Rio, Brazil (BBN)-Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has urged the country to bounce back after its catastrophic 7-1 World Cup defeat against Germany.
"Like all Brazilians, I am very, very sad after the defeat. But we will not let ourselves be broken," she tweeted.
The coach of the national team Luiz Felipe Scolari called the defeat "the worst day of his life", reports BBC.
Brazilian media reflected the mood of shock on Wednesday, describing the result as a "historic humiliation".
The result was Brazil's biggest defeat in World Cup finals history.
Fans who had paid upwards of $300 (£175) for their tickets were streaming out of the ground in Belo Horizonte at half-time – by which time the Germans were already way out of sight with a commanding 5-0 lead.
On Tuesday night, many Brazilians were dealing with defeat in the way they know best – playing music, drinking and staying out on the streets.
Others have taken it to heart. Football and the Selecao really do mean that much to them.
They're hurt and humiliated. To be fair the writing had been on the wall, it's just that no-one had expected this World Cup campaign, on home soil, to be extinguished in such a brutal manner.
"I feel bad for all of us – for fans and for our players," Rousseff said, urging Brazilians to "get up, shake off the dust and come out on top".
Some have speculated that the team's poor showing may affect Rousseff's chances in the presidential election in October.
"Brazil's historic humiliation has set off a warning signal in Dilma Rousseff's government, which fears that the bad mood stemming from the defeat may affect expectations for the economy – already not very favourable – as well as the campaign trail," a column in the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper said.
The German team established a 5-0 lead within just 29 minutes, adding two more goals in the second half.
By the end of the match many of the remaining Brazilian fans were cheering the German team.
The match was the first time a team had scored seven goals in a World Cup semi-final, and the first World Cup game with eight or more goals since Germany beat Saudi Arabia 8-0 in 2002.
Germany will now face either Argentina or the Netherlands, who play each other on Wednesday evening.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Joachim Gauck are expected to fly to Brazil to watch the final on Sunday.
PAINFUL BRAZIL DEFEATS OF THE PAST
1950: Uruguay beat Brazil 2-1 in the final of the World Cup at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro. When Uruguay winger Alcides Ghiggia scores the decisive second goal with 11 minutes to go, 200,000 Brazilian fans in the stadium fall silent. The unexpected defeat becomes known as the Maracanazo and is considered a national tragedy: The goal that broke Brazil's heart.
1966: Brazil's worst performance overall at a World Cup, with the team eliminated in the first round for the first time since 1934 after superstar Pele came in for brutal treatment from opposing defences.
1978: Brazil and hosts Argentina compete in the second-round group stage, with top spot required to go through to the final. When Brazil beat Poland 3-1, they look set to progress. Argentina, whose kick-off has been delayed to await the Brazil v Poland result, know they need four clear goals. Peru collapse completely and Argentina win by 6-0, eventually taking the World Cup. A Peruvian senator, among others, has since alleged that the military rulers of Peru and Argentina fixed the game.
1982: Brazil are eliminated from the World Cup after a hat-trick from Italy striker Paolo Rossi in the final match of the second-round group stage. Brazil had won all four of their previous matches in style and were the pre-tournament favourites to take the Cup. Italy had drawn in all of their matches and Rossi had failed to score a single goal, prompting discussion about his performance.
1998: Brazil play Italy in the final. Brazil star striker Ronaldo is left off the teamsheet after reportedly blacking out in the dressing room just before the game, only to reappear just in time for kick-off. A below-par Ronaldo is subsequently eclipsed by France's Zinedine Zidane in a one-sided match which saw France crowned world champions for the first time.
It is, however, worth mentioning that Brazil won the World Cup in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002 – which is more times than any other nation.
BBN/ANS-09July14-6:30pm (BST)
