Brazil’s defense falls apart without Thiago Silva

Brazil's David Luiz is consoled by teammate Thiago Silva as they walk off the pitch after the World Cup semifinal soccer match between Brazil and Germany at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Tuesday, July 8, 2014. Germany has routed host Brazil 7-1 and advanced to the final of the World Cup. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana, Pool) Brazil's David Luiz is consoled by teammate Thiago Silva as they walk off the pitch after the World Cup semifinal soccer match between Brazil and Germany at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Tuesday, July 8, 2014. Germany has routed host Brazil 7-1 and advanced to the final of the World Cup. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana, Pool)

By Associated Press July 8, 2014 1 min read

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (AP) – Forget Neymar for a second and consider just how badly Brazil missed Thiago Silva in defense.

The host nation’s backline was relentlessly picked apart Tuesday in the World Cup semifinals, allowing Germany to score goal after goal in a 7-1 loss that will stand as a national embarrassment in a country credited with creating “The Beautiful Game.”

Germany’s potent attack certainly played a role in the debacle, but so did the suspension of Silva, Brazil’s captain.

Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar says “it’s very hard to explain the unexplainable.”

The Germans first broke through in the 11th minute, with Thomas Mueller scoring. That was followed by a goal from Miroslav Klose in the 23rd, then two from Toni Kroos in the 24th and 26th, and one from Sami Khedira in the 29th.