Phil McNulty
BBC chief football writer in Brazil

"Germany can call on a group of match-hardened players who are unlikely to be easily unsettled by the atmosphere that will engulf them in Belo Horizonte. They also have many of the Bayern Munich side who have enjoyed success in the Champions League.

"They have class throughout the team, from captain Philipp Lahm and outstanding, powerful central defender Mats Hummels, through to Sami Khedira and the dangerous Thomas Muller. And if they need a goal they can call on their all-time record goalscorer Miroslav Klose.

"If anything, they may rise to the occasion and in goalkeeper Manuel Neuer they have the finest exponent of his art in the world."

Image source, Bongarts

Germany are the first country to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup in four consecutive tournaments.

We've been digging through the video archives and taken a look back at Germany's impressive record in the last four World Cups, including clips of all the goals from their semi-finals since 1966.

Image source, Daily Mail

Brazil's stand-in captain David Luiz makes the headlines in the Daily Mail,, external with the former Chelsea defender promising: "I'll lead us to the final."

Image source, AFP

Adam in Newport: Brazil to win just for David Luiz; plays with such heart you could bet your house on him scoring a penalty. I think Paris St-Germain got a bargain.

Steve in Surbiton: It pains me to say it but Germany. They are the only side left who are actually trying to play football.

Charlie in London: I'm supporting the Netherlands, because I'm seeing a very beautiful Dutch girl the day after the final, and the last thing I want is for her to be sulking the whole time.

Image source, AFP

As we've already mentioned, Brazil and Barcelona forward Neymar will miss the rest of the tournament with a back injury and he will be a difficult man to replace.

The 22-year-old has played a role in 50% of Brazil's goals so far at the World Cup, scoring four and assisting another.

Only three players - James Rodriguez (66.7%), Lionel Messi (62.5%) and Thomas Muller (60.0%) - have been involved in a higher percentage of their team's goals.

Natalie Riley:, external I'd like Brazil to win, they are up against it now with losing Neymar, but their passion and emotion has set them apart.

George Uppington:, external Out of the four left, Holland just so it's someone new but I do have Brazil in the sweepstake.

Lewis Spencer:, external I live in Germany, and have money on Germany to win so I really should want Germany to win. But I don't, I want Holland.

Image source, Sun

"Fight night" declares the Sun, external as they claim Germany's players are "steeling themselves for a roughing up" against Brazil.

Brazilian police have arrested the chief executive of a Fifa partner company as part of investigations into the illegal sale of World Cup tickets.

Ray Whelan from Match Hospitality was held at the Rio de Janeiro hotel where officials from the world's football governing body were also staying.

Last week, police held 11 people and broke up an international gang. They are accused of illegally reselling tickets, including some originally allocated to players.

Image source, Daily Mirror

"Hairy we go" proclaims the Daily Mirror, external as they focus on the hirsute Brazilian duo David Luiz and Marcelo ahead of tonight's semi-final.

Image source, Getty Images

We are down to the final four of the World Cup and it's time to nail your colours to the mast and tell us who you want to win out of Brazil, Germany, Argentina and Netherlands.

Have you been captivated by Louis van Gaal's Netherlands team ever since they beat Spain 5-1 in their opening game? Or perhaps you are desperate for Brazil to do it for the injured Neymar?

However, we are not just interested in the football reasons. We want to know who you are supporting in the semi-finals. In fact, the more obscure the reason better.

Maybe you got a great grandfather from Buenos Aires so you're supporting Argentina? Or perhaps a simple love of currywurst and weissbier means throwing your weight behind Germany?

So we want to know: Who do you want to win the World Cup? And more importantly, why?

#bbcworldcup, external on Twitter, 81111 on text and the BBC Sport Facebook page., external

Image source, AFP

Brazil's players have been to see the team psychiatrist to help them get over the shock of losing forward Neymar, 22, to a back injury. Independent, external

Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal is a "genius" and the right man to bring success back to Manchester United, according to former Dutch midfielder Ronald de Boer. Talksport, external

Argentina are set to gamble on the fitness of Sergio Aguero, 26, for Wednesday's semi-final against the Netherlands after the striker missed two matches with a groin injury. Daily Mirror, external

Visit the BBC Gossip to read the best of the rest of today's rumours and speculation.

Image source, AFP

Germany coach Joachim Low wants Mexican referee Marco Antonio Rodriguez to take a tough line in tonight's semi-final in Belo Horizonte.

Brazil's 2-1 win over Colombia in the quarter-finals had more fouls than any other match in the tournament.

"I hope the referee, Mr Rodriguez from Mexico, will clamp down on things," Low says.

"That physical energy in the match against Colombia went beyond the limits in Europe. In Europe, 22 players wouldn't have ended that match.

"Colombia against Brazil was a real fight with numerous fouls from both sides, not just the one foul against Neymar. You have to protect the players."

Image source, AFP

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari claims his side will cope without injured striker Neymar against Germany.

Neymar, who has scored four of Brazil's eight goals at the tournament, will play no further part after he suffered a fractured vertebra in the 2-1 quarter-final win over Colombia.

Scolari says: "Neymar has done his share. Now it's up to us to do our share. We have accepted what has happened and we are focusing on other things.

"In this match we will be playing not just for ourselves [and] everything we've ever dreamed of, but also for Neymar and everything he's done for us."

Image source, AFP

Here are details of the World Cup semi-final action coming your way.

Today's Brazil v Germany semi-final in Belo Horizonte kicks off at 21:00 BST, with live television coverage from Gary Lineker and the team on BBC One from 20:30.

There is also full commentary on BBC Radio 5 live with Mark Pougatch bringing you all the pre-match build-up from 20:00.

And, of course, whether you are listening or watching make sure you join us on the BBC Sport website where we will have live text commentary from 20:00 plus all the news and reaction afterwards.

Image source, Getty Images

Good morning and welcome to World Cup Sportsday. Thanks for joining us.

Hosts Brazil take on Germany at the Estadio Mineirao in Belo Horizonte at 21:00 BST today in the first of two mouth-watering semi-finals. And we will be looking back at how both teams made their way to the last-four stage throughout the day.

We will also have all the news from the Argentina and Netherlands camps ahead of their encounter on Wednesday.

And our team out in Brazil will be across any other breaking stories as they happen.