Brazil v Germany
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte
Kick-off: 1.30 am Sri Lankan Time
Referee: Marco Rodríguez (Mexico).
The host nation are without their star man for the rest of the tournament through injury and will need a new source of inspiration if they are to make the final.
Brazil begin life without Neymar at this World Cup as they face Germany in Tuesday’s semi-final at the Estadio Mineirao.
Thiago Silva, who collected a second yellow card in the quarter-final win over Colombia, is suspended.
Unless Brazil are successful in their appeal, the captain is expected to be replaced by Dante.
Germany, meanwhile, are without Shkodran Mustafi for the semi-final and, if they win, the final, after he suffered a thigh problem against Algeria in the last-16 tie.
Per Mertesacker, who like several team-mates, has been suffering with flu, undergoes a test.
f experience counts in high-pressure games such as this then both coaches have it in bucketfuls; Luiz Felipe Scolari and Joachim Löw are in their third World Cup semi-finals.
The Brazil coach took his country to the last four in 2002 and repeated the feat with four years later, with Portugal.
Löw was assistant to assistant to Jürgen Klinsmann in 2006 and, after replacing the coach, he led Germany to the 2010 semi-final.
Losing Neymar will handicap Brazil but, on the plus side, the home crowd will act as a 12th man.
Neither side have impressed on a regular basis, and one wonders whether they are holding something back for this stage.
The hosts have the territorial advantage but Germany have goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who could prove invaluable if the tie goals to penalties.
Stat of the game: These teams have met 21 times, with Germany winning only four and losing 12.
Brazil (Possible, 4-2-3-1): Cesar; Maicon, Luiz, Dante, Marcelo; Gustavo, Fernandinho; Willian, Oscar, Hulk; Fred.
Germany (Possible, 4-3-3): Neuer; Lahm, Hummels, Boateng, Höwedes; Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Kroos; Özil, Müller, Götze.
