Neymar loss complicates things for Germany

Belo Horizonte: The tournament ending injury to Brazil star Neymar and Thiago Silva`s suspension only complicates matters for Germany, coach Joachim Loew said on the eve of Tuesday`s semi-final against the hosts.

The 22-year-old Neymar suffered a fractured vertebrae in Brazil`s quarter-final win over Colombia, while Selecao captain Silva also misses the semi-final in Belo Horizonte against Germany through suspension. Loew says Brazil has enough talent to compensate for the loss of key players and their absence could actually boost the hosts. "Setbacks often set free additional forces," Loew told the DFB.de website. "Nobody should believe that our task is made easier by the loss of Neymar, quite the opposite. "And Thiago Silva`s suspension shows the depth of the Selecao`s squad. "(Brazil coach) Felipe Scolari can now use a player like (Bayern Munich centre-back) Dante, so I can`t see there being a loss of quality." Loew echoed the sentiments of captain Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger in expressing regret that the Germans will not face Neymar in particular. "I`m really very sorry for Neymar. He is a great footballer, it`s such bitter news and bad luck for the nation and the team that he`s out now," added Loew. "I hope he will be back playing as soon as possible and that he deals positively with the set back. "At a World Cup, you want to see the best players and the squad want to measure themselves against the best. "It`s unfortunate for the Brazilians that they are without two of their best players, but they will be able to compensate."