Miroslav Klose said he was not in the mood for his customary somersault celebration after claiming a record 16th World Cup goal in Germany's historic 7-1 drubbing of Brazil on Tuesday.

Despite his 23rd-minute effort in a devastating five-goal first-half haul for the Germans, Klose revealed why he decided against his usual somersault celebration.

"I had taken a knock to my left foot so I wasn't really up for a somersault," quipped Klose.

As Brazil learned to their cost in Belo Horizonte, it is best not to give Klose a second chance as the hosts suffered a humiliating record defeat.

The 36-year-old tapped home after seeing his first effort saved by Julio Cesar to pass Brazilian legend Ronaldo and claim the scoring record outright.

"It's hard to find the words after a game like that," he said.

"We had a great, great start and the harmony we have showed is just like we've had in training.

"We are united and you could see that on the pitch."

While the modest Klose preferred to reflect on an outstanding team display, Germany head coach Joachim Loew poured praise on the veteran.

"It really means a lot to all of us," said Loew.

"It is something really great for Miroslav because if you have scored the most goals in the history of the World Cup it is something extraordinary.

"At his age, he is still playing at a very high level and is dangerous when it comes to scoring goals."

Klose is yet to win a World Cup, but after adding semi-final heartache in 2006 and 2010 to defeat in the 2002 final, his time may have come when Germany meet Argentina or the Netherlands in Sunday's final in Rio de Janeiro.

Germany will be heavy favourites whoever they meet at the Maracana based on this performance as they feasted on a wounded Brazil shorn of suspended captain Thiago Silva and injured superstar Neymar.

Klose may have to enjoy his record whilst it lasts given the ease with which his teammate Thomas Mueller is finding the net on football's biggest stage.

Mueller quietened a fervent home crowd as he took advantage of some awful Brazilian defending to turn home his 10th World Cup goal in just his 12th appearance.

Klose's moment then arrived midway through the first-half as he showed his predatory instincts to pounce after Cesar had done well to parry his first effort.

With Brazil clearly rattled, Germany showed no mercy having fallen just short of glory at their last four major tournaments.

Toni Kroos brilliantly smashed home Philipp Lahm's cross to make it 3-0 and added his second of the game two minutes later from Sami Khedira's cutback.

Brazil had no answer to Germany's famed pressing and added a fifth when Khedira robbed the ball in the Brazilian half and exchanged passes with Mesut Ozil before slotting home.

Despite their astonishment at seeing hopes of a sixth World Cup emphatically ended, many of the Brazil fans joined the German faithful in applauding Klose from the field as he was replaced by Andre Schuerrle just before the hour mark.

And it was Schuerrle who was to rub further salt in Brazil's wounds as he took advantage of another Lahm assist for Germany's sixth.

The best of the lot was to come from the Chelsea winger, though, as he volleyed home off the underside of the bar 11 minutes from time.

By that point many of the locals had upped and left, but those who stayed were on their feet again to applaud Schuerrle's strike and the German lesson they had just been taught.