Until this week, the only things Norwich City had in common with Brazil were the green and yellow kit and the round ball.

Eastern Daily Press: Brazil team group (top row left to right) Dante, Maicon, Julio Cesar, Fred, David Luiz and Luiz Gustavo. (bottom row left to right) Brazil's Oscar, Fernandinho, Bernard, Marcelo and Hulk holding the shirt of injured teammate Neymar before the FIFA World Cup Semi Final at Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.Brazil team group (top row left to right) Dante, Maicon, Julio Cesar, Fred, David Luiz and Luiz Gustavo. (bottom row left to right) Brazil's Oscar, Fernandinho, Bernard, Marcelo and Hulk holding the shirt of injured teammate Neymar before the FIFA World Cup Semi Final at Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. (Image: PA Wire/Press Association Images)

Yes, the Canaries once had the 'Ginger Pele', Gary Doherty, playing for them. But that didn't really count.

Now, though, the two teams which are separated by thousands of miles are united in the fellowship of suffering.

For Brazil's 7-1 home defeat by Germany in Tuesday's World Cup semi-final brought memories flooding back for Norwich fans, of the 7-1 home defeat to Colchester United on August 8, 2009.

Spookily, both matches were 0-5 at half-time, and as the World Cup's most surprising story unfolded, Twitter was abuzz with City fans who were comparing the two matches.

Former Norwich City boss Bryan Gunn was the manager when Colchester shot down the Canaries – and the goalkeeper when Norwich lost 7-1 to Blackburn Rovers in 1992.

Gunn tweeted about his sympathy for Brazil manager Luiz Felipe Scolari and keeper Julio Cesar.

Former Norwich City midfielder David Fox, who played for Colchester – and scored – during the 7-1 win, had his tongue in his cheek when tweeting: '5-0 up at half time then win 7-1 that hardly ever happens'.

Norwich famously responded to the humiliation by headhunting the Colchester manager Paul Lambert as City boss.

Some Canaries fan suggested mischievously that Brazil might respond to their thrashing by poaching Germany boss Joachim Loew.

But the Samba Kings might draw more strength from the next chapters in Norwich's history.

For Lambert swiftly axed many of the 'Colchester XI', before masterminding successive promotions to get Norwich back in the Premier League.

• It was just like watching Brazil...

BRAZIL

Julio Cesar – Won numerous honours in Italy for Internazionale, before winning the honour of relegation at QPR, being dropped and then loaned to FC Toronto

Maicon - Pacy fullback for Roma, he is better at attacking than defending – as Gareth Bale and the Germany team will testify

Marcelo - Defender (allegedly) for European champions Real Madrid

David Luiz - Another alleged defender, Luiz recently signed for Paris St Germain from Chelsea for £50m – arguably the best English victory over the French since Waterloo

Dante – The third member of Brazil's defensive Hair Bear Bunch, Dante plays for Bayern Munich

Bernard – Not the nurse in Blackadder, although the Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder is almost as funny

Fernandinho – Box-to-box Manchester City midfielder. Bench-to-pitch or pitch-to-bench Brazil medfielder

Gustavo - He has a dubious 1980s moustache and was born in Pindamonhangaba

Oscar – Playmaker: the poor man's Wes Hoolahan

Hulk – Not incredible. Runs around less than Grant Holt

Fred - A 'striker' who never failed at the World Cup to live down to his uninspiring name.

NORWICH CITY

Theoklitos – The only Norwich City goalie to finish with a club record of seven goals conceded per match. Has changed his name to Michael Theo.

Otsemobor - Pacy fullback for nobody at the moment

Doherty - The Ginger Pele, currently plays for Wycombe Wanderers

Nelson – The admirable Michael recovered from debut humiliation to be a cult hero at Carrow Road. Currently at Hibernian

Drury – The 'best left back outside the Premier League' is currently the best left back without a club after being released by Leeds United

Whaley – Listed as a 'former footballer'– which is what some Norwich City fans thought he was when he played

Gill – Not seen much in green and yellow after the Colchester debacle, Gill is currently player-coach at Tranmere Rovers

Tudur Jones – Hard to decide what was more difficult – spelling his surname correctly or comprehending why he was signed

Hoolahan – Playmaker: A rich man's Oscar

Holt – Incredible. Hulking centre forward who scores goals

Martin – Local-boy-done-good who is scoring shedloads of goals for Derby