Fifa World Cup Quarter-final: Brazil down Colombia but Neymar's Cup is over

A stunning free kick from Brazil's David Luiz sealed a 2-1 win over Colombia in a bruising World Cup quarter-final on Friday but the hosts will next face Germany without their talisman Neymar.

Brazil's victory came at a heavy price as their leading scorer was carried off in agony with a fractured vertebra late in the game and he will not play again in this World Cup.

"It's not serious in the sense that it doesn't need surgery, but he'll need to immobilise it to recover, Brazilian team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar told a local television channel.

"Unfortunately, he's not going to be able to play (against Germany)," he said, adding that he expected the recovery period to take weeks.

Brazil will also be without their captain Thiago Silva for Tuesday's semi-final in Belo Horizonte. He was booked for an unnecessary challenge on the Colombian goalkeeper and will be suspended.

"I am emotional because I give the team my heart and soul," he said in a televised interview. "I am out the next game but Dante and Henrique can play well and fill my absence."

Brazil's victory took them into the last four of the World Cup for the first time since 2002 and the 11th time overall as they bid for a sixth world title. Their clash against the Germans is a repeat of the final in 2002 which Brazil won 2-0.

"It will be a big game - a classic in world terms, and it will be very hard," Luiz said.

Colombia's defeat ended their spirited World Cup campaign and meant their midfield sensation James Rodriguez ended the tournament on six goals, the highest tally so far. He left the pitch in tears after being comforted by Luiz.

"I'm crying because we gave everything," Rodriguez said. "Unfortunately the referee didn't help much. Brazil are a good team but we gave everything. We wanted to carry on, but we can hold our heads up high."

CONVINCING PERFORMANCE

After their laboured win over Chile in the second round, Brazil needed a convincing performance in Fortaleza's Castelao arena and made a perfect start, scoring after seven minutes.

Neymar swung in a corner from the left and Silva took advantage of shocking Colombian marking to bundle the ball in at the far post.

That settled nerves and the Brazilians took control. Neymar was a constant threat on the left while the powerful running of Hulk kept the Colombian defence on the back foot.

But despite their dominance Brazil had to wait until the 69th minute to double their lead.

Rodriguez fouled Hulk and Luiz fired home a 30-metre free kick worthy of the great Brazilian deadball specialists of the past like Rivelino and Zico.

Colombia had a Mario Yepes effort ruled out for offside before Rodriguez dragged his side back into the match from the penalty spot with just over 10 minutes remaining.

Julio Cesar brought down Carlos Bacca as the Colombian striker headed goalwards and the Brazilian keeper was fortunate not to be sent off for a foul on the last man.

The Colombian goal made for an uncomfortable finale for the Brazilians but they held on, maintaining their remarkable record of never having lost a competitive home match since 1975.

Colombia have now failed to beat Brazil in their last 13 attempts in a run dating back to 1991.

"We're very sad because the dream is over," coach Jose Pekerman said.

"The team left their mark on this tournament. We've created a very good image and Colombia should be proud."

FINAL

Brazil will face Germany in the World Cup semi-final but they are already treating the game as a final, forward Hulk and central defender David Luiz said Friday.

"It will be a final but hopefully we'll make it to the (real final at the) Maracana," Hulk said moments after Brazil overcame Colombia 2-1 in a thrilling contest.

"Every game is a final, there are no easy games," he added.

Luiz, who scored Brazil's second goal after 69 minutes with a stunning freekick, agreed with that assessment and promised fireworks in next Tuesday's game in Belo Horizonte.

"It will be a big game, a classic in world terms, and it will be very hard. They always play the same way, it will be a great game."

Germany beat France 1-0 in Friday's earlier quarter-final.

Brazil and Germany have met once in the World Cup before, when the Brazilians won 2-0 in the 2002 final.

PROUD COLOMBIA

Playmaker James Rodriguez said referee Carlos Velasco Carballo did not help Colombia in a bruising 2-1 defeat to hosts Brazil but the tournament's leading scorer was proud of his team who reached the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time.

"We fulfilled all the dreams we had ... It's a shame we have to go," Rodriguez said in televised remarks on Friday.

"I'm crying because we gave everything. Unfortunately, the referee didn't help much. Brazil is a good team but we gave everything so we are calm. We wanted to carry on, but we hold our heads high. Thank you Colombia."

Brazil, leading 2-0 after defender David Luiz's stunning 69th minute free kick, appeared to be cruising into the semi-finals.

But Colombia, who have charmed the neutrals with their attacking football and carefree attitude, came roaring back and scored from the penalty spot after Brazil keeper Julio Cesar brought down Carlos Bacca.

Rodriguez took the responsibility for the spot kick, netting his sixth goal of the World Cup but there will be no more at this tournament after Brazil clung on for victory.

