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4.54pm BST
4.51pm BST
Injured midfielder Nigel de Jong has warmed up with the Netherlands squad on the eve of its World Cup semi-final match against Argentina. Striker Robin van Persie, who has looked off the pace in the Netherlands' two knockout-stage matches, warmed up separately from the main group of players with defender Daryl Janmaat during the training session.
It was not clear Tuesday if De Jong is fit to play against Argentina or if Van Persie has a fitness problem. Coach Louis van Gaal is holding a news conference later in the day. De Jong injured his groin early in the second-round victory over Mexico and there were fears his tournament was over after the Dutch team said he would likely need two to four weeks to recover.
4.47pm BST
4.45pm BST
4.41pm BST
Good afternoon. Barry Glendenning here bringing you all the news that's fit to print and much that isn't, while Paul Doyle goes for a well earned lie-down in a darkened room.
4.26pm BST
All good things come to an end. But the live blog goes on.
3.57pm BST
There now follows a nice PA sorry about why some Yorkshire residents will be cheering hard for Argentina tomorrow - and further exploration of just how close Diego Maradona came to signing for Sheffield United ...
Alejandro Sabella will carry the hopes of a nation and a corner of South Yorkshire on his shoulders as he attempts to lead Argentina into the World Cup final.
The 59-year-old will send his troops into battle with Holland in Sao Paulo on Wednesday evening with the biggest prize in football firmly in his sights.
It is perhaps not something he might have envisaged the day he wrapped himself around a radiator at half-time at Hartlepool's then Victoria Road home and refused to subject himself to the icy blast of a north-east winter.
But he will do so with a his former comrades in the red and white half of Sheffield firmly in his corner as he bids to complete a journey which has taken him from Buenos Aires via the Steel City to the pinnacle of the international game.
Sabella arrived at Sheffield United during the summer of 1978 as an unknown, at least on these shores, 23-year-old with manager Harry Haslam extending his search for fresh talent to South America.
The story goes that Haslam's initial target was a 16-year-old Diego Maradona, who even then ultimately proved to be outside his price range.
Former Blades team-mate Tony Kenworthy told Press Association Sport: "As far as the players were concerned - and he did tell us the story, Harry himself - he was going to go for Maradona.
"He had seen Maradona and he was interested in him, but it was Alex that he opted for because Maradona was just a little bit too much."
The newcomer was thrust into the Blades dressing room as something of a novelty, but was soon assimilated, thanks in part to the presence of Uruguayan Danny Bergara.
Kenworthy said: "Football bridges a lot of gaps and it's easy, it's a universal place to come into - but it's an unforgiving place if you're not up to scratch.
"But Alex came in and he was such a nice guy that you couldn't help but like the fella, and the icing on the cake was that he was fantastic technically as a footballer.
"He was a pretty intelligent sort of a guy because he picked up the language, albeit pidgin-fashion, pretty easily."
Foreign imports have been credited with introducing greater professionalism into the English game in recent years.
However, Sabella's contribution on that front was negligible to the point that he refused to train on Fridays and left his preparation for games until the very last minute.
Kenworthy said: "At 2.30pm, where we would have had our massages and our ankles were strapped and you go through your routine, you would look across and Alex would be looking at the pictures in the programme.
"You'd look again at 2.40pm and Alex would still be in his suit; you'd look back at 2.45pm and he'd be changed, he'd be ready, socks rolled down, boots on ready to go out. That was Alex."
The English weather too proved something of a culture shock for a man who was quick to seek out the best source of heat in any dressing room.
Kenworthy said: "He hated the cold. At half-time, he would wrap himself around any radiator he could find in the dressing room.
"We played at Hartlepool and he didn't come out for the second half. He wouldn't come back out. He was too cold. We had to make a substitution at half-time."
But, whatever his idiosyncrasies, the Argentinian possessed a rich talent and, in his two seasons at Bramall Lane - he went on to have a third with derby rivals Leeds - proved to be a match-winner.
