Brazil won't be rushing to become hosts of another World Cup. Sixty-four years on from their traumatic de facto final defeat to Uruguay in the Maracanã their mediocrity was sensationally exposed by a ruthless Germany that appropriately gifted the watching world unbridled schadenfreude.
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There are few redeeming features about this Brazil side, which made their humiliation so satisfying. Better sides, such as Chile and Colombia, came unstuck against the Seleção's pent up machismo and thuggish tactics. You can almost always rely on Germany to brutally demolish weak opponents, though.
Ironically for defenders, Maicon, David Luíz, Dante and Marcelo are all atrocious at defending and they had a goalkeeper behind them who couldn't get on Queens Park Rangers' bench last season. Brazil were overdue a hiding and, like all great thumpings, they were complicit in their downfall.
Germany celebrate one of their seven goals against the bad Brazilians
Some could have been forgiven for thinking Neymar, absent with a back injury, had died. Brazil wore "Força Neymar" caps, Luíz and Júlio César held his shirt aloft during the national anthem as if he was a deceased soldier while a fan displayed a message reassuring everyone "Neymar's soul is here".
Neymar, Neymar, Neymar. "Olé Neymar," they shouted in the tunnel. Plenty said Brazil were a one-man team and their players and coach confirmed it and, inevitably, it had an effect on the misfits blitzed by Germany.
Brazil progressed to the semi-finals on a tidal wave of patriotism, not dissimilar to England at past tournaments. There is an emphasis on hollering the national anthem, tackling hard and hoofing the ball. Brazilian fans have fanatically lapped it up like Stoke City supporters and intimidated opponents overawed by a sea of yellow. Germany silenced the samba.
Luíz, especially, was gutless, and should have held Thiago Silva's shirt aloft instead. Captain in place of the suspended centre-back, Germany's annihilation of Brazil confirmed Luíz's dependence on a teammate he will join at Paris Saint-Germain next season. The distance between him and Dante in the seconds before Germany's fourth goal was almost as wide as the chasm between the two countries' footballing ability, yet he barely jogged back towards his own penalty area. He had, effectively, given up.
But of course, Luíz dropped to his knees to pray at the final whistle and then blubbed like an X Factor winner. He resembles Sideshow Bob, Krusty the Clown's erstwhile sidekick, and these were tears of a clown.
Brazil's capitulation will inevitably detract from Germany's merciless performance. The most entertaining side to watch at the 2010 finals, and arguably 2006 as well, their attitude even as the goals flew in at the rate of a computer game match was exemplary. They looked barely bothered after Kroos made it three. The attitude and mentality within Joachim Löw's squad is the antithesis of Luiz Felipe Scolari's: composed, focused and determined. Brazil were animated, frenzied and distracted.
Germany are an eminently likeable side. Laden with enterprising and ebullient players, they scored 14 goals at the 2006 World Cup, 16 in 2010 and 17 this year. Despite their lofty expectations, it is testament to Löw's coaching he has taken the country to a first World Cup final since 1990 having had to deal with numerous injury concerns, especially the withdrawal of the talismanic Marco Reus. His loss has been the prolific André Schürrle's gain.
Lars Bender and İlkay Gündoğan also missed the tournament through injury, intensifying the pressure on Sami Khedira, whose season with Real Madrid was ravaged by a long-term knee injury. Khedira was outstanding against Brazil and brought off early knowing he would line up for the final.
Europe's dark history has become less significant at sporting events in the 21st century. England fans' positive experience in a sun-kissed Germany at the 2006 World Cup has fortified a friendly rivalry, and football followers in the UK glance enviably at German stadia's safe standing, the economical cost of tickets and choreographed atmosphere their supporters conduct.
Twelve years ago, the only Germans on British shores that wanted them to beat Brazil in the World Cup final were at the embassy. Not anymore.