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RIO DE JANEIRO. — Germany’s 7-1 thrashing of Brazil in the World Cup soccer semi-final was a “hammer-blow” that has damaged the hosts’ image around the world, Argentine great Diego Maradona said. The astonishing reverse was Brazil’s record World Cup defeat, their first loss at home in 64 competitive matches since 1975, and the first time they had lost by six goals in any match since Uruguay beat them 6-0 in the Copa America in 1920.

“I said Germany were better than Brazil, I didn’t like Brazil from the start, but I didn’t think Germany were going to be so imposing, so devastating, so decisive,” the former World Cup winner said on a chat-show late on Tuesday.

“Brazil just didn’t turn up and I think the worst thing for Brazil is that they gave an extremely poor image. OK, Germany were strong but the Brazil players simply weren’t on the pitch.”

Maradona knows what it is like to be humiliated by Germany: he managed Argentina at the World Cup four years ago where the Germans beat his team 4-0 in the quarter-finals. That, he argued on the Venezuelan-based TV network Telesur, was different, because Argentina fought harder and let in three late goals rather than capitulate from the start.

“I’m sorry because Brazil was so proud of its team, they wanted to reach the final, but football gives you these hammer-blows,” Maradona added. — AFP.