Good evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for the first of the World Cup semi-finals as hosts Brazil take on Germany at the Estadio Mineirao in Belo Horizonte. A place in the final at the Maracana is just 90 minutes away for one of these two teams, while heartbreak and a third-place playoff awaits the other. It really is a mouth-watering clash between two international heavyweights and, in a World Cup filled with intrigue and drama, this is as appealing a match as we've had so far.

It is often said that the semi-final stage is the worst to lose at in a competition like this, but one side will be sent packing tonight. Kickoff is in just two hours, while the two starting lineups should be realised in around about an hour. I will bring you news of the teams as soon as it is released, but first let's take a look at both nations as a whole...

There really is only one place to start, and that is with the hosts Brazil and the absence of the poster boy Neymar. The 22-year-old has really lit up this World Cup so far, coping with the immense pressure on his young shoulders incredibly well. However, he will play no part in the Selecao's final two matches after being injured in the quarter-final win over Colombia on Friday.

It was a heavy Zuniga challenge from behind that did the damage to Neymar as the Colombian's knee fractured a vertebra in his back. It is hard to put into words quite how big a loss the Barcelona man is for his country as he is arguably the only member of the squad with a consistent match-winning ability. He has had a hand in half of the team's goals in this World Cup, scoring four himself and setting up the opening goal in the quarter-final.

As if that wasn't enough, he also netted the decisive penalty against Chile in the last 16 - perhaps the moment that best reflects how well he has coped with the pressure. He was the golden boy, the star of the show and the standout player in this Brazilian side, but they will now have to win the tournament without him. Many members of the camp have already expressed their desire to pull together and lift the trophy for their injured star, but it remains to be seen whether they can actually overcome the significant loss in quality brought about by his absence.

To add insult to that injury, Brazil are also without their skipper. Thiago Silva picked up a yellow card in the win over quarter-final - his second of the tournament and one that means he will miss tonight's match through suspension. He is arguably Brazil's second best player, so it will be a severely weakened side that needs to beat Germany tonight. Should they manage that then Silva would be back for the final, but he will play no part in helping them get there today.

Silva's absence is unlikely to be felt as strongly as that of Neymar, however, with Dante expected to fill in alongside David Luiz, who will captain the side. Dante plies his trade at Bayern Munich at club level, so he is used to playing in big games and will have the added bonus of inside knowledge on many of the German opposition. Silva's absence is undoubtedly a blow, but Dante provides a more natural solution to that problem than there is for Neymar's injury.

The stakes couldn't be much higher for Brazil in this match. Anything less than lifting the trophy on Sunday night would be considered a failure on home soil, although there may be a little more understanding from the fans given the selection headaches facing Scolari. Still, it would be a massive disappointment for them to miss out on the final having made the last four for the first time since they last won the trophy back in 2002.

They haven't exactly impressed too much throughout the campaign so far, however. They managed to finish top of Group A, but they were only above Mexico on goal difference. Their opening match saw them beat Croatia 3-1, although that came in controversial circumstances as the hosts were awarded a dubious penalty before Oscar added gloss to the score late on. It was a game that Croatia could have feasibly drawn or even won, but Brazil benefited from a dodgy decision to get off to a winning start.

Their next match saw them draw a blank against Mexico in a goalless draw, although that was largely down to a sensational performance from keeper Guillermo Ochoa, who denied Neymar and co on numerous occasions. Their most straightforward game so far came in the final group outing as they eased past a poor Cameroon side with a 4-1 victory that ensured them top spot and a favourable draw - on paper at least - in the last 16.

Chile were their opponents in the first knockout round, a team that Scolari had made no secret of wanting to avoid before the tournament. He was expecting a tough match and he certainly wasn't disappointed as they were taken all the way to penalties by their fellow South Americans. Another all-South American clash followed with Colombia in the quarter-finals, but this time Brazil managed to get the job done in 90 minutes as they ran out 2-1 victors.

It certainly hasn't been vintage Brazil so far, however. The current crop of players is a long way from those of 1970 or 1982, and that was never more evident than in the two knockout games so far. Both matches set new benchmarks for the most amount of fouls at this tournament, with Brazil leading the way in both. Indeed, they committed no fewer than 31 against Colombia, the most that they have ever recorded in a World Cup match.

While the style may not win too many admirers, the results have been impressive. They currently boast a 14-match unbeaten streak that dates all the way back to August 2013. What's more, they have won 13 of those games, with the only exception being that goalless draw against Mexico. They have kept eight clean sheets in that time, although only one in the World Cup, and their extended record lies at just one defeat in their last 26 outings.

