled on the Brazilians, one fewer than on Germany.

While not having Silva has hurt, Brazil's midfield has been disinclined to retreat and pitch in on defense. There is plenty of blame to be spread among all of the Brazilian starters.

1:44 p.m.

By now, Brazil is shell-shocked, putting up minimal resistance. Sure enough, Germany advances unperturbed toward its goal with a numbers advantage. Is Brazil missing Thiago Silva that much?

Cesar, in goal, is dazed and can only dive half-heartedly at the ball as Sami Khedira zips it past him for Germany's fifth goal with Mesut Ozil collecting the assist. Four goals have come between the 21st and 29th minute. If this were another sport, the coaches would clear their benches.

1:37 p.m.

In the blink of an eye, the game goes from a tight one to a blowout. Incredibly, Germany crams three more goals within three minutes, and the volume on the deafening crowd was turned down.

The barrage started with a series of clever passes that ended with one to Miroslav Klose deep in the box. Klose's shot at keeper Julio Cesar was deflected right back to him, and the veteran drove it past Cesar in the 23rd minute for his 16th lifetime Cup goal. That's one more than the previous record-holder, the retired Brazilian Ronaldo.

Play had barely resumed when Kroos plated a shot from the middle of the box. The assist went to Philipp Lamm.

Kroos, in a groove, provided a sequel two minutes later with his second goal as Brazil's defenders watched dumbfounded.

1:19 p.m.

Germany is the maestro of the set piece, and it illustrated why quickly. Toni Kroos' corner kick into the box found Thomas Mueller. He swatted the thigh-high ball into with the net during the 11th minute.

Brazil made it easy on Mueller, who upped his career Cup goals total to 11. The German was unmarked, a possible consequence of defender extraordinaire Thiago Silva's absence, though ace teammate David Luiz seemed partly to blame.

12:26 p.m.

Brazil, as expected, replaces suspended defender Thiago Silva with Dante, whose professional team connection adds intrigue. He plays for Bayern Munich, which is extensively represented on the German side.

Up front, coach "Big Phil" Scolari opts for Bernard over Willian to step into the massive shoes of the injured Neymar. Bernard likely will operate as a left winger. Most pre-match speculation leaned toward Willian to get the nod.

Germany is staying the course with its lineup. It includes Miroslav Klose, the aging prolific scorer who came off the bench during group play.

Pre-game

The first World Cup semifinal takes place at 1 p.m. today when host country Brazil takes on Germany for a spot in Sunday’s final.

Brazil will be without its top offensive threat, Neymar, who fractured a vertebra in his lower back in Brazil's quarterfinal win over Colombia, ruling him out for the rest of the tournament. “I won't be able to fulfill the dream of playing in a World Cup final,” Neymar told the Associated Press, “but I'm sure they will win this one. They will become champions, and I will be there with them, and all of Brazil will be celebrating together.”

At this year's tournament, Germany Coach Joachim Loew has experimented with the defense, moving captain Philipp Lahm into the midfield and then back to his usual right back position.

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With Lahm in the backline and Per Mertesacker on the bench in the quarterfinal win over France, the Germans looked as good as they had since routing Portugal in their group opener.

“The team is improving from match to match,” said Loew, who has led Germany to the semifinals in every major tournament since taking over eight years ago.

Brazil has played Germany only once at the World Cup, winning 2-0 in the 2002 final. But the Germans, who will be making their 13th appearance in the semifinals, have reached the final seven times and won three of them.

The winner of Tuesday's match will face either Argentina or the Netherlands in Sunday's final.