‘This was Germany in Kroos control’

Our Sony German Fan Ambassador has had an incredible trip to Brazil, but nothing could have prepared him for his team’s heroics on Tuesday evening.

So Toni Kroos has asked for more money from Bayern Munich? Good timing indeed. Pay him whatever he wants. In fact, they can all double their money after that once-in-a-lifetime performance.

Just a quick word of consolation for the Brazilians contemplating a fate worse than the ‘Maracanazo’ of 1950: we once had to sit through a 5-1 home defeat in a World Cup qualifier. Not as bad as 7-1, but it was against England and it took some living down.

Now if I may return to gloating. That was a performance from the heavens, it really was. Where did it come from? I said before the game that the time is ripe for a German triumph, but I also made the point that offensive football, attacking flair, has not been our forte in this tournament. How wrong I was.

Joachim Low had built this side one a solid defence, but once we saw the opening’s offered up by David Luiz and Dante, a hapless replacement for the suspended Thiago Silva, it was all about moving forward and capitalising.

Three years ago the Selecao of Mano Menezes were beaten 3-2 by Low’s men, in a friendly in Stuttgart, with Menezes describing Mario Gotze as “a Brazilian in all but name”. That’s not a phrase you would use today, but he was brilliant that night.

Brazil have since changed coach, and they will do so again after this embarrassment for Luiz Felipe Scolari. But Germany, until this humbling of their hosts, hadn’t suggested they were about to improve on that night in Stuttgart.

Indeed, when we won the World Cup in 1954, 74 and 90, we didn’t exactly do it with a swagger. There were signs of something good four years ago when Germany dismantled England and Argentina, but then it petered out.

This time, with the World Cup’s new record goalscorer Miroslav Klose, with Thomas Muller, now on five for the tournament, with Kroos and Andre Schurrle after their doubles on Tuesday night … it could be the best of the lot.