Their form gets even more impressive when you look at their competitive record, with the quarter-final defeat to Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup the last time they lost a match that actually meant something. Of course, they didn't go through a qualifying campaign as the host nation of this World Cup, but that record does include success in the Confederations Cup last year, where they beat Spain 3-0 in the final.

Not impressed yet? Well, Brazil's home record is about as good as it gets, which is one of the main reasons they were installed as pre-tournament favourites for this World Cup. They have not lost a home game of any description for 12 years - a run of 42 matches that dates back to August 2002 when they were beaten by Paraguay. In terms of competitive fixtures on Brazilian soil, they have not lost a single one since the semi-finals of the Copa America in 1975, 39 years ago.

Still, though, the ghost of 1950 haunts Brazil. That was the last time that they hosted the World Cup, and they were beaten 2-1 by Uruguay in the final at the Maracana. This year's tournament was seen as a perfect chance to finally banish those demons, but to do that they will need to overcome the loss of Neymar. People have pointed at how they lost Pele in the 1962 World Cup and still went on to lift the trophy, but on that occasion Garrincha was able to step up to the plate. It is fair to say that there is no-one of similar quality to Garrincha in the current Brazil squad, Neymar removed.

Brazil's injury and suspension woes have put Germany as slight favourites for this match, despite their opponents' impeccable record at home. Die Mannschaft are well versed in the art of World Cup latter stages, but they will rarely have experienced anything like what they face today. Brazil have played with great passion - if not great quality - throughout, and Neymar's injury will only increase that.

Still, Germany have the quality and the tools to make sure that they can take advantage of Brazil's weakened side. There are not many teams who would be able to make the most of the situation as well as the Germans, and with such a strong midfield at their disposal, it is also unlikely that they will be beaten in the middle of the park - where Brazil have had such a destructive effect in their last two matches.

The Germans almost snuck under the radar going into the tournament. They were grouped among the favourites by the bookies, but the likes of Brazil, Argentina and even Spain were widely regarded to have a better chance than Joachim Low's men this summer. However, they have gone about their business as usual and find themselves in yet another semi-final - a record fourth in a row.

They wasted no time in announcing themselves as contenders, thrashing Portugal 4-0 in their opening match to take complete control of Group G. The scoreline could perhaps be regarded as a little misleading considering the sending off of Pepe for the Portuguese, but it is worth remembering that Germany were already ahead and in control when the Real Madrid man got himself sent off. It was an emphatic way to begin the tournament and also showed that the Germans are still a ruthless side - a trait that could come in handy tonight.

They were brought back down to earth somewhat in their second match as Ghana held them to a 2-2 draw in what was one of the most entertaining games of the World Cup so far. The second half in particular was incredible to watch, with Ghana overturning a one-goal deficit before Miroslav Klose restored parity and rescued a point for his side with a record-equalling goal. The Germans only needed a draw against the USA in their final group game to progress, but they did the job professionally to win 1-0 and book their place in the last 16 as group winners.

They went into the first knockout match against Algeria as heavy favourites, but once again they found things very tough against an African side full of spirit. Algeria had enough chances to win the match as they repeatedly got behind Germany's high line, but instead it was taken to extra time. Germany's eventually ran out 2-1 winners after a dramatic added 30 minutes, but they were given an almighty scare in what was an uncharacteristically shaky performance.

While Algeria refused to give up and fought until the final whistle, things were a little quieter in the quarter-final as Germany overcame a disappointing French performance to win 1-0. Mats Hummels got the only goal of the game and, although they only won by the odd goal, Germany never really looked in danger of surrendering their lead. France didn't go all-out attack when they had to in the closing stages, and in the end it rather petered out and Germany progressed.

One selection dilemma for Joachim Low in tonight's match will be whether to start Miroslav Klose up front. The veteran striker is gunning for the all-time goalscoring record in World Cups, with one more enough to take him beyond Brazilian legend Ronaldo on the 15-goal mark. He would also make his 23rd World Cup appearance should he feature tonight, a tally that would take him level with Paolo Maldini as the second-most capped World Cup players in history. Only Lothar Matthaus (25) has more.

However, there is no room for sentiment at this stage of a World Cup, and Klose was decidedly average in the last match when he was somewhat surprisingly named in the starting lineup. He failed to pose much of a threat to the French defence and Germany were perhaps fortunate that Les Bleus didn't offer too much at the other end. If Klose does start tonight then he will certainly have to do better than he managed on that occasion.

Meanwhile in defence, Per Mertesacker missed the last game due to tactical reasons, so Low will need to decide whether to restore the Arsenal centre-back tonight. He will likely be joined in the back four by Lahm, who looked more at home in his right-back slot than he did playing in midfield during the first few games. That would allow Khedira and Schweinsteiger to once again fill in the holding roles in midfield, and that could be a vital area of the pitch with Brazil playing some rather cynical football in there against both Chile and Colombia. Germany are unlikely to be intimidated.

