Brazil and Germany are to meet each other in the first of the Semi-Finals on Tuesday, after both won their Quarter Finals between their next door neighbours.
Brazil defeated Colombia 2-1 in a match which was so action-packed and end to end it could have been an English domestic match.
In a plague of grasshoppers of almost Biblical proportions in Fortaleza, in the north east of the country, a brilliant free kick by Chelsea defender David Luiz helped host nation Brazil reach their first World Cup Final since 2002, which they won.
Brazil took a 2-0 lead but a penalty by the brilliant James Rodriguez brought the Colombians back in it. He celebrated the penalty with a giant grasshopper on his arm. In the end the host nation held on, but James Rodriguez leaves the tournament as its leading scorer, on six goals.
Rodriguez is now the first player since Brazil's Rivaldo in 2002 to score in the first five matches of a World Cup.
In the Semi-Final they will play Germany, who have become the first nation to reach four consecutive World Cup Semi-Finals after they beat France 1-0 in the mighty Maracana, in the shadow of Christ the Redeemer.
Mats Hummels' header took Germany's tally of headed goals to 15 since the 2002 World Cup, seven more than any other side in that period.
Believe it or not, Brazil and Germany have only played each other once before in a World Cup, and that was in that 2002 Final, which Brazil won 2-0.
James Rodriguez gives grasshopper a lift as huge insect leaps on to Colombia star during defeat by Brazil
Brazil beat Colombia 2-1 in Fortaleza to reach World Cup semi-final
Colombia No 10 James Rodriguez scored his sixth goal of the tournament from the penalty spot to set up tense finish
Rodriguez had giant grasshopper attached to his arm as he took penalty
World Cup
Quarter Final
Brazil 2-1 Colombia
Silva 7.............................Rodriguez 80 (pen)
Luiz 68
Colombia star James Rodriguez left the World Cup with six goals, a heavy heart and one unusual companion on his arm.
Rodriguez threw his side a lifeline late in the Quarter Final defeat by Brazil when he scored a penalty and celebrated the strike unaware a huge green insect was hitching a ride on his arm.
Green machine: The insect was on James Rodriguez after he scored Colombia's penalty against Brazil. Rodriguez is the first player since Brazil's Rivaldo in 2002 to score in the first five matches of a World Cup.
Incoming: The green bug can be seen flying towards Rodriguez during the World Cup Quarter Final
The Monaco playmaker was crying at the end of the match in Fortaleza but the tears had nothing to do with his new sidekick.
Brazil had just ended the Colombians' hopes of victory through an early striker from captain Thiago Silva and a stunning free-kick from David Luiz.
Rodriguez leads the tournament scoring charts on his own after hitting the target in all five of his side's matches. His closest challenges are Brazilian Neymar and Argentina superstar Lionel Messi, who are both two behind on four.
Colombia's main man is in good company following his brush with the Fortaleza pitch invader. Paul McCartney was joined on stage by a few of them last May when he performed in Brazil.
Watch David Luiz's brilliant goal for Brazil against Colombia:
Grasshoppers and a Beatle: Paul McCartney had a concert in Brazil last May interrupted by the insects
Touch down: The insect finds its mark on Rodriguez's arm
Look closely: You can see the invader clinging to Rodriguez's sleeve as he celebrates his penalty
Silva lining: Brazil captain Thiago Silva celebrates scoring the opening goal from a corner
The agony and the ecstasy: Brazil's players embrace at the final whistle as James sinks to his knees
Hard to take: Brazil defender David Luiz consoles Rodriguez at the end of the match in Fortaleza
Three tears for James: Rodriguez is hugged by his manager Jose Pekerman after losing to Brazil
**********************************
World Cup
Quarter Final
France 0-1 Germany
..................................................Hummels 12
By David Ornstein
BBC Sport at the Maracana, Rio
Germany became the first nation to reach four consecutive World Cup semi-finals as Mats Hummels' early header proved enough to see them past France at the Maracana.
Hummels got the better of Raphael Varane to score what proved to be the winning goal and Germany can now prepare for a meeting with Brazil in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday after the hosts beat Colombia.
Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer gave another faultless performance and Joachim Low's men deserved their win against a France side who failed to hit the heights of earlier in the tournament.
It is 60 years to the day since Germany overturned a two-goal deficit to upset the then mighty Hungary in the 1954 Final, and this will go down as another memorable day in their history.
