On July 8, 2014, Brazil and Germany played out a scarcely believable football match.
So brutal was the hosts’ World Cup semi-final mauling that it will forever be known as simply “the 7-1”.
But it’s easy to forget that right up until kick-off, it was just like any other semi-final at a major international tournament.
To mark the first anniversary of the game, JOE has gone back in time to tell the whole story.
The prelude came during Brazil’s quarter-final four days earlier, with victory over Colombia coming at a cost.
https://twitter.com/psharland55/status/486547263863275520
Logic says Germany will beat Brazil without Neymar here in Belo Horizonte today – but the home fans create an atmosphere almost unmatched.
— Phil McNulty (@philmcnulty) July 8, 2014
But the loss of two key players didn’t prevent the Brazilian fans from showing up in high spirits, just like their German counterparts.
Fans of Brazil arrive at Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte #WorldCup #Bra #Ger pic.twitter.com/DEzM1JQ29F
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) July 8, 2014
German fans soak up the atmosphere before kick-off this evening #GER pic.twitter.com/rU46MWmJ3c
— Transfer HQ (@Transfer__HQ) July 8, 2014
The first worry for Brazil came when the team sheets were printed, with Paris Saint-Germain’s David Luiz listed as a Chelsea player. Perhaps they should have seen it as an omen.
David Luiz down as playing for Chelsea on the team sheets. pic.twitter.com/usSzKn8fEl
— . (@FutureKendrx) July 8, 2014
Still, it was all going according to plan for the hosts as the game got under way.
Early stages, but brazil. RT @GarethCliff: Who's looking stronger to you? #GER or #BRA ?
— Soul .͡▹sTar ® (@Mantshut) July 8, 2014
However with Thiago Silva missing, the Brazilian marking soon went to pot.
On another day, Miroslav Klose’s second – breaking Ronaldo’s all-time World Cup goalscoring record – would have been the story of the evening.
However, it was soon clear that Brazil’s defenders would find a way to take the attention away from that particular stat.
https://twitter.com/footballwheel/status/486644023671914496
https://twitter.com/footballwheel/status/486644372323442688
Brazil in a single Vine… 5-0 is just… Woah. https://t.co/jqkEs5VUIo #GermanyVSBrazil
— Life at Deloitte US (@lifeatdeloitte) July 8, 2014
A 5-0 scoreline at half-time launched a thousand comparisons…
https://twitter.com/Priya8Ramesh/status/486609483825573889
This is like some collective hallucination that we’re all having.
— Lauren 🐝 (@fateiskind) July 8, 2014
At a Brazilian bar. It’s like being at a funeral where the guests thought they were going to a surprise birthday party.
— Jamie (@JamieCutteridge) July 8, 2014
If we thought the Germans were going to ease off in the second half, we were wrong. André Schürrle was on, and he wanted to stake his claim for a starting spot in the final. Of course, we should have been prepared for this.
https://twitter.com/Callum_TH/status/486611142320873474
https://twitter.com/footballwheel/status/486645237868404736
Brazil finally got on the scoresheet with seconds to spare, as Oscar showed some of the fighting spirit that was lacking earlier on.
It might have just been a consolation, but it was enough to rile a couple of people.
Dammit, Oscar. Nil rhymed with Brazil. You git.
— Luke. (@darth_crooks) July 8, 2014
Oscar's goal meant absolutely nothing tonight. Yet Manuel Neuer was utterly disgusted to have let one in. What a man/goalkeeper.
— Daniel Taylor (@DTathletic) July 8, 2014
At full-time there was a mixture of pride (from the German players), tears (from the Brazilians) and complete shock (from everyone else).
It seemed like the defeated players just needed a hug, and thankfully this was one time that Thiago Silva’s injury didn’t stop him from contributing.
Thiago Silva showing love to David Luiz after the tough loss. The emotion this sport has is like no other! pic.twitter.com/bxZGgg8Ek6
— Chelsea Story (@cfc_story) July 8, 2014
Even a year on, the shock hasn’t really subsided for some.
It will take a lot to surpass Germany 7-1 Brazil as the most momentous result in World Cup history. There’s every chance that nothing will ever come close.
