World Cup LIVE: Brazil vs Belgium latest score; Kevin De Bruyne goal doubles advantage

Belgium face five-times world champions Brazil for a place in the World Cup semi-finals in Kazan.

Belgium claimed their place in the quarter-finals by recovering from 2-0 down to beat Japan 3-2 in their last-16 tie with three goals in the last 21 minutes.

But they simply can’t afford to give Brazil the head start tonight.

Inspired by Neymar brilliance and the wiles of Willian, Brazil sent a tough Mexico side packing with a 2-0 defeat that cemented Tite’s side as favourites to claim a record-extending sixth World Cup trophy.

The winner will play France in St Petersburg on Tuesday.

BRAZIL 0-2 BELGIUM | FERNANDINHO OG (13), DE BRUYNE (31)

Brazil XI: Alisson; Fagner, Silva, Miranda, Marcelo; Paulinho, Fernandinho, Coutinho; Willian, Gabriel Jesus, Neymar.

Belgium XI: Courtois; Alderweireld, Kompany, Vertonghen; Meunier, Fellaini, Witsel, Chadli; De Bruyne, Hazard; Lukaku.

BRAZIL 0-2 BELGIUM

70: As Steve in the comments section alluded to, If Brazil don’t turn things around then we’ll be guaranteed a European winner.

68: Not that it’s too important but Kevin De Bruyne’s first-half strike is third-favourite to be named the goal of the tournament.

Benjamin Pavard’s half-volley against Argentina is favourite with Cristiano Ronaldo’s stoppage-time free-kick in second position.

65: Douglas Costa makes an instant impact when cutting inside and testing Courtois.

It’s constant Brazil pressure now as Belgian legs get heavier. A goal in the next 15 minutes and things could get interesting.

63: Belgium break at speed with Chadli doing some great pressing. Kevin De Bruyne drives forward and tees up Eden Hazard, who drives wide from an acute angle.

60: Douglas Costa replaces Gabriel Jesus, whose contribution to this tournament has been a nutmeg shortly before that penalty appeal.

59: BBC pundit Danny Murphy: “I don’t know how they can see what we have just seen and not give a penalty. That’s a huge let-off for Belgium. Kompany got very lucky.”

58| Penalty appeal! And that will be talked about long into the night. Vincent Kompany slides in on Gabriel Jesus right on the byline and the Manchester City forward hits the deck.

It looks a very good shout but the referee sends it to VAR and nothing is given. Looked a penalty.

55| Ooof! Neymar embarrasses himself with a pathetic dive inside the penalty area and referee Milorad Mazic tells him to get up. I don’t think Neymar will ever forget the look of disgust on Mazic’s face. Quite rightly so.

The rest of the Brazil players and coach aren’t much better when making the VAR gesture.

53| Marcelo whips one right down the corridor of uncertainty but nobody took the gamble in the middle.

50| Brazil have injected a bit more speed into their play but nothing to cause Belgium too much concern. It looks like Roberto Firmino’s arrival has seen Gabriel Jesus drift out wide with Neymar more central.

48| Alderweireld booked straight after the break for blocking Paulinho. Quite a cynical challenge but I suspect the caution won’t concern him if they make the semi-finals.

BRAZIL 0-2 BELGIUM

45| Right, we’re back underway. Brazil make a change with Roberto Firmino replacing Willian. About time too…

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Paddy| Fellaini running the show and Martinez is a tactical genius. Hazard, Lukaku and De Bruyne have also been decent…

Jamie| Belgium have some great players & have been fantastic in that first half, but Martinez has been as influential as any of them. The positions of Lukaku & KDB instrumental, both have been outstanding!

Tony| Firmino the most obvious substitution at this World Cup. Mad that he isn’t starting. As good as Jesus is he’s not working as a focal point in this team. (I know this means Jesus will now score seven but still).

Paddy| Just goes to show again how good England are, they only conceded one against Belgium and they weren’t even trying to win the game.

Like your thinking, Paddy. It’s still coming home.

BRAZIL 0-2 BELGIUM

HT| Belgium survive a late Neymar dive to take a commanding two-goal lead in with them at the break. He looks frustrated, as do the entire Brazil side, who just can’t create any clear-cut chances.

