Germany boss Joachim Low: 'Brazil are favourites'

Germany coach Joachim Low has conceded that Brazil are the favourites going into the World Cup semi-final clash between the two nations.

The 54-year-old admitted that his side are the underdogs ahead of the last-four encounter, but vowed to give the competition's hosts a "real fight".

He told reporters: "We all know how strong Brazil are," Low said. "They were the big favourites right from the start and the players have mostly coped with this role outstandingly.

"They underlined at the Confederations Cup last year that the expectation levels lift them further and the pressure doesn't numb them. What they've done is good for the whole tournament; it's good when the hosts go so far, but we're self-confident and we've gelled more as the tournament has progressed.

"We'll devise a good plan and give Brazil a real fight. The chances are even and it's going to come down to something really minor, who reaches the final."

Germany saw off France in the quarter-final stage, while Brazil overcame fellow South Americans Colombia.