Germany became the first side to score seven goals in a World Cup semi-final when they routed Brazil 7-1 in 2014. Toni Kroos and Andre Schurrle both netted twice in the victory for the German, who went on to win the trophy. Jamie McDonald / Getty Images
Wesley Sneijder of the Netherlands celebrates scoring his side's second goal with team mate Giovanni Van Bronckhorst, right, in their 3-2 win over Uruguay in the semi-finals in 2010. Sneijder was crucial to the Dutch run to the last final. Laurence Griffiths / Getty Images
Italy's Alessandro Del Piero celebrates scoring his team's second goal in extra time that clinched a 2-0 victory over Germany in the 2006 semi-finals. It was Del Piero's only goal of the World Cup, but the Juventus player, a vital part of Italian football for more than a decade, rose to the occasion when it mattered. Alex Livesey / Getty Images
Ronaldo, right, challenges for the ball during Brazil's semi-final win over Turkey in 2002. The striker scored the only goal of the game, and he would go on to score both goals in the final against Germany to cap a great individual tournament as he netted eight times in all. Andreas Rentz / Bongarts / Getty Images
Lilian Thuram only scored two goals in 142 appearances for France. He certainly picked a good time to get them as the defender netted both of France's goals in their 2-1 success over Croatia in the 1998 semi-final in Saint-Denis. France had gone behind in the game, but Thuram stepped up and inspired his side to the final where they would defeat Brazil. AFP
Roberto Baggio had been key to Italy's success at World Cup 1994. He scored both goals as they came from behind to defeat Nigeria 2-1 in the second round, then struck a late winner as Spain were defeated in the quarter-finals. It was no surprise he took centre stage in the semi-final, scoring twice in the first 25 minutes as Bulgaria were beaten 2-1. Sadly, there was no happy ending to the tournament for Baggio as he blazed over the decisive penalty in their shoot-out loss to Brazil in the final. Getty Images
Paul Gascoigne was at the heart of England's run to the semi-finals in 1990. The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder was the creative heartbeat of England's route to the last four. But, it literally ended in tears for him in the semi-final against West Germany. A booking for a late challenge on Thomas Berthold meant he would be suspended for the final, if England got there, and the realisation of this fact left Gascoigne tearful. He could only watch on, however, as his teammates missed out on a place in the final as they lost on penalties to the Germans. Allsport UK
Having been the centre of attention, for a mixture of reasons, in his side's win over England in the quarter-finals, it was no surprise that Diego Maradona was again the hero in the semi-finals. He scored both of Argentina's goals as they defeated Belgium 2-0 to put them in the final. There they would beat West Germany 3-2 with captain Maradona lifting the trophy. Getty Images
Paolo Rossi had already created headlines at the 1982 World Cup as the Italian scored a hat-trick against Brazil in the second group stages. The striker was again the hero in the semi-finals as he struck both goals against Poland in Barcelona. Rossi would cap a great individual tournament, where he won the Golden Boot, as he scored the opening goal in the 3-1 win in the final against West Germany. AP Photo
England's 1966 World Cup success is best remembered for Geoff Hurst's hat-trick in the final against West Germany. But, they had battled hard to get past in-form Portugal in the semi-final, and it was Manchester United's Bobby Charlton who was the star on that night at Wembley Stadium. He scored both goals in England's 2-1 victory. Getty Images
Pele, wearing No 10, has gone down as one of the game's greats, winning the World Cup three times with Brazil. The 17 year old was at the centre of his side's run to the 1958 final in Sweden as he scored a second-half hat-trick in their 5-2 win over France. Pele would net two more in the final against Sweden as Brazil won the trophy for the first time. Getty Images
