Luiz Felipe Scolari wants his Brazil players to restore some pride to the nation by ending the World Cup with a victory.

Brazil’s hopes of winning the World Cup on home soil were dashed in the most brutal fashion on Tuesday when Germany hammered them 7-1 in the semi-finals.

A wave of anger towards Scolari and his players followed the humiliation, but the Brazil coach rejected calls for him to resign. The defiant 65-year-old held up a sheet of paper during a press conference that followed the defeat, detailing his record of just three losses in 28 matches.

Another defeat in Saturday’s third-place playoff against Holland would increase the public’s anger towards Scolari, but he is desperate to end the summer with a win for the hurt people of his football-mad nation.

“I know my career will be marked by this defeat, but we have an obligation to move on and think about the next goal, which in this case is the match for third place,” the Brazil coach said. “I know it’s a much smaller dream that we all wanted, but we have to honour the shirt of the national team.”

Scolari will meet with officials from the Brazilian Football Confederation following the match in the capital to discuss his future. Brazilian football great Zico called on Scolari to quit following the hammering in Belo Horizonte.

But Scolari insists he has done a good job with the players he has at his disposal. “We made the semi-finals, the top four teams in the world,” he said. “And there were a lot of good teams that were knocked out before us.”

Neymar, who missed the semifinal because of a back injury, tried to raise spirits among the players by visiting the squad at their Teresopolis base on Thursday. It will take a lot to lift the mood of the fans though.

Some supporters inside the Estadio Mineirao burned a Brazilian flag on Tuesday night and many left after 29 minutes, when the hosts were 5-0 down.

Those who remained booed their team off at half-time and then in the second half they cheered and clapped the Germans as a sign of their disapproval towards the Selecao.

Captain Thiago Silva wants the home fans inside the stadium in Brasilia to get behind their team this weekend.

“This is a bad time so we need strength from our fans,” said the defender, who returns to the starting XI after sitting out the Germany game through suspension. “I guarantee that we will play this Saturday’s game like it was the final.”

TEAM NEWS

Brazil
Neymar is again ruled out with the back injury he suffered in the win over Colombia. Thiago Silva returns from suspension and is expected to come in for Dante at centre-back. Maicon should again get the nod over Dani Alves.

The Netherlands
Ron Vlaar is a doubt and may not be risked, with Joël Veltman tipped to come in, while Michel Vorm may start so every player gets minutes at the World Cup. Jordy Clasie may come in for Nigel De Jong.

LIKELY LINE-UPS

Brazil (4-2-3-1): Cesar; Maicon, Luiz, Silva, Marcelo; Fernandinho, Gustavo; Hulk, Oscar, Willian; Fred

The Netherlands (3-4-1-2): Vorm; De Vrij, Veitman, Blind; Janmaat, De Guzman, Clasie, Kuyt; Sneijder; Robben, Depay

KEY PLAYERS

Brazil – Thiago Silva
Brazil’s captain and by far and away their best defender will return having been sorely missed in the 7-1 humiliation against Germany. Will hope to lead them to a final flourish.

The Netherlands – Memphis Depay
The PSV Eindhoven forward has impressed from the bench so far, scoring twice and grabbing an assist. With Louis van Gaal likely to shuffle his pack, he could get the chance to start.

SPORT360 PREDICTION

Brazil have the greater motivation and while they don’t inspire confidence we are backing them to end the World Cup with a win. Brazil 2-1 Netherlands