Umit and Turkey are in confident mood (Allsport).

By Ian Parkes, PA Sport, Saitama

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Turkey midfielder Umit Davala believes Brazil are not a team to be feared as he looks to knock the Samba stars out of the World Cup following years of loyal support.

The Turks meet Brazil at Saitama Stadium on Wednesday, with a place in the World Cup final up for grabs against either Germany or South Korea in Yokohama this Sunday.

Turkey were beaten by a controversial late penalty and had two players sent off in a hotly-contested opening group defeat to Brazil, setting up a grudge showdown.

The mohican-haired Davala, who has been one of the stars of Turkey's remarkable run to the semi-finals, reckons it is Brazil who should be fearful.

The four-times world champions have improved with every game, in particular against England in the quarter-final when they played with 10 men for the final half hour but comfortably held on to a 2-1 lead, and they now stand on the brink of their seventh final.

But AC Milan star Davala said: "We're a surprise team in this World Cup - I don't think anybody was expecting us to go so far, but we have shown the world what we are capable of.

"We didn't start well in the tournament but now I think everybody is contributing more, and everybody is happy just to watch our football and that's good for us.

"Although it will be difficult to beat Brazil, we feel we are capable of getting to the final.

"It might only be our second time in the World Cup after 48 years, and we've done very well, but we have a lot of players who play in the best teams in Europe.

"Turkish teams have also done well in the past few years so our football is growing up. With this experience maybe we can reach the final, we will see.

"We certainly have no fear of Brazil. It's just the name that's big. Brazil have won the World Cup four times but we're not afraid of them or any team. Brazil have to fear us."

Davala, who concedes to being an ardent fan of Brazil in previous tournaments, now finds himself up against a side who ironically helped smooth the way for Turkey to claim a place in the second round.

Although the Turks beat China 3-0 in their final group game, they still had to rely on Brazil doing them a favour against Costa Rica - duly obliging with a 5-2 thumping.

It could now be a case of biting the hand which fed them as he added: "In previous World Cups we used to pray the teams we felt closest to, those from America, Africa, even Asia, would take our revenge on the European sides that had knocked us out of qualification.

"Most of the time we backed Brazil. Now look at how fate works. The Samba players we supported for years in the World Cup are now our biggest rival on our road to our goal.

"But I said that we'd meet Brazil in the semi-finals. And so we are."