Like Brazil, Germany come into this match in fine form, with their unbeaten streak stretching back more than a year to June 2, 2013. They have avoided defeat in 16 matches since their 4-3 loss to USA then, winning 11 and drawing five - the longest unbeaten streak of teams still in the World Cup. They also kept nine clean sheets in that time, including three in this World Cup - the joint best record.

Their extended record is also the same as Brazil's, with just one defeat in their last 26 outings in all competitions. However, while Brazil had won 19 matches in that time, Germany have won 18, drawing the remaining seven. They only dropped two points throughout their qualifying campaign, finishing top of their group and eight points clear of Sweden.

Despite being placed in a fairly tough qualifying group, Germany still managed to emerge as the top-scoring European team with a whopping 36 goals to their name. However, they also conceded 10 goals, which was the most by any of the qualifying group winners. Questions remain over their defence, which has shown signs of weakness against both Ghana and Algeria so far, so that could be an area Brazil look to exploit tonight.

Their consistency in World Cups simply has to be admired. They have not won the competition since 1990, nor any international tournament since Euro 1996, they finished third in both 2010 and 2006, while coming second to Brazil in 2002. Still, their growing reputation as nearly men is one they are desperate to shed, and a drought of 18 years without a major trophy is a long one by their standards.

TEAM NEWS: Right, the teams are in for both sides and the big news was always going to centre around who replaces Neymar in the Brazil lineup. We were expecting Willian, but it is Bernard who has got the nod instead. Luiz Gustavo returns from suspension in midfield, taking Paulinho's place, while Dante replaces Silva as expected. Maicon and Fred, meanwhile, retain their spots. As for Germany, Klose starts once again, while there is no place for Mertesacker as Low names an unchanged lineup. Full teams for both sides coming right up...

BRAZIL STARTING XI: Julio Cesar; Maicon, David Luiz, Dante, Marcelo; Fernandinho, Gustavo; Bernard, Oscar, Hulk; Fred

GERMANY STARTING XI: Neuer; Lahm, Hummels, Boateng, Hoewedes; Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Kroos; Ozil, Klose, Muller

So, what can we make of those two lineups? Well, the biggest surprise is the inclusion of Bernard for the injured Neymar. We were expecting either Willian to fill in or for Scolari to change his formation slightly, putting three in midfield with the returning Gustavo. However, it is Bernard who is chosen to fill the boots of the golden boy, and that is a big decision from Scolari.

There are no surprises when it comes to Thiago Silva's replacement, with Dante filling in for the skipper as expected. As I mentioned earlier, he could bring some invaluable inside knowledge to the German team given his Bayern Munich connections, so Scolari will be confident that he isn't losing too much quality in the centre of his defence. However, Dante has not featured for Brazil so far, and it is a big ask for him to come in at such a late stage of the tournament.

Alongside him in defence is David Luiz, who got what proved to be the winning goal for his side against Colombia last time out with a stunning free kick from range. The new PSG man has played with incredible passion throughout the tournament, as shown by how he belts out the national anthem before the games. It all came out in his celebration after that goal against Colombia, however, and his eye-popping run to the corner flag is likely to be one of the lasting images of this World Cup. It could well go down alongside Tardelli of Italy and Roger Milla of Cameroon as one of the great World Cup celebrations.

Another notable member of the defence for Brazil is Maicon, who surprisingly replaced Dani Alves in the last round. He keeps his place tonight, with Alves once again left on the bench in what was a big call for Scolari. Maicon did well against Colombia and is certainly not a bad player to have as a back-up, but Alves hadn't exactly let himself down with his performances at this World Cup so it was quite a strange decision for Scolari to change things like that.

Further forward, the influential Luiz Gustavo returns from suspension as expected, and his inclusion is a big boost for the Brazilians. Paulinho is the man to make way, with Fernandinho certainly making his mark on the team - and on opposition players - since breaking into the starting XI. The Manchester City man was responsible for a number of fouls against Colombia, particularly on star player James Rodriguez, yet somehow he avoided a yellow card. Should Brazil attempt similar rough tactics tonight then Fernandinho could once again be key.

With Neymar out, more emphasis falls onto the shoulders of Oscar and Hulk behind the lone striker. Oscar scored in the opening match against Croatia but has struggled to have much of an impact in attack since then. He has mainly had to do a job defensively and surprisingly is one of the players with the most tackles in this World Cup so far. Hulk, meanwhile, has shown flashes of what he is capable of doing in the past couple of games, but he needs to add a better end product to his game. He has been disappointing overall for Brazil in this World Cup, but tonight would be the perfect time for him to hit form.

