Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has insisted that Brazil are still a formidable opponent for his side even without Neymar.

The 22-year-old was ruled out of the tournament after sustaining a fractured vertebra in the Selecao's quarter-final win over Colombia.

However, the Bayern Munich midfielder has admitted that Die Mannschaft still face a massive task to knock the host nation out of the tournament in their semi-final clash.

Schweinsteiger told FIFA.com: "They have two coaches in [Luiz Felipe] Scolari and [Carlos Alberto] Parreira who have won the title already, they have the home advantage and players with individual class.

"Their coaches have a lot of experience of this kind of situation. It's an honour and a challenge to play against the hosts, but it have would be better to play Brazil in the final.

"It doesn't matter how much experience you have, to play the hosts in this football-crazy country, I mean that in a positive sense, is something special."

Joachim Low's side take on Brazil in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday.