World Cup 2014. July 8th.Germany 7-1 Brazil.
In Brazil.
It still hasn't FULLY sunk in yet.As most of us can still clearly remember, Brazil capitulated in the first-half, conceding a mammoth five goals in the space of a brief 18 minutes. After concedingtwo more goals in the second-half, Brazil managed a scant consolation, but never has a goal meant less.
Watching the match was a surreal experience; can you imagine what it felt like to play in it? ESPECIALLY if you were Brazilian??
Despite the elation they must have felt, there must alsohave been a sense of awkwardness within the German ranks; that tends to happen when you destroy the hopes of an entire nation.
In their own back yard.
Well,'awkward' was certainly howArsenal playmakerMesut Ozil felt, as he revealed a tell-all interview.
Recalling the fateful day, Ozil - who played the full 90 minutes - has now revealed what he said to Brazil centre-back David Luiz after the match.
All the players, as well as me on the pitch was a little bit surprised. But after 20 minutes, 4-0, you can realise ˜what happened here?', Ozil told Arsenal Player. If you lose a big game like that in your country and you see the fans outside crying, the players crying, you feel with them.
"So what I did, I went to David Luiz and said 'I really apologise. You have a nice country, nice people.''
A classy move from a player who found some humility amidst the fact he'd just completed what was arguably the finest 90 minutes of his career. It's not often you're part of a collective that wins a World Cup semi-final by any margin, let alone 7-1.
Of course, Germany went on to win the final against Germany, and Ozil readily admits that the World Cup triumph is the highlight of hiscareer thus far.
I think that is the best moment in my career. Holding the cup in my hands. Of course, emotions that you can't realise. You are happy, you celebrate with your teammates, with the fans but even in the hotel it's like 'you won the cup', you can't realise.''
What proved a nightmare for Luiz was evidently a dream for Ozil.