Germany defender Mats Hummels has claimed that beating Brazil on their home turf is "one of the toughest challenges in world football".

The two teams meet in the World Cup semi-finals this evening at the Estadio Mineirao in Belo Horizonte.

With Brazil not losing a competitive match at home since 1975, Hummels admits that he and his teammates will have to be at their best if they want to progress.

"Now the expectation is that we will go out there and beat the host nation. That has to be one of the toughest challenges in world football," he is quoted as saying by The Guardian.

"But we have done so well in each of the last five tournaments, and now we want to take the next step. We are ready."

Hummels scored the winning goal for Germany last Friday during their quarter-final victory over France.

Written by
Jack Prescott