Match Preview: Germany v Brazil

Who is playing?
Germany v Brazil. Tuesday 2100 BST World Cup Semi-Final




Where are they playing?
Estádio Governador Magalhaes Pinto, Belo Horizonte aka Mineirao.




Can I watch it on the telly?
You can. It's on the BBC, so you get to shout abuse at Alan Shearer, the miserable bastard.

Fucked

Big game?
Massive.

Neither Brazil nor Germany have been wholly convincing on their journey to the semis.

The host nation has been been shattered by news that Neymar's cracked back has ruled him out of the tournament, while Thiago Emiliano da Silva's suspension is also a big blow to Brazilian hopes.

If they are relying on the likes of the unconvincing Fred or Jo to get them over the line, it could all end in bitter disappointment.

The Germans may not have been spectacular in this tournament, but there has been a clinic precision to some of their play, coupled with an ability to adapt when things aren't going quite to plan.

It should be a fascinating encounter and the German side are level headed enough not to be put off by what will be a hugely partisan crowd. While South America is dreaming of a Brazil Argentina showpiece final, the Germans certainly have enough about them to crash the party.

Pissheads

Fascinating Brazil fact?
Brazil shares a border with all South American countries except for Chile and Ecuador.

Fascinating Germany fact?
German people are the second biggest consumers of beer in the world (after the Czechs), with an average of 107 litres per person per year in 2010


Who's playing for Brazil?
Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (QPR), Jefferson (Botafogo), Victor (Atletico Mineiro).
Defenders: Marcelo (Real Madrid), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Maicon (AS Roma), Maxwell, (Paris St-Germain), David Luiz (Chelsea), Dante (Bayern Munich), Henrique (Napoli).

Midfielders: Paulinho (Tottenham Hotspur), Ramires, Willian, Oscar (Chelsea), Hernanes (Inter Milan), Luiz Gustavo (Wolfsburg), Fernandinho (Manchester City).

Forwards: Bernard (Shakhtar Donetsk), Fred (Fluminense), Jo (Atletico Mineiro), Hulk (Zenit St Petersburg).

Who's playing for Germany?
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Roman Weidenfeller (Borussia Dortmund), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover)

Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Erik Durm (Borussia Dortmund), Kevin Grosskreutz (Borussia Dortmund), Benedikt Howedes (Schalke), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal), Shkodran Mustafi (Sampdoria).


Midfielders: Julian Draxler (Schalke), Matthias Ginter (Freiburg), Mario Gotze (Bayern Munich), Christoph Kramer (Borussia Monchengladbach), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Andre Schurrle (Chelsea), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich).

Forwards: Miroslav Klose (Lazio), Lukas Podolski (Arsenal).

Any useless stats and info?
Of course, here you go:

• Brazil have beaten Germany on 12 occasions, the Germans winning 4 and there have been 5 draws.

• The Germans won the last encounter 3-2 in 2001 with a penalty tucked away by Schweinsteiger and goals from Gotze and Schurrle

• Their last World Cup encounter was the 2002 Final in Yokohama, two goals from Ronaldo sealing the 2-0 win for Brazil.

Prediction:
Germany to upset the apple cart in a tense encounter.