German star Bastian Schweinsteiger said the referee must pay close attention to tough-tackling Brazil in Tuesday's World Cup semi-final to ensure fouls do not go unchecked. Brazil captain Thiago Silva is suspended for the semi-final against Germany in Belo Horizonte having been booked twice at Brazil 2014 while star Neymar is injured.
The Selecao have appealed Silva's ban, but robust challenges from the hosts' marked Friday's quarter-final win. Colombia striker James Rodriguez, in particular, was dealt some rough treatment in Brazil's 2-1 victory. Only two Brazil players - Silva and goalkeeper Julio Cesar, who conceded a penalty - were booked by Spanish referee Carlos Velasco Carballo despite the Selecao's 31 fouls against Colombia.
"I am all for hard, clean challenges, but there were one or two tackles which were over the limit," said Schweinsteiger after watching Brazil's win.
"The Brazilians here aren't the magicians of old, the team has changed and so has their playing style.
"Hard challenges are definitely are part of their game, it's something we have to be careful of and the referee too."
Germany head coach Joachim Loew echoed Schweinsteiger's sentiments with FIFA yet to announce the referee for Tuesday's mouth-watering showdown.
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