So where was the referee then ?

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Neymar's World Cup is over after he sustained a fractured vertebra in his lower back towards the end of Brazil's quarter-final victory against Colombia.

The hosts and tournament favourites set up a semi-final clash with Germany by disposing of los Cafeteros in an enthralling battle at the Estadio Castelao.

Thiago Silva bundled home early on before David Luiz struck a superb 35-yard free-kick, putting the Selecao out of sight despite James Rodriguez's penalty leading to a nervy final 10 minutes.

However, the joy of that 2-1 win was tinged with concern over the fitness of star man Neymar, who left the field on a stretcher in the closing stages.

The 22-year-old was in tears after taking a knee to the back from Juan Zuniga, with Brazil doctor Rodrigo Lasmar confirming he has sustained a fractured vertebra that will end his World Cup.

"It's not serious in the sense that it doesn't need surgery, but he'll need to immobilise it to recover," Lasmar said. "Unfortunately, he's not going to be able to play."

Lasmar expects the recovery time to be at least a few weeks, ruling Neymar out of Tuesday's semi-final against Germany and the final, should Brazil get there, on July 13.

The forward was seen leaving the Estadio Castelao on a drip and, after initial analysis at the stadium, was taken to a local clinic.

Neymar was crying in pain and his absence will be a huge blow to Brazil, who will also be missing captain Silva for their semi-final with Germany through suspension.

Selecao coach Luiz Felipe Scolari was angered by Silva's booking as well as by what he saw as referee Carlos Velasco Carballo's lack of protection for Neymar.

"Not even a yellow card, nothing," he said of Zuniga's challenge. "For Thiago, who was running in front of the goalkeeper, he gets a yellow card, so we can't understand some things.

"But everyone knows Neymar was going to be hunted. For three matches that has been happening and we have been saying that, but no-one thinks that is the case.

"People think Germany, these or the others, only they are hunted but not Neymar."

Scolari spoke to the media before the severity of Neymar's injury became clear and was asked whether he thought Neymar would miss the final should they navigate their way through the semi-finals.

"I think for the match against Germany, it will be very difficult for Neymar to play based on my conversation with the doctor," the Brazil coach said.

"We're not very hopeful with this and if the injury is slightly more difficult, I don't know.

"I don't think it is very likely that Neymar can do it, but he is young, he has got a lot of energy, he takes care of himself, he does everything that has to be done to recover, so I don't know. Let's see."

Unfortunately for the hosts, Neymar's injury means it is impossible - much to the disappointment of team-mate Oscar.

"We'll miss him," the Chelsea midfielder said. "Whoever comes in in his place has to play as part of the team and beat Germany.

"The best thing we do is play as a team and I just hope that whoever comes in plays well."

Neymar's injury will no doubt see focus fall upon the perpetrator but Colombia full-back Zuniga had denied any malicious intent.

"It was a normal move," he said. "I never meant to hurt a player. (Really ?? Could'a fooled me)

"I was on the field, playing for the shirt from my country, not without the intent to injure. I was just defending my shirt."

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World Cup quarter-final at the Estadio Do Maracana.

David Luiz thundered home one of the World Cup's finest goals as Brazil progressed to the semi-finals, disposing of Colombia in an enthralling battle.

However, the 2-1 victory was tinged with concern after star man Neymar left the field on a stretcher in the closing stages.

The immense pressure of being host nation and favourites showed in their last-16 tie, with Luiz Felipe Scolari's side requiring penalties and a dollop of good fortune to see off Chile.

Another South American rival awaited at the quarter-final juncture, with Luiz's outstanding 35-yard free-kick decisive in a 2-1 victory after which one of the main talking points will be Neymar's fitness.

The 22-year-old, so key to the Selecao, went to ground in agony during the closing stages after taking a knee to the back from Juan Zuniga, leaving the field in tears on a stretcher.

Brazil will be sweating on their star man's fitness ahead of their semi-final against Germany, which captain Thiago Silva will definitely miss after incurring a suspension for his booking at the Estadio Castelao.

The skipper played a key role in the Selecao's progression in Fortaleza, though, defending resolutely after opening the scoring inside seven minutes.

