Belgium braces for the brilliance of Brazil

KAZAN, Russia: 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 quarterfinal in Kazan tomorrow morning.

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 arrives 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 20 defeat that cemented Tite’s side as favourite to claim a recordextending sixth World Cup trophy.

It was hardly such smooth sailing for the Belgians, who suffered a huge scare in their lastgasp 32 win over Japan.

But their marauding finish, banging in three consecutive goals late in the tie to erase a 20 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.

Its win over Mexico showed textbook defending from the central pairing of Thiago Silva and Miranda, assisted by fullbacks 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.

Whoever prevails will face the winner of tomorrow’s first

quarterfinal between fleetfooted France and the tournament’s jointmeanest defender, Uruguay.

The South Americans kept Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo at bay in their 21 last16 win, and that goal conceded was the only one against them so far in Russia — a defensive feat matched only by Brazil.

But France banged in four goals in its last16 game against Argentina, and will be hoping its formidable attacking trio of Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud and Kylian Mbappe can turn it on again at the Nizhny Novgorod stadium.

Uruguay, though, looks relaxed and its experienced central defenders, Jose Gimenez and Diego Godin, are relishing the chance to foil both Mbappe and their friend and Atletico Madrid teammate Griezmann.

With an impressive strike partnership of their own in Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani, the Uruguayans believe they can surpass their most recent best of a semifinal in 2010 — though Cavani is sweating on a calf injury that may keep him out. — Reuters

MOSCOW: Fifa says it ‘‘strongly rebukes’’ Argentina great Diego Maradona’s comments that England’s win over Colombia was a robbery and that referee Mark Geiger was not up to the task.

‘‘Following comments made by Diego Armando Maradona . . . Fifa strongly rebukes the criticism of the performance of the match officials which it considers to have been positive in a tough and highly emotional match,’’ the global football body said in a statement.

‘‘It also considers the additional comments and insinuations made as being entirely inappropriate and completely unfounded.’’

England won the round of 16 match on penalties following 120 minutes marred by squabbling, protests to the referee, playacting and feigning injury.

Fifa said it was ‘‘doing everything within its power to ensure principles of fair play, integrity and respect are at the forefront of this World Cup and how the organisation is now run.’’

In that context, Fifa said it was ‘‘extremely sorry to read such declarations from a player who has written the history of our game’’.

Maradona said England’s win was a ‘‘monumental robbery’’ and that Geiger ‘‘shouldn’t be given a match of this magnitude.’’

He added: ‘‘Geiger, an American — what a coincidence.’’ — Reuters