BRAZIL v GERMANY: Loew worried about refereeing ahead of semi

"I have seen matches where the limits of what can be tolerated have been surpassed," Loew told reporters in Belo Horizonte's Mineirao stadium.

As an example, he mentioned the quarter-final between Brazil and Colombia in which he saw instances when players went "beyond the limits." 

Brazil too have complained about the referee in that match, in which a tackle from Colombia's Juan Camilo Zuniga left striker Neymar with a broken vertebra and the hosts without their star for the rest of the tournament.

"That was a real fight, with numerous fouls from both sides, not just the one against Neymar," Loew said. "There were many fouls from behind which were really dangerous for the players."

A total of 54 fouls were committed during that match, of which the hosts - who are the team who have committed most fouls in the tournament so far - committed 31.

Loew admitted that one cannot make "sweeping statements" about referee standards and that some games have been handled fine, but he slammed the "physical type of play and this blocking the opponent at all costs" that he saw in several matches. 

It goes against spectators' interests, he said, and also against talented players.

"We will need no Neymars, Oezils, Goetzes and Messis" if this kind of defending persists, Loew warned, and he called for action from Mexican referee Marco Antonio Rodriguez if things get rough on Tuesday at the Mineirao.

Loew noted that we was "awfully sorry" about Neymar's absence from the match, but he said Brazil still had plenty to offer without him.

"You shouldn't believe that the absence of Neymar or (suspended) Thiago Silva will be a disadvantage for Brazil," he warned. 

"The other players will feel liberated," Loew said. "All the others will be on the pitch fighting for Neymar, fighting for the nation."

Germany have been eliminated in the semi-finals of the last two World Cups. Loew was assistant coach in Germany 2006 and coach in South Africa 2010.

"A semi-final is always something very special," he said. "Brazil will be playing with 200 million fans, so they're not just playing here on the pitch."

Germany are ready for the "huge challenge" of playing against the hosts, he said, and they will have all their men fit for the occasion.

"We are self-assured, we know we can deliver, and if we are able to tap into our strengths, I think we have a good chance," Loew said. "The team is totally focused and concentrated."