Kenworthy remembers a man who came to life when his side was on the ball, even in the white heat of an infamous Sheffield derby in December 26, 1979.
The full-back said: "When we were defending, he wasn't any part of what we were trying to achieve because you couldn't rely on him. But once we won the ball, we would try to get him on it as much as we could because of his talent.
"Many a time, he'd have to put up with a man-to-man marker, and it wasn't like today. You could be heavy with your challenges and your first one was always free, so it was always the free one on Alex.
"We played Sheffield Wednesday on that Boxing Day and he came past me horizontal at eye level at one point.
"He was going to get it, but lads in the dressing room tried to look after him on the pitch because he was your little diamond. He could turn a game for you."
Sabella made his mark on and off the pitch during his time in the Sheffield, and the bonds he forged there remain intact, ensuring support from afar on Wednesday and beyond.
Kenworthy said: "What a fantastic lad. I can't say enough about him. It can't be England, so we are all hoping it will be Argentina. Once a Blade, always a Blade
3.32pm BST
Here's our man in Brazil, Jon Watts: "Just to give you a sense of the mood in Brazil, here is today's front page of the tabloid Meia Hora, which has adopted the spirit of Spartacus with its headline 'We are all Neymar' above a team that has been photoshopped to that very effect."
3.08pm BST
Graham Parker assess Jurgen Klinsmann's guidance of the USA.
3.03pm BST
An email from Ravi Raman.
Could you verify these two points:
* First time Brazil and Argentina are in the WC semis and more importantly
* The Dutch have used 21 of their 23 member squad. If it's true, surely that's an admirable aspect and points to a real team effort.
2.52pm BST
In addition to looking forward to tonight's match between Brazil and "Jogis Jungs", German organ Das Bild has been looking back at famous World Cup moments - and recreated them in crummily pixellted form. It's strangely charming for a few seconds. The one of Frank Rijkaard's is good, if only because we learn that the incident is referred to as "Die Spuck Attacke". Have a look if you want.
2.46pm BST
Good old Titi Camara
When I left Liverpool not many people thought I could have been replaced. Liverpool will survive without Suarez
2.30pm BST
Here's Bart Vlietsra with the lowdown on the the lowlands.
2.04pm BST
Rob Smyth is great. Brazil 2014 is not. Here's why. You should read the whole thing.
1.56pm BST
"A picture to mark Arsenal reaching four million Twitter followers". And to show how gangster Carl Jenkinson is. pic.twitter.com/8S8MmVBy7r
1.54pm BST
Italy are looking for a new manager. Roberto Mancini is looking for a new job. This could be the beginning of
beautiful
relationship. Mancini has had this to say on the subject:
To see that Azzurri fans want me as coach makes me proud. It means that I have worked well and I have also left something good in terms of playing style and image. However, it is just rumours and I have not heard from anyone.
It's nice to be among the candidates, as a good nationalist, in the sense that I am proud of my roots when I am abroad.
Even at Manchester City I was happy to put the Italian brand on the Premier League.
1.31pm BST
What's the mood like in Argentina in advance of tomorrow's semi-final meeting with Holland? Pretty giddy, as Marcela Mora y Araujo explains here.
The mainstream news programme on TV has replaced its jingle with the Brazil tell me what it feels like chant that to the tune of Credence Clearwater has become the anthem for Argentina fans this World Cup. Its as if News at Ten took to adopting Baddiel and Skinners Three Lions (Footballs Coming Home). But the Argentina version, which claims Argentina is the father of Brazilian football, has spread like wildfire and even the national squad have been chanting it in the dressing room.
1.18pm BST
Does anyone remember England, the team that lasted at the World Cup only marginally longer than Jennifer Lopez? Yeah, well, sorry to bring them back up but I really do think you should read this article by Rob Bagchi, who gives Roy Hodgson what for.