Another player who has been very disappointing so far is Fred. The striker has very rarely had a telling impact on a game at this World Cup, and for large spells he has been a passenger. His lack of movement has come under scrutiny and he certainly hasn't been on the same form that saw him impress at the Confederations Cup last year. He is another player who needs to step up his game in the absence of Neymar tonight.

Manuel Neuer is the man charged with stopping Fred and co tonight, and Germany couldn't wish for a better keeper to do the job. The Bayern man is widely regarded as the nest in the business in his position, and he has enhanced that view with some good displays during this World Cup. His 'sweeper keeper' role against Algeria was particularly memorable as he raced off his line time and time again to deny the impressive African side. If he is on form today, that could well be the basis for a Germany victory.

In front of him it is once again Hummels and Boateng that are given the nod in central defense. The duo coped with the French attack comfortably in the last round and there was no reason for Low to change things tonight. Mertesacker, who has been struggling a little with flu over the past few days, is fit to play but once again finds himself on the bench.

Alongside them in defence is Lahm, who once again starts at right-back following his switch from defensive midfield in the quarter-final. The captain has impressed in a central role for Bayern Munich, but it wasn't really working for Germany and, with a shortage of full-backs and a plethora of quality midfielders it was simply common sense for Low to move him back into defence. He had more of an impact against France and will be looking forward to coming up against Bernard rather than Neymar tonight.

Schweinsteiger and Khedira are the men patrolling the middle of the park for the Germans, and it will be their job to ensure that Fernandinho and Gustavo don't win the midfield battle. It may well take some of the darker arts to make sure that their forward players are not subject to the same sort of treatment that the likes of Sanchez and Rodriguez have suffered in the last two rounds, but as well as being good on the ball those two are more than capable of looking after both themselves and their teammates.

Mesut Ozil is a player under pressure to perform having had a relatively poor World Cup so far. He also disappointed for Arsenal towards the end of the Premier League season and his lack of form led to some calls for him to be dropped for today's match. He did get a goal against Algeria in the last 16, but that was harder to miss and he really hasn't had the sort of impact that people expected of his so far. Germany are blessed with a number of good midfielders, so Ozil may need to perform tonight or he could find himself out of the team for the fina, should Joachim Low's side progress.

Muller, on the other hand, is very unlikely to be dropped having netted four times already at this World Cup. He is looking to win the Golden Boot for the second consecutive tournament, although he currently trails James Rodriguez by two goals in that race. He failed to score against either Algeria or France, but Brazil will know all too well that he is capable of snapping up any chances that may fall his way.

It is something of a surprise not to see Muller start down the middle, but Klose is the man who gets the nod again. He is on the brink of history in this match but will need to do better than his underwhelming display against France last time out. He is another player capable of taking any half chance - as he showed by scoring straight after coming off the bench against Ghana - and Brazil will need to keep a close eye on any loose balls in the box with both him and Miller around.

Both teams come into this match with plenty of World Cup experience on the bench. Luiz Felipe Scolari has never lost a World Cup match in charge of the Brazilians, having guided them to success in the 2002 tournament and remained unbeaten so far this summer. This is his third appearance in a World Cup semi-final, having also guided Portugal to the last four in 2006, four years after winning it with Brazil.

Opposite him in the dugout is Joachim Low, who is also experiencing his third taste of a World Cup semi-final. The Germany boss was assistant to Jurgen Klinsmann when Die Mannschaft reached this stage in 2006, while he was in charge himself four years ago in South Africa. He can relate to the pressure felt by Scolari today having been part of the host nation crashing out in the last four in 2006.

One thing that Low will be desperate to avoid in this match is conceding the first goal. Brazil are a tough enough opponent anyway, but they have an impeccable record when opening the scoring in the World Cup. Indeed, they have only lost one of their last 17 World Cup matches in which they have scored first, winning 14 and drawing two.

The Brazilians are appearing in the last four of a World Cup for the 11th times, although this is technically only their eighth semi-final due to the different format of the competition in years gone by. In their previous seven semi-final appearances, the Selecao have won five and drawn one, with that draw followed by a penalty shootout victory over Netherlands in 1998. The only semi-final that they have lost was the first they took part in, way back in 1938 against eventual champions Italy.

Not many teams can boast a better record than Brazil in World Cups, but Germany will be appearing in the last four for a 13th time tonight. Again, due to different formats, this will be their 12th semi-final, of which they have won four, drawn five and drawn two, both of which ended in shootout victories for the Germans. These two certainly have experience of these latter stages, but on the basis of those tow respective records it is Brazil who tend to deal with the pressure better.

