World Cup tales part 8: When Germany thumped Brazil to leave host nation in mourning

Few World Cup matches have left the football world in disbelief quite like Germany's demolition of Brazil in 2014.The scoreline alone, all these years on, remains almost impossible to comprehend: Germany 7, Brazil 1.At the time, Brazil were not only the hosts of the tournament but also the most successful nation in World Cup history. The Seleção had won the competition five times and had spent years dreaming of lifting the trophy on home soil.Instead, they suffered arguably the most humiliating defeat ever seen at a World Cup. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say The match took place on July 8, 2014, in Belo Horizonte.Brazil entered the semi-final under immense pressure. Expectations had been sky-high from the moment the tournament began, with supporters desperate to erase the painful memories of the famous Maracanazo defeat to Uruguay in the decisive match of the 1950 World Cup.But warning signs had already appeared.Brazil had lost star forward Neymar to injury during their quarter-final victory over Colombia after a challenge from Juan Camilo Zúñiga left him with a fractured vertebra.Captain Thiago Silva was also suspended after picking up a booking in the same match.Even so, few could have imagined what was about to unfold.The opening stages were relatively even before Germany struck in the 11th minute through Thomas Müller.What followed was one of the most astonishing collapses in football history.In the space of just six minutes, Germany scored four more goals.Miroslav Klose made it 2-0 and, in the process, became the outright leading goalscorer in World Cup history with his 16th goal in the competition.Then came goals a brace from Toni Kroos and another from Sami Khedira as Brazil's defence completely disintegrated.By the 29th minute, Germany were 5-0 ahead.The home crowd, who had grown angry and saddened in equal measure, could scarcely believe what they were witnessing.Supporters stood in silence. Some were seen crying in the stands. Others simply stared in shock as one of football's greatest nations unravelled before their eyes.Germany, meanwhile, continued to play with ruthless efficiency.LATEST SPORTS NEWS:Christian Eriksen health update as Denmark FA release statement after player collapses againLewis Hamilton makes Kim Kardashian admission after podium finish at Monaco Grand PrixCristiano Ronaldo footage alarms football fans ahead of sixth World Cup with PortugalAndré Schürrle added two more goals in the second half to make it 7-0 before Oscar grabbed a late consolation for Brazil in stoppage time.The final whistle brought relief for the hosts.In truth, the damage could easily have been even greater.Germany's victory instantly entered football folklore.No host nation had ever suffered such a heavy defeat at a World Cup. It was Brazil's heaviest defeat in a competitive international match and their worst loss since a 6-0 defeat to Uruguay in 1920.The result sent shockwaves around the world.Newspapers described the match as a national tragedy. Television channels replayed the goals repeatedly. Images of devastated Brazilian supporters became some of the defining photographs of the tournament.The defeat was quickly given a name.In Brazil, it became known simply as the Mineirazo – a reference to the Mineirão Stadium where the match was played and an echo of the Maracanazo defeat that had haunted the country for generations.For Germany, the victory paved the way for World Cup glory.Joachim Löw's side went on to defeat Argentina 1-0 in the final thanks to Mario Götze's extra-time winner, securing Germany's fourth World Cup title.Yet even that triumph is often overshadowed by what happened four days earlier against the hosts of the summer showpiece.The semi-final became far more than just a football match.It was the day one of the sport's greatest powers suffered an unprecedented collapse in front of its own supporters. A result so extraordinary that many fans still check the scoreline twice when they see it.More than a decade later, 7-1 remains instantly recognisable to football supporters across the globe.Nobody who watched it will ever forget it. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter