Brazil v Germany - the key battles

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Brazil v Germany - the key battles

Germany's Thomas Mueller and Brazil's David Luiz - AFP PHOTO / PATRIK STOLLARZ / FABRICE COFFRINI

The on the field battles that could decide Tuesday's World Cup semi final between Brazil and Germany in Belo Horizonte:

Hulk v Benedikt Hoewedes

Without star man Neymar due to a broken vertebrae, Brazilian hopes will fall on the broad shoulders of Hulk to carry his side to the final of their World Cup.

The Zenit St Petersburg striker is yet to score in the tournament and missed a penalty in his side's shootout victory over Chile in the last 16.

However, he was a constant menace in his side's 2-1 win over Colombia in the quarter-finals and was only denied by fine saves from David Ospina.

The steady Hoewedes has been deployed at left-back throughout the tournament despite normally playing in the centre of defence by his club Schalke.

Hoewedes should be able to physically compete where most defenders struggle against Hulk, but may not have the pace to prevent Brazil's man mountain cutting onto his dangerous left foot to shoot.

Luis Gustavo v Toni Kroos

Old Bayern Munich teammates Gustavo and Kroos symbolise the contrast in styles between Brazil's physical nature and Germany's ability to keep the ball.

Gustavo missed the quarter-final against Colombia due to suspension, but is certain to return and will look to knock Kroos out of his rhythm in the same way Fernandinho and Paulinho ganged up on Colombia's James Rodriguez in the quarter final.

With captain Philipp Lahm having returned to his traditional right back role in Germany's the quarter-final victory against France, Kroos has become a midfield reference point around which the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mesut Ozil feed.

One area in which Gustavo may not be able to stop Kroos, though, is his excellent set-piece delivery which proved key in the last eight. Mats Hummels headed home the only goal of the game from his free-kick.

David Luiz v Thomas Mueller

With Neymar injured and captain Thiago Silva suspended, Luiz is Brazil's best player in the lineup against Germany.

Defensively Luiz has showed a discipline he rarely did in three years at Chelsea before sealing a £50 million ($85 million) transfer to Paris Saint-Germain last month.

And he is also Brazil's top goalscorer after Neymar, having netted against Chile in the last 16 and won the quarter-final against Colombia with a stunning free-kick.

His toughest test yet awaits, though, in preventing Mueller from extending his stunning World Cup record of scoring nine times in 11 games.

Mueller will be keen to make amends for missing the semi-final in 2010 through suspension and has had previous success against Luiz. He outjumped the Brazilian to score for Bayern against Chelsea in the Champions League final of 2012, although Luiz emerged the victor on that occasion as Chelsea won on penalties.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-07-07