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Brazil vs Germany World Cup 2014: Was the 7-1 semi-final defeat the worst of all-time?

Embarrassed, humbled, crushed, thumped, battered, destroyed... however you want to put it, Brazil were thoroughly humiliated by Germany in Belo Horizonte.

The magnitude of the defeat in a World Cup semi-final will forever be remembered. The manager, Luiz Felipe Scolari, described it as the "worst day of my life" and the "worst loss" in Brazil's history.

A strong assessment of Brazil's capitulation, but he might not have gone far enough.

There have been plenty of massive defeats - Tottenham beating Wigan 9-1 in the Premier League a couple of years ago, for example - but rarely do games on the biggest stages produce such embarrassment.

Brazil were so desperate to win this World Cup because they have been haunted by the defeat in the 1950 World Cup final in the Maracana.

Brazil: Germany and Argentina will aim to unleash their firepower on Ghana and Iran respectively as they return to centre stage on Saturday after opening their World Cup campaigns with wins.

Germany, who lead Group G after their impressive 4-0 victory over Portugal, face Ghana in the tropical heat of Fortaleza (Sunday 12am PST). The African side, beaten 2-1 by the United States, need to get something from the game to revive their campaign. After comfortably winning their opening matches at the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2008, three-time World Cup winners Germany were beaten in their second group matches at both tournaments - a trend coach Joachim Loew is aiming to stop on Saturday.

Argentina take their quest for a third World Cup to Belo Horizonte for a match against Iran in Group F (9pm PST).They had to work hard to beat Bosnia 2-1 in their opening match but should have less trouble against unfancied Iran, who held African champions Nigeria to a 0-0 draw. Keeping Argentina´s fearsome forward line of Sergio Aguero, Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Higuain, quiet will be a daunting prospect for Iran´s defence.

Nigeria, in their fifth World Cup, will aim to restore their pride against Bosnia in the other Group F match (Sunday 3am PST) in Cuiaba after a disappointing opening stalemate against Iran. (Reuters)

Should Club Atlético de Madrid beat Real Madrid CF in the Lisbon final, three more countries could claim their first UEFA Champions League winners*, with Arda Turan having the opportunity to become the first Turkish European champion.

Most represented nation among UEFA Champions League winners (non-UEFA nations in bold)

46 Spain

38 Italy

26 Germany, Brazil

24 France

20 England, Netherlands

18 Portugal

11 Argentina

5 Serbia

4 Croatia, Czech Republic

3 Norway, Sweden, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mali, Nigeria

2 Finland, Georgia, Republic of Ireland, Wales

1 Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Switzerland, Ukraine, Australia, Mexico, South Africa, Trinidad & Tobago

NB Individual appearances, not individual players – e.g. Wales's two appearances were both made by Ryan Giggs. 

Winning coaches by nationality

5 Spain, Italy

4 Germany

2 Netherlands, Portugal, Scotland

1 Belgium

NB Individual appearances, not individual coaches – e.g. Scotland's two wins were both achieved by Sir Alex Ferguson. 

Nations with only one winner in a UEFA Champions League final (non-UEFA nations in bold)

Australia: Harry Kewell (Liverpool FC 2004/05)

Austria: David Alaba (FC Bayern München, 2012/13)

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Hasan Salihamidžić (FC Bayern München 2000/01)

Cameroon: Samuel Eto'o (FC Barcelona 2005/05 and 2008/09, FC Internazionale Milano 2009/10)

Denmark: Peter Schmeichel (Manchester United FC, 1998/99)

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: Goran Pandev (FC Internazionale Milano 2009/10)

Georgia: Kakha Kaladze (AC Milan 2002/03 and 2006/07)

Mexico: Rafael Márquez (FC Barcelona 2005/06)

Poland: Jerzy Dudek (Liverpool FC 2004/05)

Romania: Cristian Chivu (FC Internazionale Milano 2009/10)

Russia: Dmitri Alenichev (FC Porto 2003/04)

Scotland: Paul Lambert (Borussia Dortmund 1996/97)

South Africa: Benni McCarthy (FC Porto 2003/04)

Switzerland: Stéphane Chapuisat (Borussia Dortmund 1996/97)

Trinidad & Tobago: Dwight Yorke (Manchester United FC 1998/99)

Ukraine: Andriy Shevchenko (AC Milan 2002/03)

Wales: Ryan Giggs (Manchester United FC 1998/99 and 2007/08)

German giants Borussia Dortmund are looking to sign Swansea striker Wilfried Bony and believe £20m could be an acceptable sum to lure him to Germany, Daily Star reports.

