“We know your pain”

“You haveGermany midfielder Mesut Ozil on Brazilian people a beautiful country, wonderful people and amazing footballers — this match may not destroy your pride!” 

“I didn’t like Brazil from the start, but I didn’t think Germany were going to be so imposing, so devastating, so decisive. Brazil just didn’t turn up and I think the worst thing for Brazil is that they gave an extremely poor image. Germany were strong but the Brazil players simply weren’t on the pitch. I’m sorry because Brazil was so proud of its team, they wanted to reach the final, but football gives you these hammer-blows,” Diego Maradona

“I always said that football is a box of surprises. Nobody in this world expected this result. We’ll get the sixth title in Russia. Congratulations to Germany,” Pele

For a team that had just crushed hosts Brazil 7-1, smashed a few records, and reached a World Cup final, Germany’s manager and players were astonishingly cool. Clearly as stunned by the game as the Brazilians themselves, the Germans showed the utmost respect towards their humiliated and weeping rivals, hugging and consoling them at the end.

They also chose their words carefully afterwards, expressing sympathy for Brazil’s pain and keeping the focus firmly on Sunday’s final rather than celebrating their astonishing win. “Until today, Brazil played a magnificent World Cup. They are a great team with great players,” said magnanimous coach Joachim Loew, avoiding any semblance of ‘schadenfreude’, the word Germany gave the world for delighting in another’s pain. “As hosts, they have delivered a fantastic tournament.”

Germany’s understanding of Brazil’s pain comes from their own traumatic semi-final defeat on home soil in 2006, though the 2-0 extra time loss to Italy was hardly as devastating. Brazil’s loss was the most shocking in World Cup history and their first home defeat in 64 competitive matches since 1975. “We had great hopes in 2006 too and you can feel the pressure that the hosts have in a match like this,” Loew said.

Toni Kroos, who scored two goals, was named man of the match and the midfielder’s strongest performance in the World Cup epitomized Germany’s improved game.

“We started getting a goal every five minutes and put the match away quickly,” said Kroos. “It was an unbelievable match… We beat Brazil in their own country. That’s impressive by itself. But we’re not at our goal yet. We want to win on Sunday,” said Kroos.