Brazil will be hoping that the loss of their two most influential players will not hold them back in their World Cup semi-final against Germany. Star player Neymar will miss the rest of the tournament after suffering a serious back injury, while captain Thiago Silva is suspended.

This is Brazil’s first semi-final since they went on to win the whole tournament in 2002 after beating Germany in the final. They will be hoping history repeats itself tonight. The Germans haven’t impressed so far but they have made it through unscathed. Like Brazil, Germany has a lot of expectation back home.

Brazil played their match of the competition against Colombia in the quarterfinal. But they won’t carry the same goal threat without Neymar. Just as the hosts were beginning to turn the style on as we got to the latter stages of this tournament, they were dealt their worst nightmare. Chelsea’s Willian will deputise for Neymar but he lacks the invention and personality of the Barcelona forward. Bayern’s Dante will replace Silva, while David Luiz will take the captain’s armband. Dani Alves could be recalled at right-back ahead of Maicon.

The Germans have recovered from a virus that spread through their team. Per Mertesacker could be recalled in defense, although the team that won against France looked their most balanced of the tournament. However, coach Joachim Low prefers Phillip Lahm in central midfield. The change could see Jerome Boateng go to right-back and Mertesacker move into the centre of defense. Central midfielders Bastian Schweinsteiger or Sami Khedira could drop out.

Brazil starting XI (predicted):

Germany starting XI (predicted):

Brazil has been given a massive boost ahead of their quarter-final with Colombia with the news that star player Neymar has been declared fit. The poster boy of the tournament was a doubt after he picked up knee and thigh injuries in the brutal last-16 tie with Chile. But, after being wrapped up in cotton wool all week, he will start the game in Fortaleza.

As his team-mates continue to struggle, the pressure has increased on Neymar with each game. However, Chile showed that being physical is the best way to stop him. Nullify Neymar and you nullify Brazil. Oscar, Hulk and Fred, who complete the attacking four, will be required to step up their game.

The hosts will have to improve on their performances so far if they are to overcome a Colombia side who have been the most impressive team in the tournament. After topping Group C, Colombia beat Uruguay 2-0 in the last-16 and is playing with the confidence Brazil lack. James Rodriguez has been the man of the tournament, and he will be the biggest threat to Brazil’s unstable defence.

Colombia has been the surprise package of the World Cup. There is now a real belief that they could go and win their first World Cup but Brazil will be hoping that they’re lack of experience could cost them in their quarter-final. Along with Rodriguez, Juan Cuadrado and Teofilo Gutierrez have a pivotal role to play going forward if they are to cause an upset.

Brazil coach Luis Felipe Scolari likes continuity and is expected to name an unchanged side. Colombia has no new injury worries either. The game has potential to be the most exciting of the tournament. Colombia likes to play attacking, free flowing football while their defense is prone to errors. Brazil will certainly be attacking in what is expected to be a high scoring game.

Late goals from substitutes Leroy Fer and Memphis Depay secured a 2-0 win for Netherlands over Chile to top Group B.

In a disappointing game, Netherlands took control late on and managed to break through a Chile side who, seemed to be the better team up until then. The Dutch now march into the last-16 with three straight wins and in an ominous form. They are likely to play the winner of Mexico and Croatia, while Chile is likely to face the hosts, Brazil.

In the heat of Sao Paolo, neither side produced their best football and Chile had the upper-hand for much of the first half as their intense style suffocated Netherlands. As time went on Netherlands began to assert themselves and took the lead when Fer headed home Daryl Janmaat’s cross with his first touch since coming off the bench. Chile was made to pay for leaving him unmarked in the box. Chile has been defensively strong in this tournament so far but they struggled with Netherlands’ aerial threat.

As Chile pushed for an equalizer the superb Arjen Robben, who was a threat all afternoon, started a break-away down the left flank. He crossed for another substitute, Memphis Depay, to score in injury time. It was an eventful end to a drab game that needed a goal to spark it into life.

The South Americans dominated the first half and were guilty of missing two good chances through Felipe Gutierrez, who lost his composure in the penalty box after being well found from set-pieces. The notable absence of Robin Van Persie was a problem for the Dutch, who missed his goal threat and physical presence.