Many observers felt Rodriguez was not given sufficient protection after he was fouled repeatedly, and questioned the Spanish referee's decision to brandish a yellow card, not a red, at Cesar for the foul.

Rodriguez, the poster boy of the World Cup who has eclipsed even home favorite Neymar with his scintillating soccer and positive attitude, said he was proud of his team.

"Thank you Colombia, because you always had faith," he said. "Unfortunately we stop here, but we wanted to carry on. We're sad but we also have to feel proud because we left our skin out there."

FREE-KICK

A stunning second-half free kick from Brazil's David Luiz sealed a 2-1 win over Colombia in a frantic World Cup quarter-final on Friday, keeping the hosts on track for a sixth world title.

Captain Thiago Silva bundled in Neymar's corner at the back post to put the hosts ahead in the seventh minute before Luiz thundered home a dipping 30-metres free kick midway through the second half at the Castelao arena.

Colombia had a goal disallowed before in-form James Rodriguez dragged his side back into the match from the penalty spot with just over 10 minutes remaining, his sixth goal of the tournament.

After the drama of a penalty shootout win over Chile in the last 16, Brazil came out firing on all cylinders and dominated the first half.

Neymar was a constant threat on the left while the powerful running of Hulk kept the Colombian defence on the back foot.

Rodriguez came in for some rough treatment from Fernandinho but overall Brazil shackled the tournament's top scorer well.

Brazil captain Thiago Silva savoured the opening goal but rued the fact that his yellow card will keep him out of the semi-final.

"I am emotional because I give the team my heart and soul," he said in a televised interview. "I am out the next game but Dante and Henrique can play well and fill my absence."

Brazil forward Neymar was carried off on a stretcher in the closing stages but the hosts hung on to set up a semi-final against Germany, who beat France 1-0 earlier on Friday in Rio de Janeiro.

FULL-TIME

Brazil 2 (Thiago 7" Luiz 69") Colombia 1 (Rodriguez 80"-pen)

90" There are five minutes of stoppage time.

88" Neymar is covering his eyes and screaming in pain and is off the field in a stretcher after being caught in the knee by Zuniga.

83" Hulk makes way for Ramires.

Brazil 2 (Thiago 7" Luiz 69") Colombia 1 (Rodriguez 80"-pen)

80" PENALTY! James stutters and sends Cesar the other way before rolling it into the far corner.

78" YELLOW! Cesar is booked after bringing down Bacca in the box with the referee pointing to the spot.
 
69" YELLOW! Colombian skipper Yepes also gets a booking which is followed by a substitution as Bacca comes infor Gutierrez.

Brazil 2 (Thiago 7" Luiz 69") Colombia 0

69" GOAL! David Luiz sends the free kick floating into the top corner with Ospina just barely getting his finger tips onto the ball.

67" YELLOW! Rodriguez is booked for nicking Hulk.

59" Guarin makes a hash of an attempt with a first-time shot after being played in by Rodriguez who controls the ball nicely with his chest.

56" Colombia advance down the right wing until Zuniga tries to play a pass and is barged off the ball by Hulk.

53" Marcelo crosses into the box with Ospina leaping to catch it falling heavily after a collision with Fred.

48"  Rodriguez has been heavily marked by Fernandinho who has managed to escaped being booked by the Spanish referee.

46" The second half is underway with Colombia making a change at the break as Ramos comes in for Ibarbo.

HALF-TIME

Brazil 1 (Thiago 7") Colombia 0

43" Neymar draws a free kick on the edge of the area after being impeded by Zuniga but the shot sails over.

39" Hulk shoots way off target afteer an expansive Brazil move.

37" Chance for Colombia as they win a free kick from the edge of the area after Cuadrado is fouled by Fernandinho. Cuadrado's shot fails to penetrate the wall.

33" Brazil have had 57 per cent  possession so far. They lead Colombia on shots by eight (four on target) to three (zero on target).

32" David Luiz races forward like a winger before being dispossessed by Zapata.

30" Cuadrado's shot from 25 yards is blocked by Thiago Silva.

28" Ospina makes another stunning save off a shot from Hulk who shuffles to his left foot following a superb pass from Marcelo.

26" Hulk tries to show some slick stepovers and only succeeds in backheeling the ball in the opposite direction he was moving before laying it off to Marcelo who strikes for goal. Fred attempts to direct it on target with his head, but can only send it well over the top.

22" Rodriguez glides through picking the ball from in his own half and turns and spins and dribbles straight past Maicon. He creates a four on two from almost nothing but Cuadrado kills the break with a poor pass.

20" Ospina makes a great save from Hulk who is put through on goal by Neymar.

17" Anxious moment for Colombia as Cuadrado scuffs a clearance straight to Hulk and Yepes makes a sliding block to Hulk's shot.

