Belgium brazes for Brazil challenge

At a World Cup rocked repeatedly by the fall of giants, Brazil and Belgium have managed to hold firm in the maelstrom and will meet in a blockbuster quarter-final in Kazan on Friday.

Most pre-tournament modelling has been put through the shredder by the eliminations of traditional heavyweights like Germany and Spain. However, the clash of the fancied South Americans and Belgium’s ‘Golden Generation’ has given the most casual of analysts reason to feel smug that, at least, they got one thing right in their scenario plotting. 

The teams have progressed through different means but each arrive with confidence after rousing wins in their last starts. 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 favourite to claim a record-extending sixth World Cup trophy. It was hardly such smooth sailing for the Belgians, who suffered a huge scare in their last-gasp 3-2 win over Japan. But their marauding finish, banging in three consecutive goals late in the tie to erase a 0-2 deficit, was a sobering reminder of the firepower at Roberto Martinez’s disposal. 

Against Brazil, however, Belgium’s formidable attack featuring captain Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku may be hard pressed to break down a stingy defence which has conceded one goal in its four matches at the tournament, and a total of six from its past 25. Its win over Mexico showed textbook defending from the central pairing of Thiago Silva and Miranda, assisted by full backs Fagner and Filipe Luis. If there is one glimmer of hope for Belgium, it might be the suspension of holding midfielder Casemiro, who picked up his second yellow card during the Mexico game. 

The Real Madrid man has been key to Brazil’s structure, so his likely replacement, the 33-year-old Fernandinho of Manchester City, will have big shoes to fill. Although Luis put in a solid display against Mexico, Tite may be tempted to recall his preferred left back Marcelo, who missed the match with a back injury but returned to training. 

At the other end, Brazil’s attack has clicked after a disappointing start to the tournament, and even Neymar’s much-criticised histrionics could not completely overshadow a dominant performance against Mexico. It will look to exploit a Belgium defence that has let through four goals and has a trio of big centre backs that may be exposed for pace by the nippy Neymar, Willian and Philippe Coutinho. 

Belgium, bidding to reach its first semi-finals since 1986 in Mexico, faces a huge challenge to knock off Tite’s men but after surviving Japan, it already feels it is playing with house money. “We can enjoy it from the first minute,” Martinez said. “I don’t think anyone expects us to go through to the semi-finals.”

Brazil has named Miranda as its captain for the World Cup quarter-final against Belgium. Coach Tite is sticking with his policy of rotating the captaincy and the 33-year old Inter Milan player will become the fourth man to wear the captain’s armband in Russia.

Eden Hazard leads his team into Friday’s World Cup quarter-final match against Brazil on a stage built to showcase his talent but whether Belgium get the full benefit of his mercurial ability is to be seen.

Hazard is undoubtedly one of the stars of the tournament in Russia and at 27-years-old, wearing the captain’s armband, at the peak of his powers. But there is always a nagging doubt that when the going gets tough, the attacking midfielder might once again prove anonymous. It happened at the last World Cup in Brazil and two years ago at the European Championship when Belgium’s ‘golden generation’ stood on the brink of delivering on their potential but then imploded. In the 2014 quarter-final against Argentina, he drifted out of the game and was replaced after 75 ineffective minutes as Lionel Messi won their headto-head in a 1-0 Argentina victory. Two years later, the stage was set for him to lead Belgium past outsider Wales in the Euro quarter-finals but, in the face of determined defending, he faded when it mattered in a shock 1-3 loss. Hazard is admired for his attacking flair, ability to run at defences and finishing but it is his maverick genius that sets him apart. 

“Ice baths, massages, he doesn’t really do all that stuff,” team mate Marouane Fellaini in a recent TV documentary on Hazard. Michy Batshuayi told of his amazement when Hazard went to the Chelsea gym for the first time — four years after he first signed for the club. “I told him recently that he must thank God for the talent he has been given. He answered, ‘Maybe I should thank him a little’,” recalled former club mate Demba Ba. 

It all comes easy to Hazard, rarely bothered by the pressure and expectation. That supposed indifference was often a cause of irritation for managers like Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte. But Belgium see what he is capable of and have placed their faith firmly in him. “He’s a not a natural leader like Kompany but rather a leader who shows through example on the field,” Thomas Meunier said last month. Ominously for Brazil, his team mates believe Hazard is in the form of his life. 

“I’ve known him for years and the way he has trained and played over the last weeks has been exceptional,” said goalkeeper Thibault Courtois.