In the build-up, Low dismissed talk of France seeking revenge for 1982, when Germany goalkeeper Harald Schumacher escaped punishment for a brutal challenge on Patrick Battiston and went on to save two penalties as his side came through a shootout to reach the final.
But what could not be ignored was Germany's greater experience and, despite a reconfigured starting line-up and doubts over their health, they again showed their international pedigree.
Hummels returned to central defence after a bout of "flu-like symptoms", with Per Mertesacker unexpectedly the man to make way as Germany looked to contain France's quick forwards.
Philipp Lahm moved from midfield to right-back in place of Shkodran Mustafi, Sami Khedira coming into midfield, and there was a surprise start for 36-year-old Miroslav Klose in attack.
Germany looked far more balanced than against Algeria in their last match, and a period of sustained pressure told when Hummels held off Varane to guide home a Toni Kroos free-kick.
Mats Hummels' header took Germany's tally of headed goals to 15 since the 2002 World Cup, seven more than any other side in that period
France had five shots on target, but could not find a way past Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer
Karim Benzema had France's best chance towards the end of the second half with his first shot on target
Germany have kept a clean sheet in three of their past four World Cup quarter-finals
Twelve of France's 13 shots came from inside the box, yet they could not score
BBC Sport - World Cup 2014: France 0-1 Germany
However, Brazil will be without possibly their best player, Neymar, for that Semi-Final against Germany.
Neymar will miss the rest of the tournament after he sustained a broken bone in his back when kneed in the back by Colombia's Juan Zuniga late in last night's Quarter Final in a challenge that went unpunished.
Neymar, 22, was in tears when he was carried off on a stretcher before being taken to hospital in Fortaleza.
Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said: "Neymar was going to be hunted. For three matches that has been happening."
Neymar: Brazil forward out of 2014 Fifa World Cup with back injury
5 July 2014
BBC Sport
Brazil forward Neymar has been ruled out of the World Cup with a broken bone in his back sustained in the
2-1 quarter-final win over Colombia.
He fractured a vertebra in his spine when kneed in the back by Juan Zuniga in a challenge that went unpunished.
Neymar, 22, was in tears when he was carried off on a stretcher before being taken to hospital in Fortaleza.
Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said: "Neymar was going to be hunted. For three matches that has been happening."
Team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar told Brazil's SportTV: "Unfortunately, he's not going to be able to play. He is very, very sad.
"It's not serious in the sense that it doesn't need surgery, but he'll need to immobilise it to recover."
Lasmar added that he expected the recovery period to take at least a few weeks.
Neymar recovered from
thigh and knee injuries sustained in the second-round win over Chile to play against Colombia.
The Barcelona forward has featured in all five of Brazil's matches at the 2014 Fifa World Cup and is their top scorer with four goals.
Neymar at the World Cup
Matches played
5
Minutes played
457
Attempts on target
72.2%
Goals scored
4
Assists
1
Neymar was challenged by Napoli defender Juan Zuniga late in the game
The forward was in obvious pain after the incident
Brazil will be without top scorer Neymar and suspended captain Thiago Silva against Germany
Neymar had a quiet game on Friday and was replaced in the 88th minute after Napoli defender Zuniga challenged him for a header, with referee Carlos Velasco Carballo taking no action.
Scolari said: "Not even a yellow card, nothing.
"People think Germany, these or the others, only they are hunted, but not Neymar."
Zuniga insisted: "I never meant to hurt a player. It was a normal move.
"I was playing for the shirt from my country, not with the intent to injure. I was just defending my shirt."
Thiago Silva's early goal and a stunning David Luiz free-kick in the second half set up victory for Brazil, who withstood a late Colombia onslaught that saw James Rodriguez score an 80th-minute penalty.
Brazil
committed 31 fouls during a scrappy game while their South American rivals made 23.
Hosts Brazil meet Germany in the semi-final in Belo Horizonte at 21:00 BST on Tuesday.
Brazil captain Silva will also miss that game through suspension after picking up a second booking of the tournament against Colombia.
The final will be held at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, 13 July.
Brazil v Germany will be live on BBC One on Tuesday, 8 July from 20:30 BST
BBC Sport - Neymar: Brazil forward out of 2014 Fifa World Cup with back injury
