Tragedy has struck for Brazil as they have lost their star player Neymar for the rest of the World Cup due to a back injury and will also be missing their captain Thiago Silva for tonight's game against Germany. However, there is still hope for the hosts and here are five reasons why they should remain optimistic ahead of their semi-final with Germany...

1. Luiz Felipe Scolari

The Brazilian manager has never lost a World Cup match with Brazil. He has proved himself a skillful and talented manager that led the Selecao to a World Cup victory in 2002 before taking them this far even though he had to cope with a personal loss. In between his stints in charge of Brazil he also led Portugal to a World Cup semi-final and the final of Euro 2004.

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2. Home advantage

The rowdy crowd at Belo Horizonte will be one-sided and every time Brazil pick up the ball the cheers will be heard all around the country – the same goes for the boos every time a German touches the ball. The fans have proved to be the Selecao’s 12th man and tonight will be no different.

Shape Created with Sketch. Neymar's best and worst moments of the 2014 World Cup Show all 9 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. Neymar's best and worst moments of the 2014 World Cup 1/9 Neymar scores his first against Croatia After going a goal behind in the very first match of the tournament courtesy of a Marcelo own goal, Neymar got his tally off the mark as he scored from long range to drag Brazil level. GETTY IMAGES 2/9 He adds his second in controversial circumstances Despite a stop-start, jerky run up, Neymar converts from the penalty spot to give Brazil the lead and they would go on to secure a 3-1 victory. However, the Croatians were infuriated by what they perceived as a dive from striker Fred to win the penalty. Not that it mattered to Neymar, who duly took his chance from the spot. GETTY IMAGES 3/9 But was he lucky to be on the pitch? A stray elbow on Luka Modric could have warranted a red card for Neymar, but he escaped with a yellow and was on hand to score later in the match when the opportunity arose. Getty Images 4/9 Tears of pride Neymar in tears during the Brazil national anthem before the game with Mexico, such is the importance of the occasion GETTY IMAGES 5/9 Neymar left frustrated against Mexico An unimpressive Brazil side were left hugely frustrated by Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa. In a man-of-the-match display, Ochoa kept out a close range header from Neymar to see the match end as a goalless draw. GETTY IMAGES 6/9 Back on form and back in the goals You can’t keep a quality player quiet for long though, and unfortunately for Cameroon, their dismal World Cup campaign came to an end at the hands of another Neymar brace. Taking his tally to four goals, Neymar put himself in the reckoning for the Golden Boot, although his injury has put paid to that dream for now. Getty Images 7/9 Caught with his pants down Despite being the poster boy of Fifa’s World Cup, the governing body confirmed that they were investigating Neymar for allegedly breaching sponsorship rules by partially showing the top of his underwear that may or may not have been part of a sponsorship stunt. Eventually, Fifa conformed they would take no further action. GETTY IMAGES 8/9 Neymar’s penalty prowess sees off Chile After a hard-fought 120 minutes, Brazil and Chile were locked at 1-1 courtesy of David Luiz and Alexis Sanchez strikes. Mauricio Pinilla and Sanchez both saw their penalty shootout efforts saved by Julio Cesar, but Willian and Hulk followed suit. With the weight of a nation on his shoulders, Neymar coolly slotted home from the spot, which turned out to be the match-winner as Gonzalo Jara then hit the post to send Brazil through to the quarter-finals. 9/9 One assist, no goals and a trip to hospital sees Neymar done The forward had seen his impact in the quarter-final against Colombia somewhat limited due to the rough and tumble nature of the match – although the Brazilians were just as guilty of using the tactic against James Rodriguez. His corner allowed Thiago Silva to bundle the ball across the line for the opener, before Juan Camilo Zuniga’s ill-timed knee in the back cracked on of Neymar’s vertebrae and ended his run at this year’s World Cup. GETTY IMAGES 1/9 Neymar scores his first against Croatia After going a goal behind in the very first match of the tournament courtesy of a Marcelo own goal, Neymar got his tally off the mark as he scored from long range to drag Brazil level. GETTY IMAGES 2/9 He adds his second in controversial circumstances Despite a stop-start, jerky run up, Neymar converts from the penalty spot to give Brazil the lead and they would go on to secure a 3-1 victory. However, the Croatians were infuriated by what they perceived as a dive from striker Fred to win the penalty. Not that it mattered to Neymar, who duly took his chance from the spot. GETTY IMAGES 3/9 But was he lucky to be on the pitch? A stray elbow on Luka Modric could have warranted a red card for Neymar, but he escaped with a yellow and was on hand to score later in the match when the opportunity arose. Getty Images 4/9 Tears of pride Neymar in tears during the Brazil national anthem before the game with Mexico, such is the importance of the occasion GETTY IMAGES 5/9 Neymar left frustrated against Mexico An unimpressive Brazil side were left hugely frustrated by Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa. In a man-of-the-match display, Ochoa kept out a close range header from Neymar to see the match end as a goalless draw. GETTY IMAGES 6/9 Back on form and back in the goals You can’t keep a quality player quiet for long though, and unfortunately for Cameroon, their dismal World Cup campaign came to an end at the hands of another Neymar brace. Taking his tally to four goals, Neymar put himself in the reckoning for the Golden Boot, although his injury has put paid to that dream for now. Getty Images 7/9 Caught with his pants down Despite being the poster boy of Fifa’s World Cup, the governing body confirmed that they were investigating Neymar for allegedly breaching sponsorship rules by partially showing the top of his underwear that may or may not have been part of a sponsorship stunt. Eventually, Fifa conformed they would take no further action. GETTY IMAGES 8/9 Neymar’s penalty prowess sees off Chile After a hard-fought 120 minutes, Brazil and Chile were locked at 1-1 courtesy of David Luiz and Alexis Sanchez strikes. Mauricio Pinilla and Sanchez both saw their penalty shootout efforts saved by Julio Cesar, but Willian and Hulk followed suit. With the weight of a nation on his shoulders, Neymar coolly slotted home from the spot, which turned out to be the match-winner as Gonzalo Jara then hit the post to send Brazil through to the quarter-finals. 9/9 One assist, no goals and a trip to hospital sees Neymar done The forward had seen his impact in the quarter-final against Colombia somewhat limited due to the rough and tumble nature of the match – although the Brazilians were just as guilty of using the tactic against James Rodriguez. His corner allowed Thiago Silva to bundle the ball across the line for the opener, before Juan Camilo Zuniga’s ill-timed knee in the back cracked on of Neymar’s vertebrae and ended his run at this year’s World Cup. GETTY IMAGES

3. Team unity

We have all seen Brazil making their way onto the pitch in a straight line where each player holds the shoulder of the one standing in front of him. Scolari’s team consists of players that are all on the same page and Neymar’s absence could work well here as there will be no one-man show.

Video: Sam Wallace previews Brazil vs Germany

4. Germany are the preferred semi-final opponents for eventual winners

Tradition is once more on the side of Brazil as the last two times Germany made it to the World Cup semi-finals they got knocked out by Italy and Spain who both eventually won the competition in 2006 and 2010 respectively. Brazil have the tools to make it a hat-trick, therefore history could repeat itself tonight.

Brazil can still win even though they're without Neymar

5. The past

Brazil are determined to exorcise the 1950 demons of the Maracanazo where the Selecao lost the final to underdogs Uruguay. That is a match that haunts the yellow shirt to this day and this group of players are on a mission to erase the memory once and for all.

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