Brazil 1-7 Germany- Nicholas Lyon
On the 8th of July 2014 on a moderately cool, compared to the rest of the tournament, Brazilian Evening in the Estadio Mineirão, the World Cup semi-final was about commence. Brazil, who were the host nation, were playing Germany. Even though Brazil had played relatively poorly in the preceding rounds, largely relying on moments of brilliance from Neymar, who was injured for the Semi-final, the Brazilian fans still expected them to beat Germany and go on to win the World Cup.
The game started and Germany won a corner in the 11th minute, which was taken by Phillip Lahm and finished in a controlled fashion by Thomas Muller on the volley. A bad start but nothing could prepare the fans of the Brazil for what was coming next. Then suddenly within the space of 16 minutes Germany had scored another 4 goals. The Brazilian fans in the Estadio Mineirão, as well the Brazilian fans at their homes, couldn't believe what just happened. Brazil 5-0 down in a World Cup Semi-final hosted in Brazil.
Their misery was further compounded by 2 well finished goals from Andre Schürrle. Brazils Oscar scored in the 90thminute but that wasn’t enough to save a game considered to worst night in Brazil’s sporting history dubbed by the Brazilian press the ‘Agony of Mineirão’. While it wasn't technically the biggest defeat in sporting history it was a defeat that had the biggest impact on a nation and will be felt for many generations of Brazilians.
Manchester United 1-6 Manchester City- Sesha Subramanian
Image: YouTube Man City; Balotelli celebrates by revealing his famous "Why Always Me?" shirt
The "noisy neighbours" made noise for the right reasons in October 2011 as they announced their arrival as the Premier League's elite team in style. For the first time since 1930, Manchester United conceded six at Old Trafford as Roberto Mancini laid down a marker for the rest of the season. The first goal for City came much against the run of play as Mario Balotelli (fresh from accidentally setting his house on fire) slotted home from a David Silva pass before unveiling the now famous "Why Always Me?" t-shirt. At halftime, City looked in control of the game but were still only 1-0 up. The second half however, saw United unravel completely. Jonny Evans began proceedings by earning himself an early trip to the dressing room, hauling Balotelli down after the striker had gone past him.
City took full advantage of their numerical superiority as James Milner found Balotelli at the end of one of his crosses to double their lead. Sixty nine minutes had gone before Sergio Aguero decided to get in on the act - turning in a Micah Richards cross to make it 3-0. Despite the odds, United refused to give up, with Darren Fletcher firing one home from 20 yards out. It was the one shot that City needed to finally open the floodgates. Two Edin Dzeko goals on either side of a deserved goal from David Silva in the last ten minutes or so meant United left their own turf with the most embarrassing defeat to their noisy neighbours. The defeat would eventually prove costly as City would win the league on the final day thanks to goal difference.
Kazakhstan 3-0 Scotland - Rory Ewart
The fortunes of Scotland’s national football team have been on a downwards spiral for decades. The nation that once produced superstars like Kenny Dalglish and Alan Hansen have failed to qualify for an international tournament since 1998 and have suffered disappointing defeats to Georgia and Belarus in the course of their fall from grace. But their most embarrassing defeat came this March, as they lost 3-0 to Kazakhstan in a European Championships qualifier.
Kazakhstan only established a national football federation in 1991 and have only ever qualified for one international tournament, the 1998 Asian Games. The Central Asian nation went into the game ranked 117th in the world and considered huge underdogs. Even the most pessimistic Scot must have expected a win.
But it wasn’t to be. Within ten minutes Alex McLeish’s Scotland side had gone 2-0 down. The night didn’t get any better as Scotland appeared second best in every department. Kazakhstan got another after half-time to put the game to bed and cruised home to a 3-0 win.
Whilst Scotland fans have got used to being disappointed by their national side over the past couple of decades that night in Kazakhstan represented a new low, with the result ranked the worst in Scottish history by sports data company Gracenote.
Alex McLeish has since been replaced as Scotland manager by Steve Clarke, and fans will hope that they can rebuild and put their Kazakhstani nightmare behind them. Scotland host their Central Asian foe at Hampden Park again on 19th November and, whilst it is now impossible for them to qualify for next year’s Euros, they will be hoping for a decent victory to make up for one of the most embarrassing defeats of all time.
Southampton 0-9 Leicester- Toby Bryant
As Leicester City traveled south to take on an incredibly average Southampton side on the 25th October this year, Brendan Rodgers’ team would have been hoping to sneak the three points away from home.
The record-breaking win that followed, however, no-one saw coming. Within 10 minutes, full-back and England international, Ben Chilwell, slotted home to edge the midland’s side ahead. A 12th-minute red card to Saints defender Ryan Bertrand followed and then the floodgates opened. Youri Tielemans netted, then Ayoze Pérez twice and Jamie Vardy grabbed his first – it was already a painful 4-0 at half-time. Tasting blood, Leicester City were far from finished when back out for the final 45. Pérez bagged his hat-trick with the sixth in the 57th minute and Vardy the seventh in the 58th. James Maddison chimed in with five minutes left on the clock for an eighth and Vardy capitalised on a 94th-minute penalty to add another Premier League hat-trick to his name.
Leicester City had recorded the joint largest ever margin of victory in Premier League history (alongside Manchester United’s 9-0 thrashing of Ipswich in 1995) and the biggest ever win from a side away from home.
Saints’ boss Ralph Hasenhuttl tried to shelter his player by taking “100 per cent responsibility for this result today”, although fans of the seaside club weren’t too convinced that their players weren’t to blame. Sure enough, the full squad and coaching staff donated a days’ wages to charity the following day as an apology for their shambolic performance.