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Cape Town - Brazil will be without their talisman Neymar for the rest of this year's World Cup campaign. Neymar was stretchered off the pitch after he suffered a fractured vertebra in his spine in his team's 2-1 win over Colombia on Friday.
There has been some speculation in Brazil that the 22-year-old Barcelona playmaker, who was initially ruled out for four weeks, might actually be fit for the final but, according to Brazilian newspaper, O'Globo, team doctor Jose Luiz Runco has ruled that out completely.
According to BBC News, either Chelsea winger Willian or Shakhtar Donetsk's Bernard are likely to replace Neymar against Germany in Belo Horizonte tomorrow.
Willian, whose three World Cup appearances have come from the bench, said: "You can't compare Neymar with any other player. He has so much quality. I have a different style even if we have some similarities, like my pace.
"Neymar is a forward, while I am more of a midfielder, someone who creates chances for others."
Injuries aside, Germany coach Joachim Low still believes the host country lack some of the traditional flair associated with Brazilian football.
"They're playing more robustly than any other team here," said Low.
"There's little left of that traditional Brazilian style of football. "
Germany clash with Brazil tomorrow night in the first semi-final of the campaign, and Low will be looking to exploit the weaknesses in the Brazilian side.
There has been some speculation in Brazil that the 22-year-old Barcelona playmaker, who was initially ruled out for four weeks, might actually be fit for the final but, according to Brazilian newspaper, O'Globo, team doctor Jose Luiz Runco has ruled that out completely.
According to BBC News, either Chelsea winger Willian or Shakhtar Donetsk's Bernard are likely to replace Neymar against Germany in Belo Horizonte tomorrow.
Willian, whose three World Cup appearances have come from the bench, said: "You can't compare Neymar with any other player. He has so much quality. I have a different style even if we have some similarities, like my pace.
"Neymar is a forward, while I am more of a midfielder, someone who creates chances for others."
Injuries aside, Germany coach Joachim Low still believes the host country lack some of the traditional flair associated with Brazilian football.
"They're playing more robustly than any other team here," said Low.
"There's little left of that traditional Brazilian style of football. "
Germany clash with Brazil tomorrow night in the first semi-final of the campaign, and Low will be looking to exploit the weaknesses in the Brazilian side.