12.45pm BST
More intrigue in Cameroon, where following the country's acrimonious misadventure a the World Cup, local clubs are considering boycotting the kick-off of the domestic league until they get the share of the World Cup income that they say they were promised. They say that local clubs were told beforehand that they would be given 30% of the money paid to the Cameroonian federation as a result of the Indomitable Lions' participation in the tournament. Truly, the mis-management of football - and of much more besides - in Cameroon is tragic.
12.38pm BST
Hello Doyle here. Eight and a half hours to kick off. Perhaps you should watch this?
12.25pm BST
And that's me done for the day! It's been great. Paul Doyle will be jabbering at you from now on.
12.23pm BST
You know what the World Cup is? A homosexual abomination according to this Russian
comedian
priest.
12.15pm BST
"I'll have you know that Mathieu Debuchy made the WhoScored.com best European XI last season!" says Craig Connolly. "Although I do have a hard time believing that there were no statistically better right backs, but there you go!"
Well if that doesn't swing it, I don't know what will.
12.00pm BST
There are nine hours until Brazil play Germany. Nine. Hours.
11.41am BST
Here's a quiz about Brazil and Germany. Enjoy.
11.32am BST
It would be good if Manuel Pellegrini becomes so set on signing his old Malaga players that Roque Santa Cruz ends up back at Manchester City. He's got something to prove...
11.28am BST
Why are Arsenal signing Mathieu Debuchy? Isn't he a bit ... not ... good?
11.28am BST
Just heard that Arsenal have reached four million followers on Twitter. Get the bunting out.
11.18am BST
"Not sure what makes a great team," says Neil Connolly. "But can I make a case for Italy 1990 being one of the greatest sides not to win the world cup. They are the equivalent of Brazil 82 (the best attacking team not to win) as their defence was exceptional: Zenga, Maldini, Ferri, Baresi, Bergomi. But then consider talents like Giannini, Vialli, Mancini, Schillaci, Ancellotti, Donadoni in the squad. And finally remember they took a certain Roberto Baggio off the bench later in the tournament. They played with poise at a time when Italian football was the centre of the world and these players seemed like Roman Gods compared to the rest of us."
11.14am BST
Manchester City have signed Willy Caballero. Poor Richard Wright.
11.08am BST
"Given there are 6 Premier League players in the Brazil squad, with 4 (including the captain David Luiz) likely to start the match, would it be fair to consider the game tonight as England v Germany?" says Anil Bhoyrul. "Or indeed, considering we lost to Uruguay who lost to Colombia who lost to Brazil, is there an argument to suggest that at least England lost to the team that lost to the team that lost to the team that reached the semi-finals?"
Just give Howard Webb the trophy.
11.07am BST
"This has been the most consistently entertaining World Cup in my memory, but that doesn't make it 'Great' necessarily, just above average," Matt Dony offers. "Like one of U2's better albums (where's Ryan Dunne these days?), it's good, but without genuine moments of magnificence or despair. I think that, although it's team game, individual brilliance is often what raises a team to 'great'. Most of the teams of days past who we think of as great are synonymous with at least one genius player. And this time, there hasn't been enough individual brilliance to stand out above good team displays. Big players have either missed out or under performed. Messi could still do it, but even he hasn't dominated enough. B+."
11.07am BST
"It seems to me that all of you neutrals are, understandably, looking at the quality of the World Cup and the teams left, solely through a prism of goals and dazzling displays," says Felix Rathje. "First of all, at this stage, Mertesacker is right: there are no "carnival teams" left, so don't expect anyone to get thumped. There is also much less difference in quality between the truly top teams. Maybe world football is simply not as lopsided anymore as it was when Spain ruled supreme and were a class better than their nearest rivals. Also, only teams are left that have, if not mastered, gotten very good at compressing the space and more effective at suppressing offensive build up and break-play, which even world class players need to truly dazzle. It's a counter-evolution after years of offensive innovation (false 9s et al), in the ever present arms-race between offence and defence. It's still a beautiful game and beautiful World Cup, its just more for connoisseurs of tactics than hurray-football. Go Germany!"
