Brazil battle past Colombia to set up semifinal with Germany

Thiago Silva and David Luiz scored as Brazil set up a World Cup semi-final meeting with Germany, after beating Colombia 2-1.

Silva netted in the early stages of a breathless encounter, scoring from a corner that evaded everyone and the Paris Saint-Germain centre-back’s knee knocked the ball over the line.

But the captain was booked in the second half and will miss the semi-final as a result. Silva saw yellow for blocking a David Ospina goal kick, cautioned when Spanish referee Carlos Velasco Carballo had let a lot of fouls slide without a card.

Centre-back partner Luiz weighed in with a free-kick from some 35 yards controversially awarded but sweetly struck. James Rodriguez had been targeted by the Brazil midfield, particularly Fernandinho, but while the Manchester City man escaped sanction despite a number of fouls, James was booked for what may have been his first foul. Luiz converted the resulting set-piece.

James scored his sixth goal of the tournament from the penalty spot to keep Colombia in the tie until the death, when Sevilla striker Carlos Bacca brought down by Julio Cesar.

The game was end-to-end stuff but Brazil held on and will meet Germany in the semis, a repeat of 2002 final where the Selecao triumphed 2-0.