Bernard replaces injured Neymar for Brazil

BELO HORIZONTE: Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari handed 21-year-old Bernard a start in place of injured star Neymar for Tuesday´s World Cup semi-final against Germany in Belo Horizonte.

Dante also comes in for suspended captain Thiago Silva, whilst Luiz Gustavo returns in midfield in place of Paulinho after missing Friday´s quarter-final win over Colombia due to suspension.

Bayern Munich´s Dante will face six of his club teammates in the German side as he partners captain David Luiz at the heart of the defence.

Germany boss Joachim Loew keeps faith with the same side that beat France 1-0 in the last eight on Friday.

Miroslav Klose leads the line up front and can become the World Cup´s all-time leading scorer with one more goal.

Klose is tied on 15 goals with Brazilian legend Ronaldo, who scored twice in Brazil´s 2-0 win over Germany in the only previous meeting between the sides at a World Cup in the 2002 final.

Teams:

Brazil

Julio Cesar; Maicon, Dante, David Luiz (capt), Marcelo; Luis Gustavo, Fernandinho; Hulk, Oscar, Bernard; FredCoach: Luiz Felipe Scolari (BRA)

Germany

Manuel Neuer; Philipp Lahm (capt), Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels, Benedikt Hoewedes; Bastian Schweinsteiger, Sami Khedira, Toni Kroos; Thomas Mueller, Miroslav Klose, Mesut OzilCoach: Joachim Loew (GER) (AFP)