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

World Cup 2018 Brazil National Anthem vs. Belgium

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.

Brazil have gone up the gears so far in Russia (REUTERS)

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.

Key Points

• Two of the tournament's strongest teams face off in Kazan
• Neymar starred as Brazil beat Mexico to qualify for the last eight
• Belgium came back from 2-0 down to beat Japan 3-2 in a thriller in the last-16
• Winner will face France after Les Bleus saw off Uruguay in Nizhny Novgorod

[6 July 2018 18:59 · Sam Dymond]

The players line up for the national anthems and then get together to promote FIFA's fight against racism. Let's hope they mean it this time.

[6 July 2018 19:02 · Sam Dymond]

KICK-OFF: Neymar, who else, gets us underway at the Kazan Arena. It's a stadium that has already seen the high drama of South Korea eliminating Germany before France's thriller with Argentina. Will these two sides provide more excitement this evening?

[6 July 2018 19:05 · Sam Dymond]

2 mins: Kevin De Bruyne up against Fernandinho? It's a Manchester City mismatch, isn't it? It may be time to reassess as the Belgian leaves his club teammate on his backside in muscling him off the ball before driving forward to fire at goal. The shot isn't nearly as impressive, however, with De Bruyne screwing his effort two yards wide.

[6 July 2018 19:08 · Sam Dymond]

6 mins: Marouane Fellaini earns new-found respect around the United Kingdom by chasing down Neymar and clattering him around the back of the head with his forearm. Even Fernandinho found it funny.

[6 July 2018 19:12 · Sam Dymond]

8 mins: Thiago Silva hits the post! And he really should have scored! The first corner of the game was taken by Neymar from the left, and given the most delicate of flick-ons by Miranda. That touch from the captain may have been what threw his defensive partner off stride because Silva failed to make convincing contact with the ball despite finding himself unmarked and five yards out. His touch flicked off the woodwork and into the grateful arms of Thibaut Courtois.

[6 July 2018 19:13 · Sam Dymond]

11 mins: Brazil are causing Belgium problem on each occasion they work their way into the penalty area. Paulinho almost bundled his way through on goal before another corner caused chaos that Neymar almost profited from.

[6 July 2018 19:14 · Sam Dymond]

13 mins: GOAL! BRAZIL 0 BELGIUM 1:

Brazil had threatened from their two corners, and now Belgium have scored with their first! After Marouane Fellaini's toe-poke had been deflected behind by Miranda, Nacer Chadli curled a wicked cross into the area from the left. One Brazilian in Gabriel Jesus failed to make contact at the near post before another behind him, Fernandinho, met the ball to clear. Unfortunately for the midfielder, he got his connection all wrong, instead glancing a header back past goalkeeper Alisson for an own-goal. How will Brazil respond now?

[6 July 2018 19:23 · Sam Dymond]

18 mins: Brazil retaliate as they search for a quick leveller. Gabriel Jesus finds his route to goal blocked before Philippe Coutinho thumps a shot straight down the throat of Courtois.

[6 July 2018 19:25 · Sam Dymond]

22 mins: Brazil are pressing, but Belgium are looking extremely dangerous on the counter. Hazard and De Bruyne have just combined as they looked to search out Lukaku in the centre to no avail, before the striker tried to do it himself by powering through the centre of the Brazilian defence. A second goal seems imminent: which way it goes could have a huge bearing on how this game - and tournament - pans out.

[6 July 2018 19:30 · Sam Dymond]

26 mins: A spell of really good football. Marcelo shows his pace and power as he darts past opponents before firing a 25-yard shot that Courtois blocks with his legs and then, within seconds, it was Belgium in the ascendency. A fantastic flick by Lukaku on the far touchline takes two Brazilians out of the game and allows Axel Witsel to roam through midfield. He eventually plays a long pass in the direction of Hazard, who takes control with a sublime first touch before effortlessly finding De Bruyne. All football should be played like this.