The entire Brazil squad are in fact wearing those Neymar caps. Like when someone turns up on the morning of a stag do with t-shirts with your name on the back, some look more comfortable in them than others...

This may be Germany's fourth semi-final in a row, but Brazil do not mess about once they get this far. They have won each and every one of their last six semi-finals. Pedigree everywhere you look tonight...

BBC World Service sports reporter John Bennett:, external "Fans outside the Brazil team hotel in Belo Horizonte earlier on. Hope the players had ear plugs - next to a very busy road."

I've just seen footage of that Brazil team coach pulling up a the stadium, and players and team officials could not look more relaxed as they join in with the samba beats coming from the massed crowds, thumping on the windows.

Big Phil is wearing a white baseball cap with #ForcaNeymar on it. Not sure that's a winning look...

Image source, AFP

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport Chief Football Writer

"Slogan emblazoned along the side of Brazil's World Cup team coach reads: "Brace Youself - The Sixth Is Coming." They hope - and dream."

Brazil's suspended captain Thiago Silva on Twitter:, external All of us united for one aim: victory!! #BRA.

How will Brazil cope without their number 10?

Will they be Spinal Tap without Nigel Tufnel? Or Genesis without Peter Gabriel?

Wait, would that make Willian Phil Collins? There's a weird image...

Brazil playmaker Neymar, who misses the rest of the World Cup with a fractured bone in his back, has tweeted:, external "Thanks for all the messages #JogaPraEle (#PlayForHim) from you and from my mates in the national squad. Now I ask them alongside the whole of Brazil: #JogaPraMim (#PlayForMe)."

Image source, Getty Images

Brazil's preparations for this semi-final could hardly have been worse.

Captain Thiago Silva misses out through suspension, and main man Neymar - scorer of four goals in the tournament - is injured.

Will they cope? Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari says so.

"Neymar has done his share. Now it's up to us to do our share," the coach said.

"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."

Which emotion will be sweeping across Brazil by the end of play tonight then? Joy or woe?

Will the hosts make it through to the final in Rio on Sunday - as planned - or will it be Germany in the final for the eighth time?

Let us know your pre-match thoughts.

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Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer in Belo Horizonte

"Brazil's fans are forming the traditional guard of honour around the team coach as it makes its way into the Estadio Mineirao. Thousands are lining the streets to lend their support to Luiz Felipe Scolari's team as they stand one step away from what this football-mad country regards as the ultimate - a World Cup Final at its iconic home of the Maracana.

Image source, Getty Images

"Germany, playing in a record fourth successive semi-final, stand in the way but they will need all their mental fortitude to deal with the atmosphere around the stadium now, let alone when the game actually starts."

So, the World Cup is at the business end. 32 teams started. Just Argentina, Brazil, Germany and the Netherlands remain and we want your predictions.

First of all we are asking which teams will reach the World Cup final. You can pick your final via the voting section on this page until 20:45 BST.

Then from 20:00 BST we will ask for your World Cup winner. Terms and conditions can be found here and the results will be announced in this page.

Brazil and Paris St-Germain defender David Luiz on Twitter:, external "If we look ahead and find obstacles, we should always be reminded that difficulties only present themselves to those who can overcome them. Together, we can!"

Image source, Getty Images

But the short-lived joy of 2002 was all forgotten for fans of the Nationalmannschaft four years later.

Germany hosted a superb World Cup in 2006, and Jurgen Klinsmann's side filled the shoes of host nation admirably, shrugging off reasonably low expectations to progress to the last four.

Image source, Getty Images

There they faced Italy in Dortmund, and it was time for Germany to taste the pain of losing at home, with late goals from Fabio Grosso and Alex Del Piero sending the boys in blue into the final in Berlin.

When it comes to World Cup semi-finals involving the host nation, Germany have been on both ends of the triumph/disaster coin toss in recent years.

Image source, Getty Images

In 2002 millions of South Koreans took to the streets to watch Guus Hiddink's men take on the Germans in the last four. Hopes were high but a solitary goal from Michael Ballack proved enough to end the street parties in Seoul and put Ballack and co into the final - where they would eventually lose to Brazil...

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

The night of the unwelcome guest.

If you've ever thrown a good house party, you'll know the telltale signs. You've spent ages meticulously planning. You've invited the coolest, most popular kids, stocked the fridge to its very limits and spent an extraordinary amount of money on things you would never normally buy. Like breadsticks, houmous and those little cheesey squares.

You try and make sure everyone's having a good time, the music is just right, the lighting spot on. And then, just when the night is reaching its peak, you hope that it all pays off with some big moves on the dancefloor. Alright, your mum's conservatory.

But there's always one guy who outstays his welcome. Making too much noise, drinking too much, getting in the way. If you're not careful they take all the glory and you're left with nothing but angry neighbours, suspicious stains on the carpets and a very expensive repair bill.

Well tonight, Brazil's month-long party hits the big stage. The hosts have put on a great show and are now just one game away from the final. One game away from a shot at greatness.

But who invited the Germans? Can Brazil shift one last unwelcome guest and get them in a taxi home? Or will Joachim Low's side be marching on to the Maracana?

Time for the big tunes. Time for the big one...

Brazil captain Thiago Silva is banned, so Dante will deputise, but they have Luis Gustavo back from suspension.

With Neymar injured, Brazil could field a central midfield three, or else pick an attack-minded replacement such as Willian or Bernard.

Germany coach Joachim Low must decide whether to recall centre-back Per Mertesacker, who was left out against France for tactical reasons.

Low has reported no fresh injury concerns ahead of the match.