Indeed, these two sides are the most experienced around when it comes to World Cup matches. Germany have played in a record 104 games on the grandest stage, while Brazil are just two behind in second place. Despite that, they have only ever met once in a World Cup before, with that coming in the final of the 2002 tournament when Ronaldo scored twice to hand Brazil their record fifth - and last - title.

Germany trail Brazil's five successes by two, having lifted the trophy in 1954, 1974 and 1990. They are bidding to reach their eighth World Cup final tonight and are appearing in their 10th semi-final in the last 13 tournaments. They are perennial contenders in the last four of the World Cup, but all too often they have fallen at this stage in recent times.

Die Mannschaft have already done enough in this tournament to ensure that they are the number one team in the world according to the FIFA rankings. Spain held that position before the tournament, but their disappointing early exit coupled with Germany's passage to the latter stages has seen Joachim Low's side overtake their European rivals.

However, the Germans have rarely been convincing winners in recent times. The 4-0 victory over Portugal in the opening game of this tournament was something of an anomaly for Die Mannschaft, who have failed to win by more than a one-goal margin in nine of their last 11 outings. Still, there will be no-one complaining in Germany if they triumph by just the one goal again tonight, you can be sure of that!

PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes away from kickoff in Belo Horizonte, which means that it is time for the match prediction! This really is an intriguing encounter, with Brazil holding home advantage but missing their best two players against a Germany side that know how to get the job done. In truth, I wouldn't be surprised to see this one go either way, perhaps via penalties, but I think the losses of Neymar and Silva will just be too much for Brazil. They have found a way to win so far in the tournament, but this could be one challenge too far for them. I'll go for 2-1 to Germany in normal time.

Germany actually came out on top the last time these two teams met, with Schweinsteiger, Gotze and Schurrle all amongst the scorers in a 3-2 friendly win in August 2011. The last competitive meeting went to Brazil, however, as they triumphed by the same scoreline in the 2005 Confederations Cup. Overall, Brazil have the edge, but that will mean little coming into tonight's match.

One of the main weaknesses for Brazil going into this game is the lack of firepower up front without Neymar. How they come up with a solution to that will determine how successful they are tonight, but it is not a problem they have had in the past against Germany. They have scored in each of their last 10 matches against Die Mannschaft, averaging an impressive 2-2 goals per game in that spell.

The referee this evening is Marco Rodriguez from Mexico, who is taking charge of his third match of the World Cup so far. He was in the middle for Belgium's 2-1 win over Algeria - a game that was also held in this stadium, incidentally - while he also oversaw the controversial match that saw Uruguay beat Italy 1-0. He failed to spot the Luis Suarez bite in that game, but he did make a correct decision in reducing Italy to 10 men.

As for the stadium, it has hosted five games so far in this World Cup, and it is a place that Brazil will be familiar with having beaten Chile on penalties here in the last 16. Germany, meanwhile, will be playing in Belo Horizonte for the first time.

Right, we're all set in Belo Horizonte for what should be a real cracker! What a game we have in store here...

KICKOFF: Germany get us underway in a raucous atmosphere inside the Estadio Mineirao. They are in a changed strip of red and black, while Brazil are, of course, in their iconic yellow.

Brazil have made a really bright start to this match as they look to take an early lead. Germany haven't managed to get out of their own half yet, but finally the pressure is ended by Marcelo's effort bouncing wide.

Luiz has showcased his long passing on a number of occasions already at this World Cup, and he does it again here with a superb pass to Hulk down the left. The winger cuts the ball back towards Bernard, but Neuer is alert to make an important interception.

Germany have their first real spell of possession in the Brazil half, but they can't go anywhere and eventually lose it. Brazil look really hungry for this match in the opening exchanges.

Half a chance for Germany as they come forward in numbers. Muller plays the ball across the box for Ozil, who plays it back in for Khedira. The Real Madrid man hits it first time and it looks to be goalbound before striking Kroos. Germany are starting to ease their way into this one.

It has been an open and high-tempo start to this match, which is making for some great viewing. Both teams are rushing into everything they are doing, which is making for some careless passing but exciting attacking.

First blood to Germany! It is terrible marking from Brazil as Muller peels off his man to find himself completely free in the area. He latches on to the corner and cushions his volley past Julio Cesar, who could do nothing about it. That is Muller's fifth goal of the World Cup, the same number he managed four years ago in South Africa.

What a huge blow that is for Brazil. They had started this match keen to attack, which was leaving space at the back, but Scolari will be seething at how easy that was for Muller. He had so much space in the box, and that should simply not happen at this level. How can the hosts respond now?

