David Luiz excels as Brazil eek their way past Colombia

Hulk, David Luiz and Marcelo discuss what to do with a free kick

Brazil secured a match with Germany on Tuesday evening but they did it once more without really impressing.

Brazil survived a late scare to set up a World Cup semi-final showdown with Germany as they edged out Colombia 2-1 in Fortaleza.

Selecao boss Luiz Felipe Scolari drafted in Paulinho in midfield for the suspended Luiz Gustavo, while Maicon was preferred to Dani Alves at right-back.

Colombia coach Jose Pekerman also opted to make two changes, with Fredy Guarin and Segundo Ibarbo starting in place of Abel Aguilar and Jackson Martinez.

The home side made a strong start to the game and had the opening goal in the seventh minute, as a Neymar corner from the left dropped over a clutch of players at the near post and Thiago Silva bundled it home, unmarked, at the back post.

Colombia responded with Juan Cuadrado having a shot deflected narrowly wide, before Pablo Armero was in smartly to deny David Luiz a second goal.

Hulk then forced a decent save from David Ospina, before goalscorer Silva had to make a crucial interception when Colombia had men over in a quick counter-attack.

Just before the half-hour mark Ospina made an even better save to deny Hulk, getting down smartly to his left to block a stinging low drive from the forward, who was proving to be the main threat in attack for Brazil.

Colombia tried to respond, but as the first half drew to a close they were struggling to make much headway, with star player James Rodriguez being given some rough treatment as he tried to get into the game.

Fernandinho, in particular, seemed fortunate to escape a yellow card, after twice stopping Rodriguez in his tracks with crude, late challenges.

Right on half-time Neymar had a chance to double the lead, but he could not direct his 20-yard free-kick on target.

Trailing by a goal, Colombia brought on striker Adrian Ramos for the second half, but the efforts of the first 45 minutes seemed to have taken its toll on both sides.

No clear chances fell at either end as the hour mark passed, but shortly after that Thiago Silva was shown a yellow card which means that he will be absent from the semi-final.

Colombia then had the ball in the net following a free-kick, but an offside flag ruled out a possible equaliser.

And Brazil made the most of that escape as they won a free-kick 35 yards from goal and David Luiz stepped up to smack home a vicious swerving, dipping effort which left Ospina grasping at thin air.

Two-nil down and needing some inspiration, Colombia threw on Carlos Bacca, before Neymar curled a left-foot effort a yard wide of the far post, with Ospina rooted to the spot.

However, it was game on with 12 minutes to play when Bacca was played in by Rodriguez and was then felled in the area by Julio Cesar.

After a lengthy delay, Rodriguez kept his cool to despatch the spot-kick with his left foot, sending Cesar the wrong way to register his sixth goal of the tournament.

Brazil were then left hanging on in the final ten minutes, but Colombia could not force a last chance to try and take the game into extra-time, despite the hosts losing star player Neymar to injury with a couple of minutes left.

Ramos headed wide from a corner and deep into stoppage the same player could only head over from a free-kick, as almost the whole of the crowd inside the Estadio Castelao roared in relief.