Martínez’s high scorers meet Tite’s mean defence
To get past Belgium in the quarterfinals at the FIFA World Cup, Brazil have to do something they have not been able to do since they last won the tournament in 2002: overcome European opposition in the knockout stages.
Since beating Germany 2-0 in the 2002 World Cup final, the five-time winner have been eliminated by European sides in the three subsequent competitions. Brazil lost to France and the Netherlands in the quarterfinals of the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, and were humiliated 7-1 by Germany in the semifinals four years ago at home.
Fortunately for the Selecao, Belgium have a poor record against South American sides at the World Cup. Not only have Belgium not won any of its games against South American teams in the knockout stages, they have not even managed to score a goal. Most recently, Belgium lost 1-0 to Argentina in the 2014 quarterfinals.
The core of that side remains in place in Russia, where Belgium have won all four of their matches, including coming back from 2-0 down to beat Japan in the round of 16 with a thrilling counterattack in the final seconds of injury time. Everyone knew about the array of talent running through the Belgium side, from Thibaut Courtois in goal to Kevin De Bruyne in midfield and Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku up front. The main questions following disappointing defeats in the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 European Championship centered on the team’s character.
That 3-2 victory over Japan was the first time a team has overcome a two-goal deficit to win outright since West Germany beat England in 1970, and the first to do it in regulation since Portugal came from three down to beat North Korea in 1966. It has fuelled confidence inside the Belgium camp that it can deal with adversity and make the World Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1986.
“Maybe it’s this sort of match that we needed for the future,” said Hazard, the captain.
Coach Roberto Martínez won praise for his substitutions, with both Marouane Fellaini and Nacer Chadli
Bscoring, the latter with practically the last kick of the match. “You have to find solutions, you have to find reaction, but what you have to find more than anything is the desire and togetherness of a group of players, that they are desperate to perform,” Martínez said. Brazil coach Tite dismissed talk that his team is the favourite to win the match against Belgium, let alone the World Cup. “Everything is open, up for grabs,” he said. The winner will play France or Uruguay in the semifinals in St Petersburg on Tuesday.