6 September 2006 - Just When You Think It Couldn't Get Any Worse

On 6 September 2006, Germany handed a record loss to a team used to losing, beating San Marino 0-13 in a European Championship qualification match. 

The third-smallest nation in Europe (behind the Vatican and Monaco), San Marino is a republic wholly contained within Italy. Their national team played their first unofficial match in 1986 and their first official one in 1990. They lost both matches. In fact, throughout their history, San Marino have lost almost every match they've played--out of 107 official matches, they have drawn three and won one (a 1-0 victory over Liechtenstein in 2004). 

Before the match against Germany, San Marino's worst defeat had been a 10-0 loss at the hands of Norway in 1992. But playing at San Marino's Stadio Olimpico, the Germans were closing in on hat number by the break, beating keeper Aldo Simoncini six times goals from Lukas Podolski (11', 43'), Bastian Schweinsteiger (28'), Miroslav Klose (30', 45'), and Michael Ballack (35'). 

The second half continued the pattern of the first, with more goals from Schweinsteiger (47') and Podolski (64', 72'), as well as strikes from Thomas Hitzlsperger (66', 72') and Manuel Friedrich (87'). Then, in the 90th minute, with Germany leading 0-12, the referee awarded them a penalty kick, which Bernd Schneider converted for the final tally of 13. 

Although the scoreline set a new record for San Marino, it wasn't Germany's greatest win. That came in the 1912 Summer Olympics with a 16-0 victory over Russia.

3 June 2002 - The Not-So-Beautiful Game

On 3 June 2002, Brazilian midfielder Rivaldo helped lead his side to a 2-1 win over Turkey in their opening match of the 2002 World Cup. Rivaldo scored the winning goal with an 87th-minute penalty kick, but he overshadowed that goal by faking an injury in second-half stoppage time that resulted in a red card for Turkey's Hakan Ünsal.

The card came in the 94th minute, with Brazil having just won a corner kick. Rivaldo stood next to the flag while Ünsal kicked the ball over to him. It hit Rivaldo in the thigh, but he immediately fell to the ground clutching his face. Although the linesman was standing right behind him, the officials bought the dive and issued a yellow card to Unsal. It was his second yellow of the match, so he was sent off.

FIFA later reviewed the incident and fined Rivaldo 11,000 Swiss francs, which was less than half a day's wage under his contract with Barcelona, his club at the time. Rivaldo expressed no remorse, however, stating "I don't regret anything. This is something that will never end in football," and claiming that FIFA simply chose to make an example of him.

Brazil went on to win the trophy, beating Germany 2-0 in the Final. Rivaldo finished the tournament tied with Germany's Miroslav Klose as the second-highest scorer with 5 goals and was selected to the All-Star squad.

12 October 2012 - Reus Starts A Rout

On 12 October 2012, Ireland suffered their worst competitive home defeat, losing 1-6 to Germany in a World Cup qualifier.

Both teams entered the match with perfect records, though it was still early in the process. Germany had wins over the Faroe Islands (3-0) and Austria (2-1), while Ireland had beaten Kazakhstan away (1-2) in their only match. So most observers were expecting a competitive game.

What they got instead was a blowout. It started with a pair of first-half goals from winger Marco Reus (32', 40') and continued with second-half strikes from Mesut Özil (55' pen.) and Miroslav Klose (58'). Toni Kroos, who came on at the start of the second half, added a late brace (61', 83') to stretch the lead to 0-6 before Andy Keogh scored a consolation goal for the hosts in the second minute of stoppage time.

It is the most lopsided home defeat for Ireland in a competitive match (and not too far removed from their all-time worst loss, a 7-0 beating by Brazil in 1982).

6 September 2006 - Just When You Think It Couldn't Get Any Worse

On 6 September 2006, Germany handed a record loss to a team used to losing, beating San Marino 0-13 in a European Championship qualification match.

The third-smallest nation in Europe (behind the Vatican and Monaco), San Marino is a republic wholly contained within Italy. Their national team played their first unofficial match in 1986 and their first official one in 1990. They lost both matches. In fact, throughout their history, San Marino have lost almost every match they've played--out of 107 official matches, they have drawn three and won one (a 1-0 victory over Liechtenstein in 2004).

Before the match against Germany, San Marino's worst defeat had been a 10-0 loss at the hands of Norway in 1992. But playing at San Marino's Stadio Olimpico, the Germans were closing in on hat number by the break, beating keeper Aldo Simoncini six times goals from Lukas Podolski (11', 43'), Bastian Schweinsteiger (28'), Miroslav Klose (30', 45'), and Michael Ballack (35').

The second half continued the pattern of the first, with more goals from Schweinsteiger (47') and Podolski (64', 72'), as well as strikes from Thomas Hitzlsperger (66', 72') and Manuel Friedrich (87'). Then, in the 90th minute, with Germany leading 0-12, the referee awarded them a penalty kick, which Bernd Schneider converted for the final tally of 13.

Although the scoreline set a new record for San Marino, it wasn't Germany's greatest win. That came in the 1912 Summer Olympics with a 16-0 victory over Russia.

3 June 2002 - The Not-So-Beautiful Game

On 3 June 2002, Brazilian midfielder Rivaldo helped lead his side to a 2-1 win over Turkey in their opening match of the 2002 World Cup. Rivaldo scored the winning goal with an 87th-minute penalty kick, but he overshadowed that goal by faking an injury in second-half stoppage time that resulted in a red card for Turkey's Hakan Ünsal.

The card came in the 94th minute, with Brazil having just won a corner kick. Rivaldo stood next to the flag while Ünsal kicked the ball over to him. It hit Rivaldo in the thigh, but he immediately fell to the ground clutching his face. Although the linesman was standing right behind him, the officials bought the dive and issued a yellow card to Unsal. It was his second yellow of the match, so he was sent off.

FIFA later reviewed the incident and fined Rivaldo 11,000 Swiss francs, which was less than half a day's wage under his contract with Barcelona, his club at the time. Rivaldo expressed no remorse, however, stating "I don't regret anything. This is something that will never end in football," and claiming that FIFA simply chose to make an example of him.

Brazil went on to win the trophy, beating Germany 2-0 in the Final. Rivaldo finished the tournament tied with Germany's Miroslav Klose as the second-highest scorer with 5 goals and was selected to the All-Star squad.