Brazil 1-7 Germany: Where are they now?

The FIFA World Cup is the most watched sporting spectacle on the planet, with a reported average viewership of over 3.5 billion per tournament. It's also probably the most prestigious trophy on offer in the sport.

The World Cup has given us several memorable moments - Maradona's "Hand of God", Gordon Banks' "save of the century" against Pele, Cameroon defeating defending champions Argentina 1-0 with 9 men in 1990.

But several years from now, you can say with a certain level of confidence that Germany's 7-1 demolition of hosts Brazil in 2014 will be right up there with them.

That match broke quite a few records - Germany's biggest win in a World Cup, Miroslav Klose became the World Cup's record goalscorer and Brazil's biggest ever margin of defeat among them.

To be fair to the hosts, they came into the match without Neymar and captain Thiago Silva but you can be excused for thinking that the game would be a close affair. After all, the Brazilians were playing on home turf, and they still had a squad decent enough to beat the Germans.

Instead, the 58,000 fans who turned up at Belo Horizonte witnessed a footballing humiliation unlike any other. The Germans were 5-0 up within 29 minutes, and added two more by the 79th minute.

Here we take a look at the players who took part in that historic match, and where they are now.

Brazil defence

Julio Cesar

The semifinal against Brazil will probably not be his fondest memory

The 38-year-old goalkeeper is still on the books at Benfica, but it's fair to say that retirement is on the cards after having made only 3 appearances this season.

He's had quite the memorable career, having established himself as a world-class player at Inter, before losing his no. 1 status at QPR to the likes of Rob Green, and then again winning the Portuguese league's Best Goalkeeper award in 2015.

His 87 caps for Brazil shows that he is one of their best goalkeepers of this century, but his performance against Germany was probably one of his worst.

Maicon

Maicon also briefly played for Roma after leaving Man City

The right-back is another Brazilian Inter Milan veteran on the list, having made 177 appearances for them in 7 years. He's also represented the likes of Monaco, Manchester City, Roma and Cruzeiro in his career.

Maicon, at his peak, was one of the best-attacking fullbacks in the world, contributing equally to defence and attack with his insane work rate, crossing and pace.

At 36 years old, he currently plies his trade with Avai FC, a Brazilian top-tier club. He signed for them in May, marking his return to his home country 13 years after he joined Monaco from Cruzeiro.

David Luiz

PSG signed David Luiz barely a month before the semifinal

Barely a month after joining French champions PSG from Chelsea for £50 million, David Luiz captained his country in that fateful match against the eventual champions.

The long-haired Brazilian was at fault for the opening goal, failing to mark Thomas Muller at the far post from a corner.

Thankfully for PSG, he had quite a successful career in France, winning consecutive Ligue 1 titles in his two seasons there. He returned to Chelsea in 2016 and is still an integral part of Antonio Conte's three-man defence.

Dante

Dante hangs his head in dejection after a Germany goal

The only reason Dante played in the semifinal was because of Thiago Silva's injury. It's understandable that he has only 13 caps for Brazil, given that he plays in the same era as quite a few talented defenders like Miranda, Silva and Luiz.

He's perhaps best known for his time at Bayern where he won three Bundesliga titles and one Champions League title. He was almost consistently first choice at centre-back for them (especially during their treble-winning campaign) before moving to Wolfsburg in 2015

His slow pace has always been an issue and he was helpless against the likes of Muller, Ozil and Kroos.

He's currently with Nice and has established himself as the first choice centre-back for the French club. He's already 34 though, and probably has only a couple more years left.

Marcelo

Marcelo is probably the best attacking fullback in the game right now

Possibly the best left back of his generation, Germany's narrow approach against Brazil effectively negated any contributions he could have made.

He joined Real Madrid from Fluminense in 2007 and has been tearing it up in Spain ever since. His pace, dribbling and crossing are better than that of most wingers and he provides an unlikely attacking outlet down the left whenever Real find themselves in a fix.

Real signed him as a long-term replacement for Roberto Carlos, and he's managed to deal with the pressure that comes with it very effectively.

At the age of 29, he's hardly shown any signs of slowing down, and still has a solid 3-4 years left in him.

Brazil midfield

Fernandinho

Silva and De Bruyne might hog the headlines but Fernandinho is responsible for making City's midfield tick

Fernandinho was signed by Man City a year before the World Cup, and he's been present in the blue half of Manchester ever since.

Possessing unnatural pace for a defensive midfielder, he plays an important role in Pep Guardiola's revolution at City, providing defensive stability to ensure that David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne are left free to work their magic higher up the pitch.

He also doesn't hesitate to move further up the pitch to participate in attack and his occasional long-range efforts almost always hit the target. He turned 32 in May, but his performances and consistency indicate that he will remain in Guardiola's future plans for quite some time.

Luiz Gustavo

Gustavo in action for Brazil in the World Cup Qualifiers

Gustavo was with compatriot Dante at both Bayern and Wolfsburg, before joining Marseilles this summer. He's already scored 2 goals in just 8 appearances for the former French champions.