Belgium deservedly ahead. Roberto Martinez, eh? Not so funny now.

45| Romelu Lukaku is on fire at the moment. He’s virtually unplayable. OK, he’s not scored too many, but his runs, strength and vision has been excellent.

43| Alisson’s turn to make a stop. He tips Kevin De Bruyne’s free-kick over the bar. Nacer Chadli trots over to take it and Vincent Kompany nearly squeezes it in at the near post. Shambolic defending.

40| A couple of crucial saves from Thibaut Courtois keep Brazil at bay. The first denies a signature Philippe Coutinho strike from outside the box and the second was from Neymar. Top work from the Chelsea goalkeeper.

37| Gabriel Jesus, who I can’t understand for the life of me starts ahead of Roberto Firmino, drifts off Vincent Kompany and sends a free header high and wide.

35| Belgium really do look like the real deal. Surely they couldn’t join Germany in the 7-1 club, could they?

33| Brazil have won just one of the 11 World Cup games in which they’ve been 2+ goals behind; vs Sweden in the third-place playoff in 1938 (0-2 down, 4-2 win).

BRAZIL 0-2 BELGIUM | DE BRUYNE

31| Oh. My. Word. Kevin De Bruyne with an absolute rocket to double Belgium’s lead. That was devastating.

Lukaku shows incredible pace, power and determination in the build-up and threads it over to De Bruyne, who drives inside before rifling it home from 20 yards.

Manchester City and Manchester United working in perfect harmony. What a time be alive…

30| We’ve reached the half-hour mark and Martinez will be delighted with his side. Brazil aren’t clicking with the same fluidity and their best chances are coming from set-pieces.

Speaking of set-pieces, here’s another. Willian steps up from the right touchline… blocked! Fernandinho smacks it from distance but Witsel got his body in the way.

28| Brazil are currently a man down while Neymar receives a bit of spray on his ankle. Presumably that’s for an injury rather than to keep the mosquitos away. He’s fine.

25| Save! Is there a better attacking left-back than Marcelo? He drives forward and unleashes a powerful effort that Courtois parries away.

23| Romelu Lukaku embarrasses Miranda with a couple of stepovers before knocking it through the defenders legs. Thiago Silva is alert to the danger and clears behind for a corner, which came to nothing.

20| This is exactly the game I wanted to see. Skills, passing, shooting and Marouane Fellaini trundling around in the middle of everything. Can’t knock him though, he won the corner!

18| Belgium might be ahead, but they look all over the place at the back. More goals incoming, folks. Guaranteed.

15| Fernandinho is only the second Brazilian to score an own goal in a World Cup match, after Marcelo in 2014 (vs Croatia). Grim.

BRAZIL 0-1 BELGIUM | FERNANDINHO OG

13| And there’s the breakthrough! Belgium are ahead against the run of play!

Marouane Fellaini’s comical long-ranger takes a deflection and rolls away for a corner. Nacer Chadli delivers from the left and Fernandinho diverts it beyond Alisson.

Romelu Lukaku claimed it but wasn’t within two-yards of the ball. Trying to take Harry Kane’s Golden Boot are we, Romelu?

11| Remember when I said that it was even here in Kazan? Not anymore. Brazil have wave after wave of attack but the ball doesn’t quite drop for them.

8| Marcelo, back from injury, wastes no time in winning a corner. Woodwork! Thiago Silva arrives unmarked and uses his thigh to divert it towards goal. Very, very close to the opener.

5| Very steady start from both sides with Belgium JUST shading the possession stats. Fellaini gives Neymar an easy bash around the halfway line. Interestingly, the Brazil star didn’t roll around like there was a sniper in the building.

3| Kevin De Bruyne has an early sighter but he’s dragged it tamely wide of the goal. Just a sign that the Manchester City star will operate in a more advanced role.

2| We’ve got the dulcet tones of Jonathan Pearce and Danny Murphy for tonight’s clash. Best to locate the ‘mute’ button early.

BRAZIL 0-0 BELGIUM

1| OK, we’re underway here at the Kazan Arena. This has all the makings of the best match of the 2018 World Cup. Sit back, relax and enjoy.

HERE THEY COME!

