Fighting in the Streets of Brazil after 7-1 Humiliation at the Hands of the Germans

Brazil is braced for trouble after the dreams of millions of football fans were left in tatters last night.

Spectators inside The Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte were in tears as their side succumbed to a humiliating 7-1 defeat to Germany in the World Cup semi-final, ending dreams of a title on home soil.

In response, riot police were out in force in several Brazilian cities in case trouble kicked off. In Rio de Janeiro officers descended on Copacabana beach amid reports of gunfire. 

Authorities were called to a densely-populated area of Sao Paulo after football supporters reportedly set a bus alight, leaving it as little more than a burnt-out shell.

But so far the widespread reaction has been of sadness, not anger. The team, led by stand-in captain David Luiz, were booed off following the disappointing performance, the biggest defeat in a World Cup semi-final and Brazil's worst loss in their history.

Four goals in the space of just seven first-half minutes silenced an entire nation leaving the shell-shocked nations an almost impossible task to progress to the final, facing a 5-0 deficit at half time.

Their fate was sealed in the second half when two more goals by Germany's striker Andre Schurlle ended their hopes.

After the game, Luiz said: 'We got lost a little bit there. It's very difficult to explain right now. The dream is over, in a way that the people didn't want.

'We wanted to make the people happy ... unfortunately we couldn't. We apologise to all Brazilians.' 

Brazil's head coach Felipe Scolari said he had experienced the worst day of his life in the wake of the result. He said: 'I'll be remembered probably because I lost 7-1, the worst defeat Brazil have ever had, but that was a risk I knew I was running when I accepted this position. Life goes on. That's what I'll do.'

However, he rejected the suggestion that Neymar's serious injury, and the emotion created by his absence, had played a key part in the defeat.

'No, no, no. Let's not try to find an excuse in Neymar or the emotions of the anthem,' he said. 

'Germany probably could have done that with Neymar in the side, also. He wouldn't have known how to defend those moves for the second, third, fourth and fifth goals.'

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