He's still only 30 but unfortunately, the emergence of younger players like Paulinho and Casemiro means that his career with the national team is most likely over.

He's a typical utility player, having played at left back, centre back and defensive midfield. He wasn't quite good enough to be a regular first teamer for Bayern but he has settled in well now in France.

Oscar

Oscar scores his team's consolation goal in the dying minutes of the match

Former Chelsea playmaker Oscar received plenty of criticism when he chose to move to China to join Shanghai SIPG, given that he was only 25 years old.

Oscar was popular at Chelsea, having put in some scintillating performances as a central attacking midfielder but fell out of favour with Jose Mourinho in his horrendous final season.

His playing style has even been compared with that of Kaka but his decision to move to China might well cost him the chance to have been much more of a regular with his national team.

He's teammates with Hulk in China now, but you can't help but feel that he could have made so much more out of his career.

Brazil forwards

Hulk

Hulk is currently banging in the goals for Shanghai SIPG

Hulk will forever be remembered by fans and critics alike for never being able to live up to his potential. His blistering pace, fierce shooting and imposing physique make him dangerous down the right, or as a striker.

For a player with such extraordinary talent, the fact that he never played in a major European league will always be a major missing piece of the puzzle in his career.

He did win a bucket load of titles with Porto and Zenit but ended up making a much-criticised move to China in 2016, where he's still lighting up the Chinese Super League with Shanghai SIPG.

Bernard

Bernard tussles for the ball with Khedira

Bernard currently wears no. 10 for Shakhtar and plays both as a winger or attacking midfielder.

Having come through the ranks at Atletico Mineiro, he was spotted by Shakhtar who eventually signed him in 2013 for €25 million, although it was believed that Bernard himself favoured a move to Porto.

He has only 14 caps for Brazil, and given that there is no shortage of attackers and midfielders in the national team right now, the chances of him breaking into the squad seem very slim.

He's been previously linked with Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs, but none of those moves materialised. He's still an integral squad member of Shakhtar though, having won 7 trophies with them so far. Still only 25, he has a long way to go.

Fred

Fred also played for Lyon before joining Fluminense

Fred is perhaps best known for scoring one of the fastest goals in professional football history, having scored at 3.17 seconds against Vila Nova for Atletico Mineiro.

He moved to Lyon from Cruzeiro in 2005, and enjoyed a decent amount of success in France, winning 3 Ligue 1 titles. Ultimately, the emergence of Karim Benzema limited his first-team opportunities and he signed a pre-contract agreement with Fluminense.

The major chunk of his club career was spent at the Rio de Janeiro based club. In his 8 seasons there, he experienced varying degrees of success but did win two league titles.

He joined Atletico Mineiro from Fluminense in 2016 but at 34 years old, his impressive career is close to an end.

Germany defence

Manuel Neuer

Manuel Neuer won the Golden Glove at the 2014 World Cup

There's nothing to say about this man that hasn't already been said. He was called upon in the second half when the Brazilians tried to hit back, with his highlight of the match being an incredible double save off Paulinho.

Neuer was signed from Schalke for a reported fee of €20 million and has been present in Munich since. He's won five consecutive Bundesliga titles cementing his place as one of the best goalkeepers of all time.

He took up the mantle of captain for both Bayern and Germany following Lahm's retirement but is currently out injured for the German champions after a foot injury sustained in April.

Philippe Lahm

Philippe Lahm won the Champions League final at Wembley in 2013

The legendary right back/defensive midfielder is a one-club man, having spent his entire career at Bayern (except for a loan spell at Stuttgart), where he won an eye-popping eight Bundesliga titles and one Champions League.

Lahm started off his career as a left back. Under Louis van Gaal in 2009, he was moved to his preferred position on the right and his performances meant that he was pretty much the first choice right up to his retirement.

He was also utilised as a defensive midfielder by Guardiola with the Spanish boss hailing him as "the most intelligent player" he had ever coached.

He retired following the end of last season, having won practically everything the game has to offer.

Jerome Boateng

Boateng has established himself as one of Germany finest defenders

It's amazing that at one point of time, Jerome was considered the worst footballer in his family. His brother (Kevin-Prince) was always thought to be more talented.

Bayern signed him from Man City in 2011 for €13.5 million. Since then he's been a constant part of the Bayern and Germany setup having won 68 caps for his national team so far, and he's still only 29.

The signing of Niklas Sule and Mats Hummels means that his first team opportunities might be limited. But for a club like Bayern, having a world class defender like Boateng as a backup is crucial, especially, during fixture congestions towards the end of the season.

Mats Hummels

Hummels in action for Bayern against his former club

Hummels came through the youth system at Bayern before joining Dortmund for just €4 million, where he firmly established himself as a world-class centre back.

Bayern re-signed him in 2016, two years after the World Cup, a move which drew a lot of criticism from Dortmund fans.

He experienced a lot of success with Dortmund, winning two Bundesliga titles, and coming agonisingly close to a Champions League title in 2013 when Dortmund lost 2-1 to Bayern in the final.

He is, without a doubt, both Bayern and Germany's best defender right now.