Dutch coach Louis van Gaal made three changes to the side that beat both Spain and Australia. Jeremain Lens replaced the suspended captain Van Persie, while centre-back Bruno Martins-Indi missed out through injury. He was replaced by striker Dirk Kuyt who took up an unusual left wing-back role, with Daley Blind moving into a more central position. Georgino Wijandum replaced Jonathan de Guzman. Chile made just one change and rested Arturo Vidal, with Gutierrez taking his place in midfield.

Arjen Robben proved to be the Netherlands’ main attacking option in Van Persie’s absence and he, again, showed his quality. He almost scored a wonderful individual goal in the first half, but his dragged shot ruined a super move which started inside his own half. That and a glorious chanced wasted by Stephan De Vrij from a Robben free-kick, were the only clear chances the Europeans created before Fer headed home.

Chile had several penalty shouts turned down and they will be frustrated that they couldn’t convert their pressure into more chances. However, they showed once again that they will be hard to beat in this tournament. Holland have built more momentum and the hype surrounding them will become stronger after this result where they won without playing at their best. In World Cup tournaments, that is a vital quality to have.

Germany will secure qualification for the World Cup knock-out stages if they manage to beat Ghana in Fortaleza. The Germans gave arguably the best performance of the World Cup so far with a 4-0 romp of Portugal, while Ghana lost 2-1 to USA in Group G and need to win.

The match is unique as it could see two brothers come up against each other. Ghana attacking midfielder Kevin Prince-Boateng will be hoping that his impressive cameo off the bench against USA will see him start against his brother Jerome, who opted to play for Germany.

Joachim Lowe is unlikely to make any changes to his German side which would mean Thomas Muller would continue in attack instead of veteran striker Miroslav Klose. Klose is just one goal away from equalling Ronaldo’s record of 15 goals in the World Cup Finals but seems to have to settle for an impact role of the bench.

Ghana manager Akwasi Appiah is expected to make changes from his side’s disappointing performance against USA. Prince-Boateng is one expecting a recall, while AC Milan midfielder Michael Essien could add bite to the midfield. A defeat for Ghana could see them get knocked-out if USA draw or win against Portugal on Sunday.

An insipid Brazil will deservedly come in for a heavy amount of scrutiny after a lackluster display in a 0-0 draw with Mexico in their second game of Group A. The heroics of Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa kept the hosts at bay with some stunning saves but he was a part of a mighty team effort, which came close to snatching the win in the dying stages.

Mexico impressed with their discipline and counter-attacking but Brazil have a lot of questions to answer for a display that does not signal potential champions. Neymar was again impressive but the over reliance on him to carry his team was startlingly apparent. The midfield was sluggish. The attacking players were contained and centre-forward Fred was anonymous.

A draw in the final game against Cameroon will be enough for Brazil to progress to the Knockout rounds but it is a situation they were expected to avoid. Mexico can be proud of their effort and be a little disappointed that they didn’t go on to win. They suffocated Neymar and Oscar, and exploited the space in behind Brazil’s rampaging full-backs when going forward. Their only chances were from distance but on more than one occasion they went mightily close.

Heading into the game, Brazil made one change to the side that beat Croatia as wide man Hulk failed to overcome a knock he picked up earlier this week. Such is the threat of Mexico’s 5-3-2 formation, Scolari picked Chelsea’s Ramires to provide strength and discipline on the right hand side. This worked well defensively but Brazil missed the penetration of a traditional wide player. Scolari rectified his mistake and Ramires was replaced at half-time with the more flamboyant Bernard. However, Mexico grew in confidence the longer it stayed goalless and went forward with increasing belief that they could win.

After playing so open against Cameroon, Mexico was robust and physical early on in a clear tactic to disrupt Brazil’s early flow. A packed midfield irritated the crowd as their side couldn’t get their creative players on the ball on a regular basis. Neymar drew a super save from Ochoa with a header while David Luiz stabbed a close range effort straight at the keeper after a set-piece fell perfectly at his feet, but that was as close as they came in a frustrating first half.