18:55| And here come the boys. Eden Hazard and Miranda lead out the sides to a prominently gold Kazan Arena.

Anthems coming up. I will just note that BBC commentator just called this an “FA Cup quarter-final.” Where does he think he is?!

HARD TO CALL…

18:53| I will now be accepting your predictions. It’s second vs third in the official FIFA rankings, but I’ll go for Brazil to outshine the Golden Generation…

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Muss: Belgium starting Marouane Fellaini against Brazil in a World Cup Quarter Final. The disrespect!

Johnny: Belgium are going to struggle tonight. Brazil are better at the back than they’ve been given credit for & with Fernandinho in the side they’ll be almost impossible to break down and they’ll have a beast of an engine in the middle of the pitch to drive forward with.

Nadine: Really looking forward to this game. Should be brilliant. Let’s hope Neymar manages to stay on his feet & not roll & roll about in the pitch.

‘SHOULD BE A CRACKER’

18:49| BBC pundit Alan Shearer: “It should be a cracker, two of the big favourites for the tournament, both unbeaten. Belgium had an incredible comeback in the last game, they were in desperate trouble but they showed great character in coming back. That has to give them huge confidence.

“Marouane Fellaini will give Belgium solidity, he will sit in midfield with Alex Witsel. It also frees up Kevin de Bruyne to play forwards and find those passes that we see at Manchester City every week.”

RECORD

18:45| Belgium are unbeaten in their last 23 matches (W18 D5 L0); a national record and the longest current run of any team left in the 2018 World Cup.

Now that’s a statistic I can get on board with.

NEYMAR

18:43| I don’t know how they’ve worked this out, but spread betting firm Sporting Index predict that Neymar will win five free-kicks tonight…

The boffins say the ten fouls committed on Neymar was the most any player had been fouled at a World Cup since Alan Shearer in 1998.

“In tonight’s game against Belgium we predict more of the same, with the PSG forward expected to win five free-kicks during the quarter-final encounter in Kazan,” said Neville Burdock, head of trading at Sporting Index.

ALLI ARE YOU OK…

18:35| Dele Alli could be the key to England’s World Cup quarter-final against Sweden, that’s what Gareth Southgate has hinted.

“In terms of Dele, I thought his performance against Tunisia was as good as he’s had since I’ve been England manager. He’s at his best making those forward runs and really threatening the opponents with those runs from midfield,” said Southgate.

“Maybe we need to encourage him a little bit more to get into those areas where I think his strengths lie and where he can have the biggest impact on the game. That’s something we’ve got to think about tactically. We want to create more clear chances and I think we can create more. Dele is a player who gives us a different option to do that.”

RIGHT…

18:30| I’m almost lost for words with this story. Roberto Martinez has insisted he is fully focused on Belgium’s World Cup quarter-final against Brazil, despite rumours linking him with the Spain national job.

Spain are to appoint a new full-time manager after sacking Julen Lopetegui on the eve of the tournament with the former Everton and Wigan boss a candidate.

“I understand the question but I think now the only thing that matters is the quarter-finals of the World Cup,” said Martinez.

He didn’t actually rule it out…

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Benjamin: Smart of Brazil to start Fernandinho against Belgium. 9 or 11 Belgium players play in England, so he has experience against them.

Karl: Witsel does nothing for the team. I’ve no idea how he gets ahead of Dembele. Be good to see Kevin De Bruyne further forward. Gabriel Jesus will struggle against that back three..

Deco: Belgium are serial bottlers. There’s no way they beat Brazil, France and whoever in the final. They’ll get found out.

TEAM NEWS | BELGIUM

18:20| Belgium manager Roberto Martinez has brought Nacer Chadli and Marouane Fellaini, who both scored as substitutes against Japan in the round of 16, into his starting line-up.

Yannick Carrasco and Dries Mertens make way for the midfield duo, with Fellaini’s inclusion alongside Axel Witsel in front of the back four allowing playmaker Kevin De Bruyne to move into a more advanced position.

TEAM NEWS | BRAZIL

18:15| Marcelo returns to the Brazil side after missing the round of 16 match against Mexico because of back spasms, with Filipe Luis making way at left back.

