Hello and welcome along to The42′s live coverage of the second World Cup quarter-final on offer today as Brazil take on Belgium.
We could be looking at a potential classic here as some of the best players in the world do battle. And after Belgium’s stunning comeback against Japan, will they be able to use that momentum to get past the Brazilians?
We’ll be bringing you team line-ups and other news as we continue our build-up to the 7pm kick-off so do stay with us.
And as always, we want you to get involved throughout the coverage. Simply post a comment in the section below or send a tweet to @Shin_Farrell who will be guiding you through the live action.
6 Jul 2018
6:16PM
The teams have been named:
Brazil: Alisson, Thiago Silva, Miranda, Marcelo, Fagner, Philippe Coutinho, Paulinho, Fernandinho, Willian, Gabriel Jesus, Neymar.
Subs: Ederson, Cássio, Marquinhos, Geromel, Filipe Luís, Fred, Renato Augusta, Douglas Costa, Firmino, Taison.
Belgium go on the hunt in the early moments but the ball trickles out over the endline.
6 Jul 2018
7:03PM
CLOSE!!
De Bruyne gets a shot off from just outside the box. He struck it sweetly and was aiming for the bottom corner but it just sailed wide of the post.
Good start for the Belgians.
6 Jul 2018
7:08PM
Another promising attack from Belgium.
Some patient build-up play results in De Bruyne picking the ball up out wide. He sprays a pass over to the other side and a header into the box is blocked out by the Brazil defence.
But Brazil have a corner coming up.
6 Jul 2018
7:10PM
POST!
Thiago Silva came dangerously close to getting the opening goal there. The first corner of the game finds Silva in front of goal but he doesn’t see it coming and it bounces off his thigh and onto the post.
Belgium go straight on the counter-attack and make good ground but the final shot just trails wide.
6 Jul 2018
7:12PM
Brazil starting to come into the game now.
Paulinho had an opportunity to finish a corner kick to the net, but he struggles to get the shot off and Belgium deal with it comfortably.
Marcelo is delivering some excellent passes into the penalty area.
Willian is down on the deck after a clash of heads, as is Neymar. But they both hop up and get back into it.
6 Jul 2018
7:31PM
Marcelo lobs in a dangerous corner kick. The ball spills out to Thiago Silva but his attempt at a shot is blocked out and we have another Brazil corner to come.
What a goal from Kevin De Bruyne. Some fantastic work from Lukaku to cut through the centre and release the ball out to the Man City man, who tees the ball up nicely before blasting his shot low and into the corner.
A super move complimented by an equally brilliant finish.
Brazil could be in real trouble here.
6 Jul 2018
7:40PM
Courtois pulls off a few important saves to keep Brazil scoreless as half-time looms.
There’s a sudden urgency in Brazil’s play.
But that spell is followed by another threatening move by Belgium. Brazil manage to get their defence in order and keep the ball out.
De Bruyne comes close to getting a second from a free-kick, but Alisson manages to palm it away.
There was enough dip on that free to eat your Doritos with it.
6 Jul 2018
7:44PM
Just under three minutes of normal time left in the first half.
6 Jul 2018
7:46PM
Brilliant defensive work there to push Neymar out.
He goes down in the penalty area after going on the march again but no penalty given. There aren’t many protests for the penalty anyway, and play carries on.
Belgium should be 3-0 up. Chadli goes on the break and feeds the ball to Hazard who has a pop at goal. He should have scored but drilled his shot wide.
Brazil capitalise on the counter and substitute Costa takes a shot at Courtois. The Chelsea keeper does well to pull off the save.
6 Jul 2018
8:24PM
Belgium are slowing the game down now and playing the ball around with composure.
6 Jul 2018
8:28PM
Lukaku runs out of road after beating Miranda along the wing, but he applies one touch too many and the ball spills out for a goal kick.
After doing all the hard work, it turns out to be a wasteful move.
