THE HOST NATION is hopeful of reaching the final of the 2014 Fifa World Cup but their other hope is not meeting their sworn enemies Argentina.

There is no love lost between the two South American giants whose rivalry is next none on and off the football field, yet there is a high likelihood of both facing each other for the first time in a World Cup final.

Hosts Brazil take on Germany in the first semifinal on Tuesday in Belo Horizonte, while Lionel Mess-led Argentina will be up against the Netherlands on Wednesday in Sao Paulo.

An all-South American final would befit well a tournament that provided all the ingredients of a world cup final but for the Brazilians, they would rather meet anyone else but Argentina.

"It would be good to have two South American teams in the final, but because Brazilians hate Argentineans so much, we don’t wish them to reach the final, our wish is that they lose to the Netherlands in the semis,” said Vitor Ortega, a resident of Sao Paulo, Brazil’s commercial city. Brazil and Argentina have met four times in the world cup finals and the former lead 2-1, with the other occasion ending in draw. However, the last time they met in Italia 90, it was Diego Maradona and co, who prevailed 1-0.

But first things first, both teams must come through what are going to be very tough semifinal encounters against European giants, Germany and Holland, who in many aspects, will start as slight favourites in both games.

Both Germany and the Dutch came into the tournament as two favourites to win the title and they are both very much still living on that billing. 

Brazil, who seeking a record extending sixth world title will go into Tuesday’s clash against the Germans with a disadvantage of being without their two star players, including the injure Neymar and the suspended skipper Tiago Silva.

The Samba land is hosting football’s biggest showpiece for the second time since 1950 when they lost fellow South American Uruguay in the final but they are hoping for things to go different this time round, though not very many Brazilians have much confidence in the current team.

Majority here believe that without Neymar, Brazil is not the same team and that they will need the Germans to be below their best for them to have a chance.