Brazil vs Belgium LIVE World Cup 2018: Brazil out as Belgium advance to the semi-finals - latest reaction from Kazan
Follow all the reaction as Brazil take on Belgium for a place in the semi-finals
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Your support makes all the difference.Brazil last faced Belgium in a World Cup back in 2002, Rivaldo and Ronaldo the goalscorers in a 2-0 win. 16 years later and the two teams are competing on much more even terms.
Both Tite and Roberto Martinez have been trying to find a system that gets the best out of their talented individuals.
Brazil seemed to have cracked it and are getting better with every game their play, but Belgium, on the other hand, are struggling to cohesively play together and get the best out of Kevin De Bruyne.
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When is it?
Brazil vs Belgium is on Friday 6 June and kicks off at 19:00 at the Kazan Arena.
Where can I watch it?
BBC will be showing live coverage on BBC One and online on the BBC Sport website.
Odds
Brazil: 11/10
Belgium: 5/2
Draw: 5/2
How did they get here?
Brazil have grown into the tournament since drawing their first game with Switzerland 1-1. Neymar and Roberto Firmino scored in their 2-0 win against Mexico in the round of 16 match.
After resting nine players against England, Belgium were on the brink of being dumped out of the World Cup when Japan were leading in the round of 16 with 25 minutes to go. Jan Vertonghen, Marouane Fellaini and Nacer Chadli scored late to complete a dramatic comeback and keep Belgium’s golden generation in the tournament.
What is their World Cup history?
Brazil are seeking redemption after their embarrassing 7-1 semi-final defeat against Germany in their home World Cup in 2014. The five time champions are looking for their first World Cup triumph since 2002 and take advantage of a fully fit Neymar who is growing into the tournament.
In 2014 Belgium reached the quarter-finals but lost to Argentina after easing past the United States. In 1986 Diego Maradona’s second half brace ended their run in the semi-final in front of 114,500 fans in the Estadio Azteca, third remains their best finish.
Prediction
Brazil 2-2 Belgium (Belgium win on penalties). In a tournament full of shocks this could be another. Neither team have started quickly so far in this tournament and it will be a very close game - too close, perhaps. In a penalty shootout, with Thibaut Courtois, Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and more, you'd have to fancy the Belgians.
31 mins: GOAL! BRAZIL 0 BELGIUM 2:
What a fantastic goal by Kevin De Bruyne! Belgium had looked so dangerous on the counter-attack and now they have just scored a classic breakaway. It came from another corner, only this time it was Brazil's. When Neymar's delivery was powered away at the near post by Marouane Fellaini, Romelu Lukaku took charge deep in his own half. Shrugging off one Brazilian, the striker turned and powered his way past another two. Driving forward, Lukaku kept his composure to pick out De Bruyne on his right. With support of his own alongside, De Bruyne used Thomas Meunier by not using him and powered an unstoppable shot into the far corner of Alisson's goal from 20 yards. Wow!
36 mins: Brazil come again. Jesus heads wide at the far post despite being unmarked before Courtois is called into action again to parry away shots from Neymar and Paulinho. However, they are leaving more gaps at the back...
41 mins: Belgium test Alisson twice in quick succession. First, De Bruyne whips a cheeky free-kick towards the near post that the goalkeeper tips over before Lukaku almost catches Brazil out from the resulting corner. The striker got to Chadli's cross first, but his back-flick was kept out by Alisson, once again at the near post.
45 mins: There will be one minute of added time to be played before the Brazil players retreat to the dressing room for some serious soul-searching.
HALF-TIME - BRAZIL 0 BELGIUM 2:
Milorad Mazic brings an exhausting first half to a close. Brazil haven't turned a 2-0 deficit around at the World Cup for 80 years, but they'll need to do exactly that in the second half otherwise his year's tournament will be guaranteed a European winner.
SECOND HALF KICK-OFF: Brazil need something to change quickly, and Tite has called for Roberto Firmino. The Liverpool forward is on in place of Willian at the start of the second half and will hoping that he can at least reproduce the goal off the bench that he notched against Mexico in the Last 16.
48 mins: Belgium's Toby Alderweireld is the first player to go into Milorad Mazic's notebook after bundling over Paulinho in midfield. Roberto Martinez's men will need to make sure they keep their cool as Brazil look to up the pressure in this second half. Three of their players in Jan Vertonghen, Meunier and De Bruyne sit on a yellow card from earlier in the tournament and are therefore one caution away from semi-final suspension.
52 mins: Neymar darts into the box from the left and, when Fellaini comes across to cover, the Brazilan flicks his foot out to connect with the Belgian and then throws himself to the floor. Referee Milorad Mazic is in the perfect position to immediately wave any claim of a penalty away and then is equally forthright in dismissing those in red asking for a yellow card.
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