The onus is now very much on Brazil to attack and try to get back into this game. Germany were already getting some joy on the counter-attack before that early goal, and now they are likely to find even more space on the break. That is the perfect start for Joachim Low's side.

Superb defending from Lahm as he dives in to make a brilliant challenge on Marcelo inside the box. The Real Madrid man threw himself to the floor in an attempt to suggest a penalty, but it was an inch-perfect tackle.

Nice play from Oscar as he takes the ball down on his chest on the edge of the box before turning and playing a blind ball into a very dangerous area. However, the cross is defended well and Germany are able to clear the danger.

Brazil are looking a little more dangerous in attack at the moment, but it is coming at a cost. They are committing a lot of bodies forward, which is leaving them open at the back for the counter. Germany are breaking quickly and look capable of scoring every time they come forward.

Klose gets a bit of space on the edge of the box, but three yellow shirts crowd around him very quickly. He is eventually crowded out and the ball is passed back to Julio Cesar, who doesn't trust his right foot so just knocks it straight out of play.

Unbelievable scenes here as Brazil fall two behind. It is all too easy for them as the ball is slipped through to Kroos, who knocks it back to Klose. The veteran striker sees his first effort saved, but the rebound bounces straight back to him and he makes no mistake to get his 16th World Cup goal - a new record. A moment of history for Klose, and a huge moment in this match for Germany.

Oh my word, what on earth are we seeing here?! Germany are FOUR goals to the good after just 25 minutes! Kroos gets a quickfire double, the first of which is a superb finish on his left foot after a low cross from Lahm, while the second comes straight from kickoff as Kroos robs Fernandinho of possession before exchanging passes with Khedira and firing home. This is unbelievable.

Brazil's World Cup dream is turning into a nightmare. This could well end up being their lowest and most humiliating World Cup moment of all time, and to add insult to injury it is happening on home turf. It really is getting embarrassing for the hosts.

I cannot believe what I am seeing here. Germany score their fourth goal in the last six minutes as Brazil lose it inside their own half once more. Khedira picks it up and plays a one-two with Ozil before sliding it past Cesar. This is just staggering. There is a stunned silence around the stadium, and no doubt the whole of Brazil.

Brazil can't even complain about this scoreline right now. They have been architects of their own downfall with some shambolic play in defence. They can't simply put this down to missing their two best players.

CLOSE! It is almost six as Kroos moves on to a ball on the edge of the box before trying to curl a shot towards the top corner. It hits Luiz on the way through and bounces narrowly wide of the far post with Cesar stranded. Almost a hat-trick for Kroos!

This match really does have a strange feeling about it now. It feels like a friendly match as Germany dominate the ball and are camped in the Brazil half now. The hosts can't get a kick and are being thoroughly outclassed by a team that seems to want even more.

In case you were wondering, Brazil's record defeat is 6-0 to Uruguay way back in the 1920s. The way this match is going, I would actually be surprised if that was still intact after tonight. Who thought I would be saying that with 10 minutes until half time?

Germany get another chance to test Cesar with a free kick in a dangerous position after Gustavo had taken Muller down with a desperate lunge. Ozil lines up the free kick but it is a disappointing effort as he curls it a long way over the crossbar.

I mentioned earlier that Germany showed their ruthless streak in that victory over Portugal, and that is out in force again today. They scored four goals in six minutes and look keen to add to their tally. No mercy from Joachim Low's side, and why should there be?

This is just a shambles for Brazil. They have been dreadful in defence so far and even worse in attack - if that is possible. Everytime they get the ball they seem to be lumping it upfield, making it easy for Neuer to collect. The German defence has not been troubled in the slightest since the opening goal.

The hosts have at least stemmed the flow of goals in the last 10 minutes or so, but you still fear for them every time Germany come forward. It must be so hard for Brazil to get themselves up for this game knowing that they have no chance of reaching the final now, but they need to salvage at least a glimmer of pride here.

There will be one minute of added time at the end of this first half. Brazil will be delighted with the break, and would probably be wishing it was the final whistle about to be blown.

Unbelievable. I still can't quite fathom what we have just seen in that opening 45 minutes - quite possibly the worst half of football in Brazilian football history. Germany go into the break 5-0 up and they are already all but in the World Cup final. Brazil, meanwhile, were booed off at half time in their own World Cup and now simply face a task to avoid the biggest defeat in their history.

The first goal came after just 11 minutes when Muller escaped his marker to knock home from close range from a corner, and that really was a sign of things to come. It was awful defending from the Brazilians as they let Muller go for a simple enough finish that got the ball rolling for what followed.

