Joined: 25 October 2011
Posts: 19398
The hosts are the most successful team in World Cup history and if they are to add to their five tournament wins they must get past a country becoming known for going far in major competitions without winning them.
Head-to-head
In their 21 meetings, Brazil have won 12 with Germany recording just four victories. They have faced each other just once in a World Cup, Brazil winning 2-0 in the 2002 final. But in their last match,, a friendly in August 2011, Germany won 3-2.
What Brazil are worrying about...
They are missing their two best players " Neymar has a fractured vertebra in his back and centre back and captain Thiago Silva is suspended. The pair have been superb, Neymar providing the goals and flair and Silva dominating at the back.
What Germany are worrying about...
It could get messy. The Brazilians have been criticised for their brutal, aggressive style of play on the way to this semi-final. They have committed the most amount of fouls in the tournament and have their midfield enforcer Luiz Gustavo back from suspension. The Germans will expect a few heavy challenges.
What the bookies say
It's close, but the bookies are giving Brazil (6/4), playing at home and more used to the conditions, the edge over Germany (9/5).
Where can I watch it?
BBC One from 8.30pm (kick-off 9pm).
Joined: 25 October 2011
Posts: 19398
This could turn into the Lionel Messi v Arjen Robben show with both players having been instrumental in getting their sides this far, but they have more than enough star quality around them to turn this into a mouthwatering fixture.
Head-to-head
Holland have been the stronger side, having won four of their eight meetings to Argentina's one victory " but that one came in the 1978 World Cup Final.
The last time they met was in the group stage of the 2006 World Cup in South Africa, which ended in a goalless draw.
What Holland are worrying about...
Lionel Messi. He scored four goals in the group stage to haul Argentina through, and while his team-mates have shrunk on the big stage, he has been virtually unplayable.
What Argentina are worrying about...
They have a plethora of talent but have struggled to integrate it in a way that would allow them to crush their opponents.
What the bookies say
Argentina (5/4) have been made the firm favourites, well ahead of Holland (11/5).
Where can I watch it?
ITV1 from 8.30pm (9pm kick off).
Joined: 25 October 2011
Posts: 19398
Joined: 25 October 2011
Posts: 19398
Germany coach Joachim Low believes the current Brazil side have little of the flair traditionally associated with the country's national team.
Low said he was expecting a physical encounter when the teams meet in the World Cup semi-final on Tuesday, which is live on BBC1 and BBC Radio 5 live.
Luiz Felipe Scolari's side have committed 96 fouls at the tournament, picking up 10 yellow cards.
"They're playing more robustly than any other team here," said Low.
"There's little left of that traditional Brazilian style of football. At the end of the day, it's up to the referee to come up with the correct punishment."
Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger agreed with his manager's assessment.
"I am all for a healthy hardness, but some of Brazil's fouls were over the limit," he said. "Brazilians are not only football magicians. Hard tackling is part of their game. We have to be careful and so does the referee.''
Joined: 25 October 2011
Posts: 19398
Beautiful Brazil? |
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Brazil's quarter-final against Colombia saw more fouls committed (54) than any match at this tournament up to that point |
The most in a game previous to that fixture also involved Brazil, with 51 fouls committed in the last 16 game with Chile |
Brazil will be without one of their most technically gifted players on Tuesday, with Barcelona striker Neymar ruled out after injuring his backin Friday's quarter-final win against Colombia.
Schweinsteiger fears his absence could galvanise his Brazil team-mates.
"Neymar's team-mates will want to win the World Cup for him," he added. "They'll derive strength from that."
Germany finished runners-up at the 2002 World Cup, when they lost 2-0 to Brazil in the final.
Since then, they have lost at the semi-final stage in each of the last two tournaments.
They lost to eventual champions Spain in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, but Schweinsteiger believes the current Germany squad is stronger than the one from four years ago.
"We're a step further now," he added. "The number of really good players on the team is greater now than before."
Joined: 25 October 2011
Posts: 19398
Howard Webb is among the referees in contention for the World Cup final.
The English official has presided over two fixtures at this year's finals in Brazil and has won praise for his performance.
Webb was in charge for Colombia's 2-1 win over Ivory Coast in the group stage and was again in the middle when Brazil met Chile in the last 16.
Joined: 25 October 2011
Posts: 19398
Joined: 25 October 2011
Posts: 19398
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