Yet another tournament-favourite crashed out of the FIFA World Cup 2018 on Friday night as Belgium stunned Brazil with a 2-1 win in the quarter-finals in Kazan.
This edition of the World Cup has seen almost all the big names bow out early in the competition with three big teams getting knocked out in the city of Kazan. Brazil on Friday joined Argentina and Germany in the list of teams that played its final match at the Kazan Arena.
A Fernandinho own goal and a brilliant Kevin De Bruyne strike gave Belgium a spot in the last four for the second time after 1986 and sent Brazil home at the quarter-final stage for the third time in the last four World Cups.
Belgium also used intelligence to break up Brazil’s momentum as they kept possession in midfield, frustrating them and forcing them into giving away free kicks which cost the South Americans precious seconds.
Eden Hazard played a key role as he forced Fernandinho into a tackle which cost him a yellow card, then drew a foul from Miranda which he celebrated as if he had scored a goal.
Belgium also enjoyed some luck. They escaped a couple of possible penalties which other referees might have given and an early Thiago Silva shot against the post which might have changed the course of the game completely.
When all else failed, there was Thibaut Courtois who made several outstanding saves including one in the fourth minute of stoppage time to turn away a Neymar shot that was heading for the top corner.
“You need to get a tactical advantage when you play Brazil,” said Martinez. “The execution of the tactics was magnificent. In two days they (Belgium’s players) changed their tactical disposition. I couldn’t be prouder.”