The second was a historic strike as Miroslav Klose became the highest scorer in World Cup history, overtaking Brazilian legend Ronaldo with his 16th goal. He needed two bites at the cherry having been played in by some slick German pssing, with Cesar making the first save but only pushing it straight out to the veteran striker. What an achievement that is for Klose.

The third and fourth goals came in quick succession as Kroos scored both, firing in the first from the edge of the box with a fine finish before doubling his tally almost straight from kickoff having stolen the ball off Fernandinho. The humiliation was capped for the first half with the fifth goal as Khedira netted his country's fourth in the space of six incredible minutes.

Brazil have, quite frankly, been dreadful. They have sorely missed Neymar, not posing any attacking threat in the final third, while Silva's absence is also being felt hugely. They have missed a presence in the defence and, without their captain, they have been a shambles at the back. Still, this performance has been so bad that you can't put it down to just missing their two best players.

As awful as Brazil have been, Germany deserve huge praise for their performance so far. They have been immeasurably better than the hosts in every single area of the pitch and have also been ruthless in their display.

KICKOFF: Brazil get us back underway for the second half, and there have been three changes at the break. Fernandinho and Hulk are off for the hosts, with Paulinho and Ramires replacing them, while Per Mertesacker comes on for Hummels for Germany.

How do Brazil approach this second half? Winning the match is simply out of the question now, but does Scolari try to reduce the deficit or limit the damage? The changes at half time suggest it is the latter as he looks to put more bodies in midfield, where Germany were running riot.

First Oscar and then Fred go down inside the box in quick succession, but the referee is quick to wave away both muted penalty claims. He is right to do so as well, with both players going to ground too easily.

Much better on the ball from Brazil as they come forward in numbers. The first attack breaks down with an overhit Bernard cross, but they soon win it back and attack again, with Neuer making an important interception to deny Ramires's low cross.

SAVE! Brazil's best chance of the match by a long way falls to Oscar as some more nice play sees the Chelsea man find space to shoot inside the box. He hits it with the outside of his boot, but Neuer makes a fine stop. This is a lot better from the hosts, though.

WHAT A SAVE! Oh my word, what an incredible double save from Neuer! Paulinho is slid through on goal and winds up his effort from the left side of the box. It has plenty of power behind it but is straight at Neuer, who stands firm to make the first save. The rebound bounces back to Paulinho, but Neuer makes a stunning stop to deny the Tottenham man again.

This is almost like Germany are giving Neuer a chance to shine as well. They have come out of the break with a degree of complacency, and Brazil are getting a lot more joy in attack as a result. Neuer has stood firm to the test so far, however.

Ozil slides the ball down the left channel for Muller, who battles away to eventually get a cross in towards Klose. The ball doesn't quite reach the striker, but he puts the pressure on Luiz, who just shovels the ball back to his keeper. Nervy defending.

GERMANY SUB: The record-breaker Klose has lasted just under an hour in this match as he is replaced by Andre Schurrle. What a night for the striker to break Ronaldo's record. Incredible achievement.

SAVE! Another save from Neuer, but this one is rather more straightforward. The ball breaks to Fred around 20 yards from goal and he tries a first-time left-footed effort. However, he scuffs his effort and it is easy for Neuer. Such a poor effort from the striker, and the boos rain down from the stands.

GREAT SAVE! Another top save, but this time from Julio Cesar! Muller, who had been tackled by Cesar when in a good position moments before, tries to curl an effort towards the top corner from the edge of the box. However, the keeper gets up really well to tip it over the top.

Luiz clips a lovely pass over the top for Maicon to run into, but having taken the ball past Boateng he falls to ground in a pathetic attempt to buy a penalty. The Germans want a yellow card, and rightly so, but the referee awards Brazil a corner instead.

Luiz really has got an exceptional passing range about him and he has done fairly well on the ball tonight. However, defensively he has been a liability for his side and he needs to shoulder most of the blame for the defensive disarray in the first half as stand-in captain.

Joachim Low is still urging his side to push forward for more goals in this second half but, while they have threatened a few times on the break, they have certainly taken their foot off the pedal a little since the restart. They are conserving energy for the final, and who can blame them? This game was over as a contest within half an hour.

CHANCE! Neuer is the only sweeper keeper on show! Germany break and have two players completely free in midfield, with the Brazilian defence non-existent. Schweinsteiger plays the ball up to Muller, but Cesar is quick off his line to make a vital interception.

YELLOW CARD! The first card of the evening goes to Dante, who has one nibble at Muller before bringing him down with a late challenge. No complaints for the Bayern Munich man.