With defensive midfielder Casemiro out after picking up a second yellow card of the tournament against the Mexicans, Brazil coach Tite has, as expected, brought Fernandinho into his starting line-up in the holding role.

Danilo was ruled out of the rest of the tournament by an ankle problem yesterday, but Fagner has played the last three matches since the right back was injured in Brazil’s opener against Switzerland.

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN

18:10: I understand that expectations surrounding the Belgium playmaker are so incredibly high, but Kevin De Bruyne is having a quiet World Cup.

The midfield maestro has not been able to replicate his scintillating Manchester City form in Russia. He was directly involved in nearly a quarter of Manchester City’s 106 goals last term.

He’s the creative heart of Pep Guardiola’s team, but Roberto Martinez has played him in central midfield with anchor Axel Witsel, a deeper role that has not allowed him the freedom to get into forward positions.

Will the handbrake come off tonight with Marouane Fellaini starting?

ACID TEST

18:05: Belgium’s so-called Golden Generation headed for Russia as one of the favourites to return with the trophy and although they needed every ounce of resolve at their disposal to fight their way back from disaster against Japan in the last 16, they remain on course.

However, a squad boasting the individual talent of Thibaut Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku simply cannot afford to give Brazil a head start in Kazan if they are to fulfil their dream.

WHAT HAPPENED EARLIER…

18:00: Not a great deal in all honesty.

Raphael Varane’s glancing header and a goalkeeping blunder that gifted Antoine Griezmann a soft goal gave France a 2-0 victory over Uruguay.

Uruguay went into the game without Edinson Cavani, but I’m not convinced that was entirely to blame.

BRAZIL vs BELGIUM

17:55: And here we are, earlier than expected. Brazil make two changes with Fernandinho and Marcelo replacing suspended Casemiro and Felipe Luis.

Roberto Martinez also shuffles his pack with Nacer Chadli and Fellaini replacing Mertens and Carrasco.

Brazil XI: Alisson, Fagner, Thiago Silva, Miranda, Marcelo, Paulinho, Fernandinho, Willian, Coutinho, Neymar, Gabriel Jesus.

Subs: Cassio, Pedro Geromel, Filipe Luis, Douglas Costa, Renato Augusto, Marquinhos, Fred, Firmino, Taison, Ederson.

Belgium XI: Courtois, Alderweireld, Kompany, Vertonghen, Meunier, Fellaini, Witsel, Chadli, De Bruyne, Lukaku, Eden Hazard.

Subs: Mignolet, Vermaelen, Carrasco, Mertens, Thorgan Hazard, Tielemans, Januzaj, Dembele, Boyata, Batshuayi, Dendoncker, Casteels.

Referee: Milorad Mazic

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Andy: First major test for Brazil. Belgium have more than enough quality to turn them over. Intriguing game. Can see it going the full distance.

Joseph: Brazil unbeaten in their last 15 games Belgium unbeaten in their last 23 games!

Ant: The winner of Brazil vs Belgium will probably win the whole thing. I guess Croatia are probably the best all-around team remaining.

Have you not been listening, Ant? It’s coming home!

THE NEYMAR CONUNDRUM

17:45: Neymar is making the headlines, but NOT for his obvious talent.

We all know that Neymar is a wonderful footballer and his skills deserve to be displayed on the biggest stage of all.

However, the PSG star’s histrionics are as much a part of his game as his breathtaking ability and the unedifying sight of him rolling around theatrically on the floor after Mexico midfielder Miguel Layun had appeared to step on his ankle drew stinging criticism.

Any repeat would take some of the gloss of what should be the perfect showcase for the world’s most expensive player.

HAVE YOUR SAY

17:30: If you want to vent your frustrations, or discuss any issues in the world of football (within reason), then get in touch!

You can either comment at the bottom of the page or contact me via Twitter using the hashtag #ExpressSport.

WELCOME

17:25: Hello everyone, welcome to our LIVE coverage of the World Cup.

One down, three remaining…

France are the first nation to book their place in Tuesday’s World Cup semi-final after cruising to victory over Uruguay.

In fact, it was so obvious that France were going to win that defender Jose Gimenez was in tears BEFORE the final whistle!

Anyway, we’re about to find out if it’ll be Belgium or Brazil who join them in the final four.