VIOLENCE erupted in Brazil last night as the host nation suffered their worst ever World Cup defeat.
Police on horseback were called to the Fifa Fan Fest in Recife after as the home team lost 7-1 to Germany in the semi-final last night.
A police rider was taken to hospital after one of the horses panicked, throwing the man to the ground.
Fights also reportedly broke out among Brazilian and German fans watching the game in the Savassi nightclub region of Belo Horizonte.
In Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro, a number of fights were reported among fans at the beachside Fan Fest, according to the city's municipal guard.
Groups of youths were also reported attacking and robbing tourists near the famous Copacabana Palace hotel.
Police detained eight people and described the atmosphere among fans gathered on the beach as "tense".
In Sao Paulo, at least 12 buses were set alight by furious Brazil fans following their team's defeat.
An electronics store in the wealthy South Zone of the city was also ransacked and electronics equipment stolen, police said.
The match broke Twitter records to become the most discussed sports game ever, with 35.6m tweets, and mocked-up pictures of Angela Merkel as Christ the Redeemer went viral shortly after the final whistle.
Brazil coach and former Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari said: "I will be remembered as the coach to lose 7-1 but I knew that risk when I took the job.
"The person who decided the line-up, the tactics, was me. It was my choice."
He described the performance as "catastrophic", adding: "My message for the Brazilian people is please excuse us for this performance."
German clash Joachim Loew said that after team had scored five goals in 18 minutes, the Brazilian players were "shocked and didn't know what to do."
The local press described the game as 'catastrophic' and 'a historic humiliation', as images of devastated Brazil fans were shown around the world.
Retired teacher Valeria Mazure, 67, said: "I'm feeling disappointed, sad, but more than anything I'm feeling embarrassed. It was embarrassing to watch."
In Sao Paulo, Brazil's biggest city, thousands gathered to watch the match in the Bohemian neighborhood of Vila Madalena.
As the crushing defeat unfolded, fan Samir Kelvin said: "I am Brazilian and humiliated, I want to kill myself", while another woman shouted: "What shame, what shame."
Teacher Lousie Franzoi Muller, who was watching the game in Blumenau, said: "I came here to drink beer and root for Brazil.
"But when I saw how badly Brazil was losing, I decided to switch my allegiance and root for Germany. After all, my husband is of German descent and he is extremely happy with the result."
President Dilma Rousseff, who is facing an October election, attempted to rally the nation.
She wrote on Twitter: 'Like many Brazilians, I'm very, very sad because of this defeat.
'I feel bad for all of us - for fans and for our players. But let's not be broken. Brazil, get up, shake off the dust and come out on top.'
Germany will now face the winner of today's game between Argentina and the Netherlands in the final on Sunday July 13.
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