Benedikt Howedes

Howedes with the 2014 World Cup trophy

While he came through the ranks at Schalke primarily as a centre back, Howedes has mostly been utilised on the left for Germany.

He had an impressive career at Schalke, winning the DFB Pokal in 2011, and made 240 appearances over 10 years. His aerial strength, strong tackling, composure on the ball, and versatility means that he's been used in a variety of positions in his career, including both fullback positions and defensive midfield.

This summer, he was signed by Juventus on loan as an intended replacement for Bonucci but hasn't made an appearance for them yet.

Germany midfield

Sami Khedira

Sami Khedira was absolutely magnificent in that semi-final

Khedira was magnificent in that match against Brazil, scoring the fifth goal in the 29th minute.

He's best remembered for his time at Real Madrid when he won one La Liga and one Champions League title, but he's now an important member of the Juventus squad. He's almost consistently first choice, even after the arrival of Matuidi and Bentancur.

The Italian giants signed him for free in 2015, an absolute bargain.

Bastian Schweinsteiger

Schweinsteiger in action for Chicago Fire

While Schweinsteiger might be known more recently for his disastrous spell at Manchester United, there can be no doubting the incredible influence he has had on both Bayern and Germany.

His tactical intelligence, work rate, set-piece abilities and passing abilities made him an invaluable asset for Bayern during the 13 seasons he spent there.

United agreed to sell him to Chicago Fire in March 2017, where, right now, you can't help but feel that he's punching below his weight.

He retired from the German national team following the 2016 Euros, handing over the armband to Neuer.

Toni Kroos

Kroos scored two goals in that massive win

Possibly the best midfielder in the world right now, he played as a no. 10 in the semifinal and was the Man of the Match for his brace, assist, and 93% passing accuracy.

He's since adapted to a more deeper role at Real Madrid who paid Bayern €25 million for his services-- a laughably low fee in hindsight.

He's been crucial in the Los Blancos' domination of Europe in recent years. His vision, passing accuracy, long-range shooting and set-piece deliveries make him the prototype for the modern-day midfield playmaker.

Germany forwards

Thomas Muller

Muller hammered the first nail in Brazil's coffin

The ultimate footballing paradox, Thomas Muller doesn't possess outrageous pace or dribbling skills but has that knack of turning up at the right place at the right time.

In the preceding FIFA World Cup in 2010, he won the Golden Boot for his five goals and was also voted the Best Young Player. The last couple of seasons has seen him experience an uncharacteristic difficulty in scoring goals. But there's no doubting his abilities and the qualities he brings to Bayern and Germany whenever he steps on the pitch.

He scored Germany's opening goal against Brazil to signal the beginning of the rout. He's still at Bayern and very much a part of Joachim Low's plans for Germany.

At 28 years old, he has a solid 4-5 years left in him.

Mesut Ozil

Ozil celebrates a goal against Stoke at the Emirates

Ozil might be criticised by fans and critics for his very low defensive work rate, but there's absolutely no doubting his abilities.

Ozil was a constant presence on the teamsheet at Real Madrid but still chose to move to Arsenal in 2013 following the acquisitions of Isco and Bale. At Arsenal, he's had several ups and downs but he did win 3 FA Cups in his three seasons in London, assisting twice for Alexis in the 2015 Wembley final against Reading.

At his peak, Ozil's incredible passing range is astounding. At his worst, he can be frustratingly slow on the ball. But he's still very much a part of Wenger's plans at Arsenal, having arrived in London a year before the 2014 World Cup.

Miroslav Klose

Miroslav Klose celebrates his record-breaking goal against Brazil

Klose might not be the first name to come to your mind when you think of legendary strikers, but he will forever go into the history books for being the all-time top goalscorer in World Cups.

His 23rd-minute goal against Brazil was his 16th in four World Cups. He's played for both Werder Bremen and Bayern but the major chunk of his professional career was with Italian side Lazio.

Although his only major trophy during his time in Rome was the 2013 Coppa Italia, he did become the highest non-Italian goalscorer for Lazio when he scored against Fiorentina in the final matchday of the 2015/16 season.

Following his retirement at both club and international level, he is now a part of the German national team's coaching staff.

3 years on

A lot has changed since that historic semifinal - following another humiliation at the hands of the Dutch, Luiz Felipe Scolari tendered his resignation on 15th July. His successor Dunga was sacked after Brazil crashed out of the Copa America in 2016.

Under current head coach Tite, however, things are looking up for the Pentacampeão. Youngsters like Gabriel Jesus, Neymar, Coutinho and Firminho have breathed life into the squad, once again making them a potent force on the global stage and one of the contenders for next summer's showpiece in Russia.

Germany, on the other hand, have not lost steam. Joachim Low remains at the helm, and his tactical genius guided a new look German side filled with upcoming youngsters to the Confederation Cup earlier this year.

Much of that 2014 squad still remains intact in spite of the retirements of Lahm and Schweinsteiger. Much like Brazil, they have a bunch of younger, more energetic players to carry forward the legacy of their predecessors.