BELO HORIZONTE: Already missing Neymar, Brazil’s Fred and Hulk cannot afford to miss chances that come their way in their World Cup semi-final against Germany on Tuesday.

The Brazilian strike pair has just one goal in five matches between them at the World Cup.

And although that goal belongs to Fred, the Fluminense forward was voted as Brazil’s worst player so far at the tournament.

In a poll published on Friday by the Datafolha polling group, 21 percent of the close to 3,000 people questioned named Fred as the worst player in Brazil’s squad.

Hulk, who has just nine goals from 39 international matches, came second with nine percent of the vote.

Brazil’s World Cup chances now rest largely on the shoulders of those two after star striker Neymar fractured a vertebra during their quarter-final against Colombia.

GERMANY’S Thomas Mueller (second L) and his team-mates leave a ferry after crossing the Rio Joao de

Neymar’s injury not only robbed the Selecao of creativity, but of their chief scoring threat. Without him, there are serious doubts over where Brazil’s goals will come from.

Know more: How will Brazil fare without its star man

And how Fred gets to wear Brazil’s hallowed No. 9 jersey, worn by the likes of Tostao, Careca and Ronaldo, remains a mystery.

Nonetheless, it seems Fred has taken up the responsibility of winning the World Cup for Brazil which will help fulfil the dream of his team-mate Neymar.

“Neymar, rest assured that our group loves you and give life to win this title for you,” he wrote on his Facebook page after the Barcelona star was ruled out of the World Cup.

“You were and continue to be the ace and the soul of our team. We have one more reason to play with heart in this Cup.”

However, not all are entirely sure that the 30-year-old is the man who can be trusted with the job.

“Fred remains a problem and, after having five games to show what he is made of, it’s time to think of alternatives,” Brazilian legend Zico wrote in his column for the Guardian.

Zenit St Petersburg striker Hulk has been more livelier of the two but hasn’t made most of the chances which have come his way.

On the bench, Luiz Felipe Scolari has Jo and Bernard. The former was a flop at Manchester City and now plays his football back in Brazil with Atletico Mineiro.

Bernard plays for Shakhtar Donetsk and in 13 appearances for the Selecao, has just the one goal.

And Ronaldo, the star of Brazil’s 2002 World Cup winning team, is hoping that the current side can channel the spirit of 1962 when the Selecao rallied from losing the legendary Pele to injury and won the tournament.

“If Germany think they are going to come up against a weak, discouraged team because we have lost Neymar they would make an enormous mistake,” Ronaldo told a press conference at the Maracana Stadium on Saturday.

“They cannot underestimate the quality of Brazil — and Brazil has never been made up of only one player.

“In 1962 Pele got injured and could not play but Brazil still won the World Cup that year. Whoever steps into Neymar’s shoes, will just help and we are still the favourites.”

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2014