15" Oscar nips the ball away from Rodriguez. The break dies with Fred. Brazil drive again at Colombia and win a corner.

13" The corner is very poor and it's headed away by the first Brazilian defender.

11" Colombia come close to getting the equaliser with Cuadrado's left-footed volley hitting the side netting.

10" Colombia win a free-kick as Oscar fouls Rodriguez but Guarin fires it over.

Brazil 1 (Thiago 7") Colombia 0

7" GOAL! Neymar runs at Zapata and wins a corner. Hulk swings it in and the captain, Thiago Silva, prods it in with his knee at the back post.

4" Fred draws a foul dead centre from the Colombian goal but Neymar curls the free kick wide left.

2" Maicon sees the ball out on the Brazil right before Mario Yepes makes a great sliding tackle to strip Paulinho of the ball.

1" It is a sea of yellow at Fortaleza as Colombia who are in red get the match under way.

Brazil's Maicon will make his first appearance of the World Cup, replacing Dani Alves at right back in the side to face Colombia in their World Cup quarter-final on Friday.

Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari made one other change to the side that beat Chile on penalties in the last 16, bringing Paulinho into the midfield to replace the suspended Luiz Gustavo.

Colombia also made two changes to the team that began their 2-0 defeat of Uruguay in the second round.

Midfielders Victor Ibarbo and Fredy Guarin start in place of holding midfielder Abel Aguilar and the more attack-minded Jackson Martinez, who both drop to the bench.

TEAMS

Brazil: Julio Cesar, Thiago Silva (captain), David Luiz, Fernandinho, Marcelo, Hulk, Paulinho, Fred, Neymar, Oscar, Maicon

Colombia: Ospina, Zapata, Yepes (captain), Sanchez, Armero, Gutierrez, Rodriguez, Cuadrado, Guarin, Ibarbo, Zuniga

PREVIEW

Brazil striker Neymar has admitted he is happy to win ugly as he looks to take another step towards delivering his country's sixth World Cup on home soil against Colombia in Fortaleza on Friday.

La Selecao have been criticised for some of their less convincing performances on route to the quarter-finals, most notably in squeezing past Chile on penalties in the last 16.

"You can't always enjoy yourself and win 4-0 or 5-0. Football nowadays is so difficult, so even, that the team who is most committed on the pitch ends up winning," said the Barcelona man on Wednesday.

"I don't want a show. That's the last thing we are trying to do. We are not necessarily here to produce a spectacle. We are here to run to the end, until we are tired, and come out as winners."

Neymar fell to the ground in tears as Chile's Gonzalo Jara missed the decisive spot-kick in the shootout in Belo Horizonte with teammates Julio Cesar and captain Thiago Silva also seen to cry in relief as much as joy.

Worried that carrying the expectations of 200 million Brazilians is becoming too much for his squad, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari called the team's sports psychologist Regina Brandao in for an extra session with the players on Tuesday.

And Neymar said the sessions were having the desired effect.

"I had never done anything like it before and I am quite enjoying it," added the 22-year-old.

"It is not only us, in football, who are surrounded by emotion every day and need psychologists. I think it could do every person good, to make one more relaxed."

Neymar also insisted he will be fully-fit to face the Colombians despite suffering thigh and knee injuries against Chile.

One of the major concerns for Scolari has been the lack of support for Neymar in attacking areas as he has scored half of his side's eight goals after four games, whilst other forwards Fred, Jo and Hulk have struggled to make an impact.

Neymar, though, claimed the team isn't overdependent on him.

"I don't feel overburdened either on the pitch or off it. I have team-mates who help me by winning the ball back, scoring goals, setting them up," he said.

"The Brazil team doesn't have just one person who has to do everything."

Scolari will be forced into at least one change from the side that faced Chile as Luis Gustavo is suspended so Tottenham Hotspur's Paulinho is expected to come back into the side.

Gustavo's absence is even more critical for the hosts given the sensational form of the tournament's top goalscorer, Colombia's James Rodriguez.

The Monaco playmaker has taken on the mantle of his side's focal point with ease in the absence of the injured Radamel Falcao with five goals in four games, including a sensational dipping volley to open the scoring in his side's 2-0 win over Uruguay in the last 16.

A fourth consecutive win for Jose Pekerman's men took them into the last eight for the first time and ahead of the biggest game in Colombian football's history, midfielder Carlos Sanchez insisted they won't be overawed by their opponents.

"Afraid? No, respectful, yes, because it's Brazil, the organising country, because of its players, its coaches, and for everything Brazil represents," he said.

And Rodriguez believes Brazil should be just as worried about him as his countrymen should be about Neymar.

"We're facing a very tough rival, which has great players, but they also have to think that we have great players."

History, though, is against the Colombians as they have only beaten Brazil twice in 25 previous meetings and only once in a competitive fixture at the 1991 Copa America.

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