It is oh so simple for Germany as they add a sixth to their tally. A simple move down the right sees Lahm and Khedira exchange passes before the former slides the ball across from an unmarked Schurrle to tap home. Muller was also queuing up to finish that, with Brazil's marking going AWOL once again.

BRAZIL SUB: Brazil make a change immediately after that goal as Fred departs to boos and jeers from the home crowd. On comes Willian in his place.

Willian looks to make an instant impact as he cuts inside from the left flank before curling an effort a few yards high and wide. It looks like it may take something special to beat Neuer tonight, and that isn't going to do it.

If Brazil can't get another goal then this will be the biggest ever winning margin in a World Cup semi-final. It has been utter humiliation for the hosts, and tonight will surely overtake the 2-1 defeat in the 1950 World Cup final as the lowest point in Brazilian football history.

GERMANY SUB: Khedira has been exceptional tonight, but his evening is over as he is replaced by the exciting youngster Julian Draxler, who is making his first appearance at this World Cup.

Luiz looks like he could well get himself a red card to do with a woeful defensive performance. He goes into a 50/50 with Muller and isn't happy about it, so goes into another challenge with the clear intention to get Muller rather than the ball. The German manages to dodge the wild swing, and the referee calms the situation down.

When will it end?! This is simply unbelievable! It is far too easy again as Germany get in behind Brazil defence again. The ball is lifted over to Schurrle, who is the wrong side of Luiz, and he fires a magnificent strike into the top corner past Cesar. That is the pick of the bunch so far, and even the Brazilians are on their feet applauding.

CHANCE! Chance at the other end for Brazil as the ball falls to Marcelo on the edge of the box, but the Madrid man has to go for it on his weaker right and scuffs his effort a couple of yards wide.

There have been some incredible results over the years, but I think this is the most astounding scoreline I have ever seen. For Germany to be 7-0 up against Brazil in a Brazilian World Cup semi-final is staggering. I've never seen anything like it.

The Brazilian fans have now seemingly decided to switch allegiances to Germany, such has been the humiliation of their side today. As well as applauding that Schurrle strike they are now giving Germany the 'Ole!' treatment, cheering every successful pass. Incredible scenes.

SAVE! Another save for Neuer to make, but it is a comfortable one. He gets down low to his left to stop an effort from Ramires before bouncing back up and looking to launch another attack. Whoever will face Germany in the final will have a tough job getting past this keeper.

I said before the match that there may be sympathy for Brazil if they lose today given that they are missing their two best players, but it is safe to say that the manner of this defeat means that won;t be the case. There will be some damning post-mortems after this.

Oscar is slipped in down the left channel but he has no-one inside the box to aim for as he toe-pokes an effort wide from an impossible angle. Moments later Bernard comes forward but sends a wild strike over the bar.

CHANCE! It should be eight! Ozil is slipped through the middle and only has the keeper to beat, but his finish is dreadful as he scuffs it well wide.

The slimmest consolation imaginable for Brazil as Oscar is sent through on goal, with Neuer slow off his line for once. The Chelsea man beats his marker before slamming it past Neuer straight down the middle. The comeback is on!

The Brazilians sink to their knees in prayer at the final whistle, and they better be praying for forgiveness after that shambolic performance. It was an utter capitulation from the hosts, and this simply has to be the lowest point in the history of such a great footballing nation. They were completely outclassed tonight and can not even have any complaints at being on the end of one of the most incredible results in football history.

The game was well and truly over as a contest with 30 minutes after Germany had opened the scoring in the 11th minute through Muller following some poor defending from a corner. Miroslav Klose then kicked off a spell of four goals in the space of six incredible minutes, netting a rebound to become the highest scoring player in World Cup history with his 16th strike.

Toni Kroos then got in on the act with two goals in the space of a minute, the first a brilliant strike from the edge of the box and the second a simple finish having caught Fernandinho in possession in a dangerous area. Khedira added a fifth in the 29th minute after another swift break to pile even more misery onto the desolate Brazilians.

Schurrle scored two more after come on as a sub in the second half, with the second being a superb strike from a tight angle. Oscar added the slightest piece of consolation late on as Oscar slammed home a goal, but that will barely be remembered in what was an incredible 90 minutes of football. I don't think we have ever seen anything like that. Brazil were humiliated and humbled.

Right, that is all we have time for tonight. Thank you for joining Sports Mole for what was the most incredible of evenings as the semi-finals of the World Cup got off to an unbelievable start. Host Brazil are out having been thrashed 7-1 by Germany, who progress to the final at the Maracana on Sunday. I will leave you with our match report from this staggering night, and be sure to stick around for reaction, analysis and ratings - you won't want to miss them! Join us again for the second semi-final tomorrow as Argentina take on Holland. From me, though, it is goodbye for now.