The Ivory Coast striker has been in sensational form in his first Premier League campaign after his £12m move from Vitesse Arnhem last year, scoring 24 goals in 47 games.

His lethal striking tally has gained interest from many European and domestic clubs with Dortmund and Monaco both prime candidates to sign the player.

Jurgen Klopp has already confirmed the signing of Hertha Berlin striker Adrian Ramos to replace Robert Lewandowski, who is set to make his move to Bayern Munich at the end of this season.

Bony however is considered to be another prime target for Klopp, despite his representative Dalibor Lacina stating he is happy where he is.

Lacina said: “We are very happy with what he achieved in his first season at Swansea.

“He’s happy to stay there and it was a good decision to go there. He appreciates that Swansea are the club who gave him his chance in the Premier League.

“He will go to the World Cup in the summer and we think he can be even better next season. He has three years left on his contract and his situation is stable.”

The former Manchester United stalwart believes the struggling Germany international would have benefited from the privileges the Portugal superstar enjoyed at Old Trafford

Gary Neville believes Arsene Wenger is responsible for Mesut Ozil’s recent struggles and should have afforded his record signing the sort of privileges Sir Alex Ferguson afford Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United.

Ozil endured another disappointing night, substituted at half time with a hamstring injury following an anonymous display, as the Gunners exited the Champions League at the last 16 stage at the hands of Bayern Munich for the second season in succession.

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The Germany international appeared to have returned to his best form during the crushing 4-1 win over Everton in the FA Cup last weekend but cut a dejected and frustrated figure at the Allianz Arena and Neville feels he is paying the price for being overburdened by his manager.

“Ozil getting a hard time. He's obviously dipped this last couple of months and the first season in a new league (without a Christmas break) can take some getting used to even with the price tag,” tweeted the former Manchester United stalwart.

“At the moment looks like he's finding it difficult mentally. However Arsenal are better for having him and he will return stronger.

“On the lack of a Christmas break--- no excuse really for an experienced manager. He could have given him one first two weeks in January - Ronaldo used to get one!”

England's trouble with penalty shootouts has become a defining characteristic and running joke over the last 20-plus years. Since losing to West Germany through a shootout in the semifinals of the 1990 World Cup, England have lost six of seven shootouts at major tournaments. The most recent was against Italy in the quarterfinals of Euro 2012 and their lone success in that span came against Spain in the quarterfinals of Euro 96 (just before they lost to Germany again in shootout at the end of their semifinal).

Eager to avoid the seeming inevitability of this happening again, England manager Roy Hodgson is considering action. From the BBC:

Hogdson says he will also consider a psychologist to work on spot-kicks.

"We have some confident penalty-takers, but others less confident and it's how we get to them," he told Sky Sports.

And that's where Hodgson is wrong. Confidence isn't the problem — incentive is.

Of course these players are all top competitors and want to win, but in many cases one can miss a penalty and still be victorious either through teammates making theirs or the other side missing too. Customized incentives for each individual shooter, however, would stop them from thinking they're just one piece of a team with a comfy safety net around them and reinforce the selfishness and greed necessary in this unnatural one on one situation. Plus incentives are the only thing that work with footballers these days. Just look at Wayne Rooney. Man United handed him a new £300,000 a week contract because he said he wanted out and the very next day he scored a pretty goal for them.

So with that in mind, these are the special rewards Roy Hodgson should dangle in front of his (potential) penalty takers to ensure shootout success...

Wayne Rooney — An extra £300,000 a week, courtesy of The FA, on top of the £300,00 a week Man United are now giving him. (Payments will continue every week until he misses).

Daniel Sturridge — Inclusion of his goal celebration to a future edition of Dance Dance Revolution.

Steven Gerrard — Robot Phil Collins capable of performing the musician's entire catalog any time and any place. Only requires one eight-hour power charge every two weeks.

James Milner — "The History of History Books" coffee table book.

Leighton Baines — A new telephone number so David Moyes can no longer call him in the middle of the night and, with a quivering voice, say "Leighton, I need you."

Jack Wilshere — A likable personality.

Danny Welbeck — The complete Back to the Future trilogy on Blu-ray.

Frank Lampard — A map that will lead him to pirate treasure and/or a Starbucks gift card.

Gary Cahill — A Tibetan Mastiff also named Gary.

Glen Johnson — 87 toilet seats.

So that solves that problem. I will gladly accept whatever you were going to pay that worthless psychologist, Roy.