6 Jul 2018
8:29PM
Meunier gets a yellow card for a needless tackle on Neymar. He’ll miss Belgium’s next game if they can see out these final 20 minutes of normal time.
6 Jul 2018
8:30PM
Hazard is down and looks to be struggling after his foot was stood on.
6 Jul 2018
8:32PM
Brazil substitution
Paulinho makes way as Augusto comes into the action.
Renato Augusto reduces the gap to just one goal after 75 minutes with a brilliant header. Can Brazil find an equaliser.
What an introduction for the sub.
6 Jul 2018
8:39PM
MISS!
Augusto should have two goals and Brazil should have two goals after he found himself in acres of space to get off a free shot. But he doesn’t connect with it properly and the ball flies past the wrong side of the post.
Was that the chance to level the tie?
6 Jul 2018
8:44PM
We’re inside the final five minutes of normal time. Can Brazil find an equaliser or will Belgium take the victory and book their spot in the semi-finals?
6 Jul 2018
8:44PM
Belgium substitution:
Lukaku is coming off and will be replace by Tielemans.
6 Jul 2018
8:49PM
VAR Call for a possible penalty!
Neymar jumps to try and head the ball into the net from a cross and goes to ground.
The referee is consulting the technology to see if there is a penalty to be given.
6 Jul 2018
8:49PM
And again, it’s a no for Brazil.
We have five minutes of added time to play.
6 Jul 2018
8:52PM
SAVE!!
What a save from Courtois to tap a Neymar shot over the bar. Incredible effort to keep the ball out for a corner.
That shot was heading for the top corner of the net.
And Brazil get nothing from the resultant corner and they have very little time left.
FT: Belgium are through to the World Cup semi-finals.
6 Jul 2018
9:08PM
Well, what a finish!
After Belgium looked to be well on their way to victory, Augusto nabbed a goal back to make the final 20 minutes very exciting.
Brazil came close on many occasions to claiming an equaliser but Courtois deserves huge credit for some of the saves he produced.
And so Belgium drive onto the semis where they face France in an all European clash. Overall, it was a deserved win with Kevin De Bruyne and Lukaku both on fire throughout the clash.
The goals in the first half provided the platform for Roberto Martinez’s men and that proved to be the difference in the end.
We hope you enjoyed the game, and the quarter-final from earlier today. Join us again for the next live sporting fixture.
Until then, take care.
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As it happened: Brazil v Belgium, World Cup quarter-final
Hello and welcome along to The42′s live coverage of the second World Cup quarter-final on offer today as Brazil take on Belgium.
We could be looking at a potential classic here as some of the best players in the world do battle. And after Belgium’s stunning comeback against Japan, will they be able to use that momentum to get past the Brazilians?
We’ll be bringing you team line-ups and other news as we continue our build-up to the 7pm kick-off so do stay with us.
And as always, we want you to get involved throughout the coverage. Simply post a comment in the section below or send a tweet to @Shin_Farrell who will be guiding you through the live action.
The teams have been named:
Brazil: Alisson, Thiago Silva, Miranda, Marcelo, Fagner, Philippe Coutinho, Paulinho, Fernandinho, Willian, Gabriel Jesus, Neymar.
Subs: Ederson, Cássio, Marquinhos, Geromel, Filipe Luís, Fred, Renato Augusta, Douglas Costa, Firmino, Taison.
Belgium: Courtois, Alderweireld, Kompany, Vertonghen, Meunier, Witsel, De Bruyne, Fellaini, Chadli, Lukaku, Hazard.
Subs: Mignolet, Casteels, Vermaelen, Carassco, Mertens, Thorgan Hazard, Tielemans, Januzaj, Dembélé, Boyata, Batshuayi, Dendoncker.
The fans are ready to rock!
Brazil’s team:
Manchester City’s Danilo will miss the rest of the tournament after injuring his ankle, meaning Fagner will continue to play in the Brazil defence.
Midfielder Casemiro is suspended and is being replaced by Fernandinho while Marcelo reclaims a starting spot after recovering from a back problem.
