BRAZIL v BELGIUM

7pm KAZAN, LIVE ON RTÉ2/BBC 1

STRENGTHS

THEY haven’t hit the heights in terms of goals and excitement but it’s not about how you start — it’s how you finish. Brazil have shown doggedness and belief to grind out victories in the group games against Costa Rica and Serbia, despite not being at their best. GOING forwards they have it all: power in Romelu Lukaku, pace in Eden Hazard, trickery in Dries Mertens. The comeback against Japan shows that after years of bottling it at tournaments, they now have the courage and character to go all the way. SO far, it’s Neymar. He is giving Brazil a bad name with his diving. It’s time he stepped up and shone.

WEAKNESSESS

NOT the strongest at the back. They look susceptible to conceding soft goals, and now they face a fearsome attack.