This could possibly be the biggest match of the World Cup so far with one of the best teams in world football coming up against one of the rising stars. There is no secret that Belgium are still a pretty young team and the ‘golden generation’ is starting to reach its peak. Kevin De Bruyne has been immense for Manchester City, while Romelu Lukaku is as dangerous in front of goal as he’s ever been. Eden Hazard has not always maintained his impressive form but is a huge danger nonetheless and many others impressed in the group stage.
Belgium were always expected to progress with England out of Group G and did so emphatically with a 5-2 win over Tunisia and a 3-0 win over Panama. The game against England cannot be judged fairly with both sides fielding extremely weakened sides in the hopes of finishing second in the group. As well as resting key men. Adnan Janazaj wasn’t reading from the same script though, as his stunner sealed the win and top spot for Roberto Martinez’s men. That meant they would face Japan in the next round and that is where it all got pretty interesting. Japan went 2-0 up and it took a spirited fight back for Belgium to get back into the game and eventually win it late on. That will give Brazil all the encouragement in the world as they start to hit form at exactly the right time. The match will hold at Kazan Arena.
Team News
Brazil midfielder Casemiro is suspended and will be replaced by Fernandinho, head coach Tite has confirmed. Left-back Marcelo, who was not fully fit for their last game, has recovered from a back problem and will reclaim a starting spot from Filipe Luis. Winger Douglas Costa is also available, having overcome a muscle injury. Belgium are hopeful that winger Adnan Januzaj will be fit, having been unavailable for their last match because of an unspecified injury. Head coach Roberto Martinez has reported no other fitness concerns.
Overview
Belgium’s dramatic fightback against Japan saw them become the first side to win a World Cup game from 2-0 down for 48 years, but another slow start on Friday against Brazil is likely to prove fatal. The Brazilians may be best known, historically, for their ‘jogo bonito’ (beautiful game), but the current side are miserly in defence. They have conceded just once so far in Russia and have kept clean sheets in 19 of their 25 matches under head coach Tite. Belgium do, however, have the individual quality to give the five-time champions their biggest test yet. Both these sides had three players each on the 2017 Ballon d’Or shortlist; Neymar, Marcelo and Philippe Coutinho for Brazil, with Kevin de Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Dries Mertens representing Belgium. Similarly, The Guardian’s list of the world’s 100 best footballers, released in December, included 10 Brazilians and seven Belgians. So while the South Americans will begin as favourites, there is no reason for the Red Devils to have an inferiority complex.
View from both camps
Brazil head coach Tite: “It will be a great match. Both teams excel with a beautiful football. Belgium have great players and a great coach as well. I’ve always put them in the group of favourites (for the title).”
Belgium head coach Roberto Martinez: “We will need power. We have to defend as well as we can and then cause them pain when we have the ball.”
Goals Prediction: Brazil 2-1 Belgium
Match facts
Head-to-head
- This will be the fifth game between these sides. The first encounter was a friendly in Brussels in 1963 which Belgium won 5-1 but Brazil have won the subsequent three meetings.
- Their only previous World Cup encounter was in the round of 16 in 2002. Brazil won 2-0 through second-half goals from Rivaldo and Ronaldo and went on to win the tournament.
Brazil
- Brazil have reached the quarter-finals for the seventh consecutive World Cup. They have only lost twice at this stage during this sequence – against France in 2006 and the Netherlands in 2010.
- The Selecao’s last six World Cup defeats have all come against sides from Europe.
- Their last win against European opposition in the knockout stage was the 2002 final versus Germany.
- They are unbeaten in their last 15 games in all comps (W11, D4), conceding just three goals.
- The Brazilians have won 20 of 25 games (D4, L1) under head coach Tite, keeping 19 clean sheets.
- They have recorded shut-outs in eight of their last nine games (W7, D2).
- Neymar has been involved in 20 goals in his last 19 matches for Brazil, scoring 11 and assisting nine.
Belgium
- Belgium’s last two World Cup campaigns ended with elimination against South American opposition (versus Brazil in 2002 and Argentina in 2014).
- Victory would see them reach the semi-finals for the first time since 1986, and only the second time overall.
- They have already scored 12 goals – their joint most at a World Cup, along with 1986.
- Roberto Martinez’s side are unbeaten in their last 23 matches (W18, D5), the longest current run of any team left in the tournament.
- Belgium have failed to score a first-half goal in nine of their last 10 World Cup games.
- Victory would see Belgium win five successive World Cup matches for the first time. They have won eight of their last nine matches at the tournament.
- Belgium hold the record for most World Cup knockout games played (12) without keeping a clean sheet. They have conceded 28 goals in those 12 matches.
- Eden Hazard has been directly involved in 19 goals in his 18 games for Belgium under Roberto Martinez, scoring 10 and assisting nine.
- Romelu Lukaku has scored with four of his five shots on target at this tournament.
Brazil’s predicted line-up
Belgium’s predicted line-up
