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‘Brazil strong without Neymar, Silva’

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Update: 2014-07-08 03:38:00
‘Brazil strong without Neymar, Silva’

DHAKA: The Germany coach Joachim Low believes the World Cup host Brazil an cover for the loss of two key players and insists his side feel no fear heading into Tuesday's game

He has insisted World Cup semi-final opponents Brazil will not be weakened by the absences of Neymar and Thiago Silva.

Low's side face the tournament hosts in the last four on Tuesday, but they are without star player Neymar, who scored four and set up one in five games before a broken vertebra in the quarter-final win over Colombia saw him ruled out for the rest of the tournament.

Meanwhile, the five-time world champions had an appeal to have Silva's suspension overturned after he was booked in the quarter-final rejected.   

However, Low is adamant that the absences will not hinder Luiz Felipe Scolari's side, but could motivate them.

 "They are not less dangerous now," he told the DFB's official website. "Neymar is a very strong player indeed but it is going to deliver some extra power to the other players.

"Other teams have experienced the same in the past. The other players must take much more responsibility now. They appeal to the whole country to support them because Neymar will not play.

"Thiago Silva can be replaced easily by Dante. Nobody should think that especially Dante will play worse against Germany than Thiago Silva would do.

"Those two players are replaceable for Brazil."

The 54-year-old feels his side have enough quality to beat Brazil, insisting they have no fear as they look to improve on their third-place finishes in each of the last two World Cups.

Low continued: "I think we have ways and means and the quality to send them home.

"We are playing against 200 million Brazilians. We are playing against the whole country. We are playing against the hosts. You could not wish for anything better - maybe winning the final would be better. But it's unbelievably exciting to be in this semi-final.

"There is always pressure. We have been to a semi-final before. We lost those matches in 2006 and 2010. But I think our team has matured.

"The players know that they once again have the chance to win the title. We are looking forward to the match, reported goal.com. 

"Of course, it is a match in which luck, form and all those little things can be decisive. Our team has no fear. We are confident," he added. 

BDST: 1332 HRS, JUL 08, 2014

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