Belgium’s team:
Januzaj is on the bench having been unavailable for their last match due to injury and there are no other fitness concerns for Belgium.
So, who is your money on? Cast your vote now:
Poll Results:
Earlier today, France got the better of Uruguay at the Nizhny Novgorod Arena in the other quarter-final.
Goals from Varane and Griezmann secured their win and you can catch up on all the action here.
As it happened: Uruguay v France, World Cup quarter-final
Eye on the ball!
Neymar warming up for the game.
RTÉ’s Didi Hamann has just proffered a prediction that Brazil will win this game 3-0!!! What do you make of that?
The teams are out on the pitch now and the anthems are coming on.
And we are off!
Belgium go on the hunt in the early moments but the ball trickles out over the endline.
CLOSE!!
De Bruyne gets a shot off from just outside the box. He struck it sweetly and was aiming for the bottom corner but it just sailed wide of the post.
Good start for the Belgians.
Another promising attack from Belgium.
Some patient build-up play results in De Bruyne picking the ball up out wide. He sprays a pass over to the other side and a header into the box is blocked out by the Brazil defence.
But Brazil have a corner coming up.
POST!
Thiago Silva came dangerously close to getting the opening goal there. The first corner of the game finds Silva in front of goal but he doesn’t see it coming and it bounces off his thigh and onto the post.
Belgium go straight on the counter-attack and make good ground but the final shot just trails wide.
Brazil starting to come into the game now.
Paulinho had an opportunity to finish a corner kick to the net, but he struggles to get the shot off and Belgium deal with it comfortably.
Marcelo is delivering some excellent passes into the penalty area.
Hup ouha that!
GOAL! Brazil 0-1 Belgium (Fernandinho OG)
Well what about that?
A goal was always looking likely and it’s Belgium who open their account inside 20 minutes through an own goal from Fernandinho.
It came from a corner and it deflected off the Brazilian player.
What can Brazil do to muster up a response to that?
Free for Belgium following a challenge by Jesus on Vertonghen and Belgium are looking comfortable at this early stage.
Obviously that goal gives them a bit of confidence and they’re making good use of possession.
Meunier tries to link up with Lukaku with a cross but Brazil head it away.
De Bruyne continues to provide a brilliant option out wide.
Nice footwork there from Lukaku. He nutmegs Miranda in the box but can’t get round in time and the ball is booted out for a corner.
Nothing comes of it but Vertonghen feeds the ball back to Courtois to kick off another attack.
Brazil look a bit frustrated. The plays aren’t flowing as well for them as Marcelo fails to chase down a ball heading for the endline.
Meanwhile, Willian is ushered out over the sideline.
Good stop!
Marcelo launches a long-range shot at goal but Courtois gets down well to claim it.
Again, Belgium tear off on the counter and Marcelo just edges out Lukaku in an aerial battle for the ball.
Willian is down on the deck after a clash of heads, as is Neymar. But they both hop up and get back into it.
Marcelo lobs in a dangerous corner kick. The ball spills out to Thiago Silva but his attempt at a shot is blocked out and we have another Brazil corner to come.
GOAL! Brazil 0-2 Belgium (De Bruyne, 31)
Belgium are two in front!!
What a goal from Kevin De Bruyne. Some fantastic work from Lukaku to cut through the centre and release the ball out to the Man City man, who tees the ball up nicely before blasting his shot low and into the corner.
A super move complimented by an equally brilliant finish.
Brazil could be in real trouble here.
Courtois pulls off a few important saves to keep Brazil scoreless as half-time looms.
There’s a sudden urgency in Brazil’s play.
But that spell is followed by another threatening move by Belgium. Brazil manage to get their defence in order and keep the ball out.
Here’s that excellent goal from De Bruyne:
And here’s that OG that gave them the initial lead:
Good save!
De Bruyne comes close to getting a second from a free-kick, but Alisson manages to palm it away.
There was enough dip on that free to eat your Doritos with it.
