Belgium, victorious over Brazil 2 – 1, will face France Tuesday 10th July for a place in the semi-final of World Cup 2018
Brazil caught in its own game! Dominated as ever by Belgium inspired by the daring of her triumphant generation (2-1), Friday in Kazan, Neymar’s Seleçao is ejected from the World Cup-2018 in the quarter-finals to everyone’s surprise.
Revenues from hell against Japan, the “Red Devils” had warned that they would not give up their game too focused on the attack despite the risk of a “boomerang effect” against Brazil. The bet worked perfectly.
With a goal against his camp Fernandinho (13th ) and a sublime strike from Kevin de Bruyne (31st ), the Belgian golden generation has the right to face France in the semi-final on Tuesday in St. Petersburg , and can dream of a first world title.
For Brazil, so serious since the beginning of the competition and so solid since taking control of Tite in 2016, it is a huge disappointment. Brazil, favourite of World Cup 2018, finally went the same destiny that Germany defending title or Spain, eliminated well before the last four.
Worse, four years after the fiasco of “his” World Cup and the famous 7-1 cashed against Germany in the semifinals, the teammates of Thiago Silva have not been able to do at least as well.
And Neymar in all this? Overall harmless! Like the authoritarian intervention of Witsel at the entrance to the surface (43rd), the superstar auriverde did not resist the physical fight imposed by the Belgians, before leaving the head of the water at the end of match. No result.
QUEL MATCH QUE CE #BRABEL !!
Belges et Brésiliens ont tout donné pour atteindre les demi-finales de la #CM2018, et ç’a donné un match dantesque avec 3 buts, à revoir sans attendre ICI ► https://t.co/S24oarfLt5 pic.twitter.com/1HDmmtxqhY— Téléfoot (@telefoot_TF1) July 6, 2018
Lukaku / De Bruyne, in ‘play nice’ mode
And to say that it was Brazil who could and had to open the score of play …
On a corner very well deflected by Joao Miranda at the far post, Thiago Silva, a little surprised, resumes somehow one meter from the goal but the ball finally crashes on the post, while Thibaut Courtois was completely beaten.
Bis repetita on the next corner is Paulinho this time, again completely breaking free into the box, which has failed completely resumed (10th).
The luck of the Seleçao had just passed, the ambitious device in 3-4-3 of Belgium can start. Determined to avoid reliving the cold sweats of the knockout stage against Japan (3-2), the coach Roberto Martinez has maintained his playing pattern but reinforcing the physical presence of Marouane Fellaini and Nacer Chadli in the middle.
💬🇧🇪 C’EST FINI PHILIPPE […] DE LA MAGIE, DU RAFFINEMENT, UNE RECONNEXION TOTALE… 💬🇧🇪
MYTHIQUE, revivez la victoire de la Belgique via les commentaires de la TV belge 😂😂
Regardez ▼▼ https://t.co/nkMmo1hgHT#CM2018 #BRABEL— Téléfoot (@telefoot_TF1) July 6, 2018
A paying choice just before the quarter of an hour of game. Kevin de Bruyne, who is mounted a notch to evolve with Romelu Lukaku and Hazard on the front of the attack, manages to eliminate four players at once by serving perfectly Fellaini against the goals.
More clumsy of his feet than the head, the Belgian giant still managed to provoke the corner that will lead to the goal (12th): on the kick kick struck by Hazard in stride, Kompany is a bit short but the flask is sufficiently deflected by the shoulder Fernandinho to deceive Alisson (13th, 1-0).
Renato Augusto gives hope
Determined to hurt very badly thanks to its talented players, Belgium managed to make the break at the half hour of play way … “joga bonito”! After an amazing slalom Lukaku almost 50 meters, De Bruyne is orbited the edge of the area to shoot Allison (31st, 2-0).
Sounded by the turn of events, the Seleçao tried to get out by individual initiatives, Marcelo (26e), or a wound Coutinho (37th).
The Brazilians have also sought a penalty, by Neymar (53) or Gabriel Jesus (54) … Refusal categorical referee without even using the video.
Brazil still tried to come back, and on a center of Coutinho, Renato Augusto, just entered the game, gave hope to his people by scoring (2-1, 75th ).
The medium could even endorse the savior suit when Coutinho has yet served perfectly but his shot went grazing near the right post Courtois (81st).
Then Coutinho missed a clear opportunity, before Courtois diverted a Neymar shot from a tap. A decisive stop that offers Belgium its first semifinal since 1986.