It was a lead Brazil worked hard to extend and, having seen a Mario Yepes goal ruled out for offside, struck with aplomb midway through the second half, with Luiz sending home an outstanding 35-yard free-kick to send the nation into delirium.

James Rodriguez, the competition's top scorer, added to his haul with a penalty but Brazil rode out a nervy final 10 minutes to progress, with attentions now undoubtedly turning to the fitness of Neymar.

The players were welcomed onto the field by a sea of yellow, with the national anthems feeling more pertinent than ever given this was Colombia's first match since the 20th anniversary of defender Andres Escobar's death and the overpass collapse in Belo Horizonte on the eve of the game.

Perhaps intimidated by that atmosphere, los Cafeteros were sluggish out of the block and Neymar looked to capitalise, scooping a 30-yard free-kick wide.

Brazil's star man continued to prove an early nuisance, forcing an corner off Cristian Zapata. Neymar swung the ball over from the left and, with Luiz just unable to reach the ball, it fell to Silva at the back post to bundle home.

Carlos Sanchez was guilty of losing the Selecao captain, who ran to the corner beating his chest in wild celebration just seven minutes into a match ahead of which his emotional state was questioned.

Silva's main job, though, is at the back and he soon proved his worth there, getting the slightest deflection on a fierce Juan Cuadrado shot to take it wide - Colombia's only chance of note in a poor opening 20 minutes.

Brazil were in the ascendancy and David Ospina had to be alert to deny two shots in quick succession, parrying a Hulk effort into the path and then denying Oscar's follow-up from the edge of the box.

However, Scolari's men were always capable of being exposed at the back and almost paid for when Rodriguez led a Colombia break, which only broke down with Cuadrado's final pass.

It was Brazil bossing the play, though, and, Hulk wriggled free to force another save from Ospina, before centre-back Luiz went on a typically unorthodox run, Fernandinho glanced wide and Hulk blazed over.

Colombia improved towards the end of the first half but wasted their best chance, albeit Neymar was clearly not far back when blocking Victor Ibarbo's effort from a free-kick - one of several decisions that angered them.

Rodriguez's rough treatment was the main issue and the attacker rose to his feet seething when Fernandinho clattered him just before the break, with the players making referee Carlos Velasco Carballo aware of their frustrations as they trudged off at half-time.

Perhaps with those words still ringing in his ears, the Spaniard awarded Rodriguez two free-kicks within minutes of a second half in which Jose Pekerman's side began brightly, albeit without creating any chances of note.

A series of fouls meant the match had none of its earlier verve, with Carballo eventually dishing out a yellow card with the 40th free-kick of the evening.

That card was handed to Silva for charging down Ospina, with the 64th-minute booking meaning he will miss Brazil's semi-final.

He was soon joined in the referee's notebook, but not until after Colombia thought they had levelled.

Rodriguez's free-kick caused a penalty-box melee, with Yepes lashing home after the ball fell kindly to the veteran - only for his celebrations to be cut short by the offisde flag.

It was a pivotal moment in the match, with Rodriguez cautioned for taking down Hulk 35 yards from goal soon after.

Luiz made light work of that distance, though, hitting an incredible right-footed strike which dipped just under the crossbar and out of the reach of Ospina to double Brazil's lead in style.

The Paris St Germain defender ran away in frantic celebration but the job was not done and, having seen Neymar curl wide at the other end, Colombia won a penalty.

Rodriguez sent a wonderful ball through to substitute Carlos Bacca, who was taken out by the onrushing Julio Cesar.

The Brazil goalkeeper was fortunate only to receive a yellow card and was unable to replicate his heroics from the shootout against Chile, with Rodriguez sending him the wrong way.

It meant a nervy final 10 minutes were in store for Brazil, with heart rates going up a notch as Bacca headed inches wide from an offside position.

Adrian Ramos glanced a header wide of Cesar's goal as Colombia continued to press for a leveller, but it never arrived in a match for which the main talking point will be Neymar's injury.

Caught in the back by Zuniga, the attacker hit the deck and did not move, leaving the field on a stretcher with tears.