Just under three minutes of normal time left in the first half.
Brilliant defensive work there to push Neymar out.
He goes down in the penalty area after going on the march again but no penalty given. There aren’t many protests for the penalty anyway, and play carries on.
HT: Brazil 0-2 Belgium
When Maniac 2000 comes on at the end of the night!
Bazil making a substitution at half-time:
Firmino is on for Willian.
The second half is underway!
Firmino gets his first shot off after coming on but it’s blocked away.
And that is followed by a lapse of concentration by Fernandinho who lets the ball drift out over the sideline.
CLOSE!
Marcelo again whips the ball across. It’s a dangerous cross and Firmino tries to poke it into the net but it drives off across the goal line.
Brazil starting well, and they have a bit of a mountain to climb.
Penalty call
It looked for a moment like Brazil might have a penalty but the referee decides against it and waves play on.
Video replay looks pretty conclusive – it was a dive from Neymar and the referee made the correct call.
Brazil are on fire and are putting all the pressure on Belgium to get a goal to get them back into this tie.
Jesus is the latest to try and manufacture a goal. He nutmegs the ball through but he can’t get past Kompany.
Although, we are going to VAR to determine if there’s a penalty to be given.
Computer says no to that one, and the scoreline remains 2-0 to Belgium.
Brazil substitution:
Costa replaces Jesus.
Kompany in action against Jesus
MISS!
Belgium should be 3-0 up. Chadli goes on the break and feeds the ball to Hazard who has a pop at goal. He should have scored but drilled his shot wide.
Brazil capitalise on the counter and substitute Costa takes a shot at Courtois. The Chelsea keeper does well to pull off the save.
Belgium are slowing the game down now and playing the ball around with composure.
Lukaku runs out of road after beating Miranda along the wing, but he applies one touch too many and the ball spills out for a goal kick.
After doing all the hard work, it turns out to be a wasteful move.
Meunier gets a yellow card for a needless tackle on Neymar. He’ll miss Belgium’s next game if they can see out these final 20 minutes of normal time.
Hazard is down and looks to be struggling after his foot was stood on.
Brazil substitution
Paulinho makes way as Augusto comes into the action.
GOAL! Brazil 1-2 Belgium (Augusto, 75)
Game on!
Renato Augusto reduces the gap to just one goal after 75 minutes with a brilliant header. Can Brazil find an equaliser.
What an introduction for the sub.
MISS!
Augusto should have two goals and Brazil should have two goals after he found himself in acres of space to get off a free shot. But he doesn’t connect with it properly and the ball flies past the wrong side of the post.
Was that the chance to level the tie?
We’re inside the final five minutes of normal time. Can Brazil find an equaliser or will Belgium take the victory and book their spot in the semi-finals?
Belgium substitution:
Lukaku is coming off and will be replace by Tielemans.
VAR Call for a possible penalty!
Neymar jumps to try and head the ball into the net from a cross and goes to ground.
The referee is consulting the technology to see if there is a penalty to be given.
And again, it’s a no for Brazil.
We have five minutes of added time to play.
SAVE!!
What a save from Courtois to tap a Neymar shot over the bar. Incredible effort to keep the ball out for a corner.
That shot was heading for the top corner of the net.
And Brazil get nothing from the resultant corner and they have very little time left.
FT: Belgium are through to the World Cup semi-finals.
Well, what a finish!
After Belgium looked to be well on their way to victory, Augusto nabbed a goal back to make the final 20 minutes very exciting.
Brazil came close on many occasions to claiming an equaliser but Courtois deserves huge credit for some of the saves he produced.
And so Belgium drive onto the semis where they face France in an all European clash. Overall, it was a deserved win with Kevin De Bruyne and Lukaku both on fire throughout the clash.
The goals in the first half provided the platform for Roberto Martinez’s men and that proved to be the difference in the end.
We hope you enjoyed the game, and the quarter-final from earlier today. Join us again for the next live sporting fixture.
Until then, take care.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
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