Martinez: Playing Brazil a dream for Belgium

Red Devils’ coach reckons quarter-final showdown could well be the ‘match of the tournament’

They are not the prettiest side, but Sweden are extremely effective and happy to play the role of underdog, having seen off the Dutch and Italy in qualifying and Germany in the group stages.

Freed from the curse of the penalty shoot-out after they beat Colombia from the spot, England will be favourites to reach a first World Cup semi-final since 1990.

Russia v Croatia (Saturday 10pm, Sochi)

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Hosts Russia have delighted their public by surpassing all expectations to make it to the last eight thanks to a stunning penalty shoot-out elimination of 2010 winners Spain.

Arguably the best performers of the group stage, luck often has not accompanied Croatia in the knockouts, but, having bounced back from Luka Modric’s missed penalty four minutes from the end of extra-time in the last 16, their time may have truly come.

Brazil are the favourites in what Belgium coach Roberto Martinez described as a “dream match” for his players when the two countries meet in a World Cup quarter-final in Kazan on Friday.

“These two teams are constructed to score and to win matches. Against Brazil, it will not be about ball possession, but what you do with it. That’s what this World Cup is all about,” the Spaniard told Belgian media yesterday.

“We know what we are capable of but Brazil are the favourites, putting us into a different role,” he added.

“But it’s a dream match for our players, they were born to play in a match like this. Naturally we want to win but we are not expected to and that important difference.”

Martinez saw his side rally from the brink of elimination to snatch a last-gasp 3-2 win over Japan in the Round of 16 on Monday, booking a meeting with the five-time World Cup winners.

Japan’s pressing tactics

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At times in Rostov-on-Don, Belgium looked hamstrung by Japan’s pressing tactics and needed more than an hour to unshackle themselves and set about a dramatic come-frombehind victory after falling 2-0 down. For Friday’s match, the tactics might be simpler.

“Against a team like Brazil, you must attack and defend with 11 players. We are not talking about a system but understanding what we must do when we have possession,” the coach added.

“I don’t think it will be a game with many secrets. We have to defend as well as we can and then cause them pain when we have the ball. It can be that simple and this squad is ready for that.”