Hosts show Colombians the door

FORTALEZA, July 5 (AFP): David Luiz smashed a 30-metre free kick to give Brazil a 2-1 victory over Colombia in Fortaleza on Friday and set up a World Cup semi-final clash against Germany.
Colombia's James Rodriguez scored a consolation goal for Colombia with his sixth goal of the tournament, from the penalty spot.
Meanwhile, While Brazil counted the cost of their victory over Colombia in the World Cup quarter-finals with the loss of their star Neymar for the tournament.
Silva had earlier fired Brazil into an early 1-0 lead before David Luiz made it 2-0 with a thunderous long-range free-kick midway through the second half.
Colombian playmaker James Rodriguez-kicked repeatedly by Brazil's players throughout-pulled a goal back from the penalty spot to set up a tense finale, but the hosts held on for the win.
Rodriguez, the tournament's top scorer with six goals, left the field in tears after the defeat.
Brazil's semi-final will see them play Germany in a repeat of the 2002 World Cup final won 2-0 by the South Americans.
It will be only the second time Brazil has met Germany at a World Cup.
Germany reached the semi-finals for a record fourth straight time earlier Friday after a header from Mats Hummels helped beat France 1-0 in Rio de Janeiro.
Borussia Dortmund defender Hummels rose to head home Toni Kroos's free-kick on 13 minutes to settle a cagey encounter.
"The next dream has come true," said man-of-the-match Hummels.
"It's unbelievable that it's all going so well for us here at the World Cup.
"I hope that our journey won't end soon and that we can make it back to compete here week next Sunday," he added, referring to the July 13 final.
France coach Didier Deschamps bemoaned his team's failure to capitalise on the handful of chances they created.
"There was not much between the sides," Deschamps said. "One team is more used to these occasions and has more experience.
"We were not clinical in front of goal."
France had entered the match quietly confident of avenging semi-final defeats against Germany in 1982 and 1986.
But they were left to rue a lacklustre first half performance which saw Germany dominate in sweltering conditions.
France rallied in the second half, and Hummels saved Germany with a desperate late block of a Karim Benzema shot shortly before Manuel Neuer parried a firm strike from Blaise Matuidi.
Neuer saved Germany again at the death, pulling off a brilliant block from Benzema just seconds from the whistle.
"Brazil will be champions," he insisted, even with the loss of Neymar through injury and skipper Thiago Silva also due to miss the last four clash because of suspension.
"Argentina and Brasil consider each other as the cream of South American football and that fuels huge sporting rivalry," says Raul Bernal-Mezza, professor of international relations at Buenos Aires University, who has spent years in Brazil.