Germany, hosts Brazil through to the semis

Yesterday France 0-1 Germany Brazil 2-1 Colombia MATS HUMMELS’ first-half header proved enough as Germany beat France 1-0 in their World Cup quarter-final in Rio while a stunning freekick from David Luiz was enough to put the hosts past Colombia. Hummels, returning to the side after illness, nodded home a Toni Kroos free-kick in the 12th minute at the Maracana on Friday and that ultimately proved enough to book a semi-final date against Brazil or Colombia in Belo Horizonte next Tuesday. France, beaten by Germany at this stage in 1982 - when Harald Schumacher infamously took out Patrick Battiston - and 1986, mounted several late attacks but lacked urgency overall, and could have no real complaints about the outcome of what was a disappointing duel between two European heavyweights. Didier Deschamps made two changes to the side that began the 2-0 round-of-16 win over Nigeria. Mamadou Sakho replaced Laurent Koscielny at the back, while Antoine Griezmann was preferred to Olivier Giroud on the left side of the attack. Germany needed extra-time to get past Algeria 2-1 on Monday, and coach Joachim Low’s starting line-up showed three changes from that game. Centre-back Hummels was preferred to Per Mertesacker, while veteran striker Miroslav Klose replaced Mario Gotze in the forward line. Shkodran Mustafi’s tournament was ended by injury in Porto Alegre, so Philipp Lahm slotted in at right-back and Sami Khedira returned to take a central midfield berth. After volleying an early half-chance wide of the post, Karim Benzema was looking to get onto a pass from Griezmann only for Hummels to come in and intercept. And when Paul Pogba fouled Kroos on the left touchline soon afterwards, the same Germany player sent in a free-kick which Hummels met with a header in front of Raphael Varane, directing the ball past Hugo Lloris and skimming in off the underside of the crossbar for the opening goal. When Klose went down in the box in the 24th minute under a challenge from Mathieu Debuchy, it looked like Germany might be given a penalty - but Nestor Pitana turned down their appeals. TV replays showed Debuchy did have hold of Klose’s shirt, but an over-dramatic fall by the striker did not impress the Argentinian referee. On 34 minutes, Manuel Neuer saved one-handed from Mathiueu Valbuena before Benzema’s hooked effort went for a corner with Hummels in the way, and the France striker had penalty appeals of his own just before the break when he claimed Hummels had committed a handball appeal, but again Pitana was unmoved. Khedira was the first player booked when he brought down Griezmann on the halfway line eight minutes after the restart. Much of Germany’s midfield play was untidy, and following one such episode Debuchy’s cross was met by Varane with a decent header, but Neuer held it comfortably enough. After Andre Schurrle replaced Klose, Deschamps threw on Koscielny and Loic Remy in place of Sakho and Yohan Cabaye respectively, but still France could not find an equaliser. At the other end, Thomas Muller skimmed a shot just past the post, Schurrle sent a low drive straight at Lloris, then Mesut Ozil and Muller combined before France smuggled the ball away. Luis Stunner seals Brazil win A stunning free kick from Brazils David Luiz sealed a 2-1 win over Colombia in a frantic World Cup quarter-final on Friday, taking the hosts into a semifinal against Germany and keeping them on track for a sixth world title. Captain Thiago Silva bundled in Neymars corner at the back post to put Brazil 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 Mario Yepes effort ruled out for offside 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. That made for an uncomfortable finale for the Brazilians but they held on to reach the last four of the World Cup for the first time since 2002 and the 11th time overall. Their hard-fought victory in a sometimes niggly Latin American clash also kept alive their remarkable record of having never lost a competitive home match since 1975. But victory came at a price. Thiago Silva was booked for a challenge on the Colombian goalkeeper and will miss the semifinal while Neymar was carried off late in the game and was taken to hospital with what appeared to be a serious injury.

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Germany, hosts Brazil through to the semis