10.44am BST
You know what Germany did on this day in 1990? They won the World Cup. It was an even-tempered final against Argentina.
10.42am BST
On this day in 1998, Lilian Thuram.
10.40am BST
On This Day in 2006, Bastian Schweinsteiger had a stormer as Germany pipped Portugal to third place.
10.36am BST
"I don't know whether this is the best World Cup ever, or whether it would have to include some great teams in order to be so, but I'm curious as to what people think makes a side count as great?" says David Wall. "It's obviously not simply a matter of winning because that would exclude the Dutch of the '70s, and include the Brazilians of '94. It can't be just being entertaining or having a certain style, as then you might include, say the Colombians or Cameroon of '90. So what are the requirements that a side need to meet? Perhaps it's something like having some exceptional and exciting players, being balanced in attack and defence, and doing reasonably well in a tournament. In which case, you could make a case for this year's Colombia being great (or perhaps going on to be great if they continue to develop). And if Germany win then they, of the four remaining teams, could count as great (consider their recent tournament record and how this group of players might develop over the next 4 years). Is this something that can be decided upon in any way other than retrospectively?"
Well Brazil aren't great. They did consist of One Neymar and 10 Not Neymars. Now it's 11 Not Neymars. They're average and would probably be out by now if they weren't the hosts. Argentina are reliant on Messi, Holland on Robben. Germany are the most complete all-round team - assuming Jogi Low doesn't faff about - and looked solid and experienced against France, but even then you wouldn't want to put your house on them getting the job done, which wasn't the case with Spain at their best.
10.28am BST
ELEVEN MILLION POUNDS FOR ROSS MCCORMACK HAS EVERYONE LOST THEIR FRIGGIN MIND
10.28am BST
That's right, £11m. For Ross McCormack.
10.28am BST
Away from the World Cup, Fulham have signed Ross McCormack from Leeds United for £11m.
10.26am BST
Great World Cup semi-final goals: Fabio Grosso v Germany in 2006. What a pass from Pirlo!
10.23am BST
Not much is going on. I'm not going to say I'm bored, though. Betty Draper wouldn't like that.
10.12am BST
"We're still in the competition, and we're playing India tomorrow," says Bob O'Hara.
India qualified? How long have I been away?
10.10am BST
This piece by Rob Smyth is well worth a read. Why? Because it's written by Rob Smyth, you dummies. He reckons that this isn't the best World Cup ever. He is right - there haven't been enough great games and there are no great teams - but to be fair I have enjoyed almost every match. End of, discussion over, unless you'd like to discuss it some more. What do you think? Have the knock-out games disappointed you? I'll have to admit that I missed a few of them because of the tennis but what I did see was enjoyable. Not the best matches I've ever seen but there were plenty of moments, even if the goals were down. Then again, I saw none of Argentina v Switzerland or Germany v France.
9.57am BST
I've not actually seen any football for the last two weeks. Been at Wimbledon. Did I miss anything? How did England get on? Are we still in it? Are we playing tomorrow?
9.57am BST
Hello. It's World Cup semi-final day! Tell me precisely how excited you are, leaving no detail to spare no matter how gory it may be, at jacob.steinberg@theguardian.com. I'm just dying to know how you're all holding up. Brazil! Germany! Brazil v Germany! In Brazil! But no Neymar. Sad face.
9.46am BST
Right, I'm about to hand over the blog baton to Jacob Steinberg. Before I do, however, this from Robert Ensor in reply to Daniel Evans's teaser:
The line ups of the 1970, 1978 (sort of) and 1990 semi-finals all had four previous finalists - in fact 1970 and 1990 both had line-ups comprising previous winners (Uruguay, Brazil, Italy, West Germany and West Germany, England, Argentina, Italy). 1978 didn't actually have semi-finals, but the top two in both second round group stages (Netherlands, Italy, Argentina and Brazil) were all previous finalists.
