The first semifinal of the 2014 FIFA World Cup will take place today at 4 pm ET, with Brazil and Germany battling for one of two spots in Rio on July 13. These two giants of world football have met 21 times before, with Brazil winning 12 and losing just four of those encounters. Much has been made of the fact that Brazil will be without star striker Neymar, who suffered a fractured vertebrae against Colombia, as well as captain and central defender ThiagoSilva, who is missing due to yellow card accumulation. But this is Brazil after all, and the pro-Brazil crowd at the Estadio Mineirao in Belo Horizonte will certainly have more than a little influence on the match. Both sides advanced as winners of their respective groups, needed extra time to defeat their Round of 16 opponents, and won their quarterfinal matches by a slim one-goal margin. Before the epic battle goes down, see how these two sides will lineup by watching Erin Sharoni and CBSSports.com Eye on World Cup writer Jeff Borzello preview the clash in the video above.
