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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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.
If this isn't the game of the tournament so far, we'll give you your money back*. Belgium are the World Cup's top goalscorers while Brazil are Brazil, filled to the brim with attacking talent with the lingering sense that Neymar and Philippe Coutinho are only just getting started. For all your pre-match needs, here's Jonathan Liew on what might just be a World Cup classic:
*This was a turn of phrase, we're penniless.
Head-to-head record
These two have only met four times before, three of which were friendlies in years gone by. The most recent match was a 2002 World Cup meeting which Brazil cantered through thanks to Rivaldo and Ronaldo. What a team that was.
24 Apr 1963 Belgium v Brazil 5-1 International Friendly
02 Jun 1965 Brazil v Belgium 5-0 International Friendly
12 Oct 1988 Belgium v Brazil 1-2 International Friendly
17 Jun 2002 Brazil v Belgium 2-0 FIFA World Cup
06 Jul 2018 Brazil v Belgium FIFA World Cup
Here's a closer look at how the two teams line-up...
...and both countries have made two changes to the sides that started their Last 16 ties. Brazil coach Tite had already stated that he intended to field Fernandinho in place of the suspended Casemiro but he is able to recall Marcelo after the left-back recovered from injury. The Real Madrid defender replaces Filipe Luis in defence.
Meanwhile, Roberto Martinez gives starting berths to Marouane Fellaini and Nacer Chadli after they were introduced as second half substitutes with Belgium 2-0 down against Japan in Rostov on Monday. Both players went on to score in an scintillating comeback and take the places of Yannick Carrasco and Dries Mertens respectively.
Brazil: Alisson, Fagner, Thiago Silva, Miranda, Marcelo, Paulinho, Fernandinho, Coutinho, Willian, Jesus, Neymar
Belgium: Courtois, Alderweireld, Kompany, Vertonghen, Meunier, Fellaini, Witsel, Chadli, De Bruyne, Lukaku, E. Hazard
Referee: Milorad Mazic (Serbia)
Roberto Martinez starts Nacer Chadli after his winning contribution against Japan.
Will tonight be the making of Roberto Martinez as an international football coach?
The Golden Generation are on on a storming run but this is their biggest challenge yet.
Tonight's referee is Milorad Mazic. The Serbian has only taken charge of two games at this World Cup so far - Mexico's defeat of South Korea and Colombia's victory against Senegal - but he did referee May's Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid.
There are just ten minutes until kick-off at the Kazan Arena.
The reward for glory is a semi-final fixture against the French in Saint Petersburg on Tuesday, but who will prevail? Will it be a Brazil side searching for redemption after their humbling at the hands of Germany four years ago? Or Belgium, making the most of their Golden Generation of talent?
Miranda, the 15th different captain to be used by coach Tite, leads the players of Brazil out of the tunnel at the Kazan Arena. Next to him, Eden Hazard fronts Belgium's array of Premier League stars. There are close to 45,000 inside the stadium and, with the talent on show, they expect a quarter-final rich on quality.
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