Mexico came out of their shell in the second period and could have snatched the win as Andres Guardado and Raul Jimenez went close, with Jimenez forcing a good save from Cesar. But it was Ochoa who was man-of-the-match. He made a couple of smart saves to deny Neymar in the second half before making a stunning reaction save to deny Thiago Silva from point-blank range. Mexico were good value for their point and will give any team a game in this tournament, while Brazil need to re-discover their traditional swagger if they are going to give the home support what they demand and lift a sixth World Cup.

SEE MORE — Watch highlights of Mexico 0-0 Brazil.

After the hope and excitement last Spring among Stoke City supporters that a quality manager would be hired to take the Potters to the next level, a feeling of being underwhelmed swept through supporters when the news was announced that Mark Hughes would be the club’s 38th manager. After the sad but necessary departure of Tony Pulis, the fans thought big. UEFA Champions League winners Rafael Benitez and Roberto Di Matteo were heavily linked, as was popular duo Gus Poyet and Gianfranco Zola. So when Hughes, whose recent record includes falling out with the owners at Fulham and causing irreversible damage at QPR, walked through the door, there was a natural sense of concern.

But I suspect many had forgotten how good a manager Hughes was. And in the short time that he’s been able to adjust to life ‘up north’ again, he has safely negotiated the first major hurdle. Stoke sit 12th in the Premier League and are progressing well, which is undoubtedly a very satisfactory result for a mid-table team going through the dreaded transition phrase. Beforehand, there was talk of Stoke getting too big for its boots after they got rid of Pulis and that they were genuine relegation candidates. So far, Hughes has responded to the task in an impressive fashion.

For those supporters who became attached to the strange ‘anti Hughes’ brigade that has existed for several years on the terraces and in the papers, words are beginning to be eaten and positivity is taking over. Many supporters had fallen out of love with the club towards the end of Pulis’s tenure, hence the slightly below-par attendance figures this season. However, Hughes is winning them back slowly but surely.

Initially the former Wales manager brought style despite keeping much of Pulis’s squad. He has kept what Pulis left him and describes the players as far more talented then what they were previously given credit for. The ball remained static to the floor and all players were encouraged to participate in the attacking phases. Full-backs were told to push forward while the midfielders were required to run beyond the centre-forward, a trait that would not have been seen under Pulis who always liked his central midfielders to remain solid and sit in ‘the cage’.

Oussama Assaidi has been a revelation on the left wing, adding pace and creativity to an otherwise static forward line, while also adding some vital and spectacular goals since his introduction in December. Charlie Adam has excelled in recent weeks in the number ten position that has taken on great significance under Hughes. His display and goal against Manchester United was excellent, and he is quashing rumours that surround his long-term place. Geoff Cameron looks a fine right-back who is a great threat when he gallops forward, and Ryan Shawcross looks the complete defender now he is comfortable on the ball. Even Austrian bad boy Marko Arnautovic is finding his feet.

This has all been helped by some thrilling performances this season. The 3-2 victory over Chelsea, 2-1 win over Manchester Unittd and 1-0 recent success against Arsenal have regained the fans’ confidence, while performances away at West Ham and Swansea have been refreshing. There has been a clear ethos and the fans have bought into it. They are becoming optimistic again under Hughes although appreciative of the size of the task he has. Following on from arguably the best manager in the club’s history is as difficult as any job out there at the moment but Hughes has relished it and the players have embraced the task.

Although exciting, the new ways did bring with it a soft underbelly. Leads would evaporate, like in the 3-3 draw at Swansea. The return to the side of Peter Crouch and Glenn Whelan has added more steel and, despite goals flying in left, right and center at times, Stoke defensively  have improved too.

There are still areas that need to be addressed. It is clear that they are crying out for the right type of striker — one who will run in behind and stretch defenses, creating the space for Adam and Assaidi to play. This could be the biggest barrier to safety because despite Crouch’s good form, he isn’t tuned to this new system. A ball winning, tough midfielder is also required and defensive cover too.

But for now, Hughes has found the right blend of style and substance that Pulis was criticized for never quite achieving. After the stagnation of the previous 18 months, the Hughes era has breathed fresh air into this vibrant football club. There is a long way to go and several players to sign before he can get his vision for the side in full working order but so far so good for an unpopular manager who is starting to patch up his mangled reputation.

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