9.38am BST
Shock border news!
Brodie Houlette has been in touch to point out that Brazil actually has 10 bordering nations, with the 10th being ... France!
9.27am BST
Speaking of teasers, here's a nice one from Daniel Evans:
Has there ever been a World Cup semi final line-up before in which all of the participants have been to a World Cup final previously?
9.24am BST
Oh well done Paul Kelly, well done!
He's only gone and found a Wikipedia page showing a list of Germans Brazilians...which includes Dunga!
9.11am BST
So Matthew Clapham aside, no one seems that bothered about my teaser from earlier. Well, frankly, I thought it was great, so great in fact that I'm now going to tell you all the answers...
The nine countries that border Brazil are Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezula.
8.57am BST
Credit to Rajit Ojha for coming up with a rather decent Brazil-Germany common connection:
Famous model anyone?
8.45am BST
Morning, Sachin, writes Matthew Clapham, I feel foolish, humbled and contrite. Cockily certain you would have (wrongly) included the French overseas département of Guyane, I stopped at nine and ended up missing Peru off my list. Idiot! Whatever would Paddington Bear say?
After that abject failure of second-guessing, I think it's best I'm subbed off before the penalty shootout tonight.
8.35am BST
I presume you're still pondering my teaser (you are arn't you?!). Well, why not take a break and read this insightful column from the ever-wonderful Zico, who believes Luiz Felipe Scolari's powers-of-inspiration could prove the difference for Brazil tonight .
8.19am BST
So good morning folks and thank you to Scott for such a superb opening to today's blog, with today of course being a rather important occasion for Brazil and Germany.
A good few hours to go until they meet in Belo Horizonte and in order to pass the time, I have been trying to think of something that links the two nations. The best I could come up with (thanks to a certain search engine) is that they are both bordered by nine countries. So, without checking, can you name them?
7.58am BST
Tough crowd.
Ross Clark: "After watching a magic hand slowly writing out a mountain of tedium for 3 and a half minutes, they predicted a 1-1 draw... can we have Paul the Octupus back please?"
7.49am BST
If recent form means anything to you, this will mean nothing to you.
It's the last time Brazil and Germany played each other ... way back in 2011.
7.45am BST
Normally when you see the word 'prediction' in the context of a World Cup game, the fear is you'll be confronted by an octopus or a turtle or some other beastly entity pretending to know something about football that you don't.
Well, here is informative and entertaining 'predictor' looking at the Brazil-Germany semi-final, devoid of animals.
7.36am BST
Hello to you, David Wall: "Given that news about the choice of referee for the Germany - Brazil semi-final, and the aggressive approach Brazil have adopted in their last couple of games, do you think that Big Phil is regretting not giving Ronaldinho that surprise, last-minute call-up to their tournament squad?"
I wouldn't have thought so, no.
7.12am BST
It's a very good morning (which is a strange thing to type as it's just past 4pm where I am) to Kiran Kulkarni:
"Good Morning! This has been one of the most exciting & the best world cup so far with the best teams deservedly reaching the last four & Anglo-Italian rubbish deservedly disappearing as early as possible without wasting anybody's time.
6.53am BST
Neymar won't be one of them - and what a colossal shame that is - but Amy Lawrence's piece on four men who could make (or break) the World Cup semi-finals is well worth a read.
S'pose you want the link - here you go.
6.36am BST
So it's Crunch Time at the World Cup, the dawning of the semi-finals. First up it's Brazil v Germany. What a pearler.
I've often wondered precisely what is The Crunch. I'd hoped The Mighty Boosh could help me, but they failed.
6.15am BST
Welcome to Tuesday's coverage of the World Cup, featuring all the breaking news from Brazil and reaction to the latest results, injury news, squad stories and fan reaction.
Continue reading...