Germany rips Brazil in WC, 7-1

Published 1:49 am Wednesday, July 9, 2014

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (AP) — 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.

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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.

Argentina vs.

Netherlands

SAO PAULO (AP) — Dutch captain and all-time top scorer Robin van Persie is in doubt for the World Cup semifinal against Argentina after succumbing to a stomach problem.

Van Persie trained separately on Tuesday with defender Daryl Janmaat and coach Louis van Gaal said both were suffering “stomach and intestinal problems.”

Van Gaal said he would not rush into deciding whether Van Persie is fit to play at Sao Paulo’s Itaquerao Stadium against the Lionel Messi-led Argentina.

In potential good news for the Dutch, midfield enforcer Nigel de Jong trained Tuesday and could play against Argentina.