Germany’s 7-1 filleting of Brazil was seismic – a sporting humiliation so deep and thorough that it will take years to overcome.

Brazil are the spiritual custodians of world football but, to paraphrase Sir Alex Ferguson, they were knocked right off their perch by a German team ruthless in its precision and attacking intent.

History shows no European nation has won a World Cup on South American soil. Germany have reached the final hurdle and their vivisection of Brazil sent a message that they are intent on rewriting that statistic.

The result begs the question, what are the greatest national humiliations in sport?

We’ve looked into the vault and came up with these.

February 22, 1980 – The Miracle on Ice

The USSR had won six of the previous seven gold medals in ice hockey heading into the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, but they were embarrassed by a USA team made up of amateurs and college players. The Soviets were world class, and all played in a strong league with excellent training facilities. The Americans won the match 4-3 and went on to claim gold with a win over Finland, while the Soviets were left with silver – and egg on their face.

February 1, 1981 – The under-arm ball

It’s not necessarily a crushing defeat that brings the most brutal of humiliation. Thirty-three years after the under-arm ball, it’s a scar of sporting shame Australia still carries. New Zealand needed a six off the final ball of their innings in a one-day international at the MCG to tie the match. Australian skipper Greg Chappell instructed his younger brother Trevor to bowl the ball along the ground. The delivery was legal, but abominable, and Greg has never been allowed to live it down.

April 15, 1967 – Scotland 3 England 2

England lifted the World Cup in 1966 and were on a 19-match unbeaten streak when they welcomed Scotland to Wembley for a European Championship qualifier. Scotland was a massive underdog heading into the match, but triumphed 3-2, with Jim Baxter stopping to juggle the ball on a wing to toy with the English late on.

October 31, 1999 – France 43 New Zealand 31

After winning the first ever Rugby World Cup in 1987, the All Blacks then spent two decades in the wilderness before breaking the drought in 2011. This defeat – from leading 24-10 with 35 minutes to play – was the one that cut deepest. The French poured on 33 unanswered points to leave the Kiwis heartbroken.

“We play the All Blacks 10 times, and we are going to win once, and today was that once,” said French winger Christophe Dominici after the game.

September 24, 1988 – The Dirtiest Race in History

Ben Johnson was the toast of Canada when he crossed the line first in the 100m at the Seoul Olympics in world record time. Two days later Johnson was stripped of the gold when it was revealed he had tested positive for steroids. History shows he perhaps wasn’t the only juicer tearing down the track, but his infamy will be remembered forever.

2013/14 – Australia’s Ashes whitewash over England

The Australians had inflicted another 5-0 defeat of the Poms in 2006/07, but this thumping was even more brutal and humiliating, spearheaded by Mitchell Johnson’s chin music. England weren’t remotely competitive, and their batsmen wilted under the Aussie pace attack. Entering the series as favourites, England headed home with their tails between their legs.