Italy, Brazil reach semis

Italy progressed by snatching a barely-deserved 4-3 victory from a pulsating game against the Japanese in Recife.

Italy scored three times in 11 minutes either side of half-time, through Daniele De Rossi, Atsuto Uchida's own goal and Mario Balotelli's penalty after Japan had established a 2-0 lead courtesy of Keisuke Honda's spot-kick and Shinji Kagawa's neat finish.

Shinji Okazaki made it 3-3 in the 69th minute, but Sebastian Giovinco netted four minutes from the end to give Italy the points.

Still Japan almost equalised as Okazaki hit the bar and Maya Yoshida converted the rebound, only to be denied by the offside flag.

The result took Italy into the last four and also confirmed Brazil's place in the semis.

Neymar and Jo scored the goals as the hosts saw off Mexico 2-0 in the earlier game.

It was not a classic performance from Brazil by any means, but the flashes of brilliance remained, and it was two pieces of fantastic skill by Neymar at the start and the end of the game which proved to be the ultimate difference.

The 21-year-old fired Brazil into the lead within nine minutes when he picked up the ball in the edge of the box and volleyed home a stunning strike before his jinking run up the left and deft footwork set up former Manchester City striker Jo in stoppage time for the second.