Brazil favourites in ‘dream’ clash – Belgian coach

Brazil head coach Tite, left, talks to his player Neymar during the round of 16 match between Brazil and Mexico at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Samara Arena, in Samara, Russia, Monday, July 2, 2018.

Brazil were more convincing in their 2-0 win over Mexico in the previous round than Belgium were in overcoming an underrated Japan. “The players who play against him are tough”. “We are going to continue studying them to try and neutralise them and hit them at their weak points”.

Fortunately for the Selecao, Belgium have a poor record against South American sides at the World Cup. Former England worldwide Gary Lineker, in a tweet, wrote, “Neymar has the lowest pain threshold of any player in World Cups since Opta stats began”, in a tongue in cheek comment. Before the World Cup begins, though, one wishes to see the best teams fight it out against each other. “Two teams that play handsome football”.

Brazil, a group victor, is coming off a 2-0 win against Mexico, winning its third straight match by that scoreline, with Neymar leading the way.

Belgium’s quarter-final battle with Brazil will be a classic encounter between an unstoppable force and an immovable object when the tournament’s joint best defence comes up against its most free-scoring attack in Kazan on Friday. I think Brazil should take advantage of the Belgium defence because right now it seems a little shaky, the two goals by Japan proving this.

A Belgium team starring Chelsea’s Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City and Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku, were tipped by many pundits as outsiders to win their first-ever World Cup. The difference in quality at the back should make all the difference to the final result as well though, which is where Brazil should triumph eventually.

“There is something special in this squad, no doubt about it”, said the Spaniard.

Belgium defender Vincent Kompany he was focusing on their upcoming game with Brazil and not thinking about Brazil forward Neymar’s behaviour on the pitch. Both teams are ranked high on the Federation Internationale de Football Association list, with Brazil in second place, and Belgium one spot behind them in third.

For Fernandinho, the match will offer a chance to banish the demons from his last starting appearance at a World Cup – the 7-1 humiliation to eventual champions Germany in the 2014 semi-finals on home soil.

‘We knew what would get thrown at us and that was kind of silly from him [Urtasun].

Brazil are priced at 23/20 to win the match in 90 minutes, with Belgium available at 13/5 and the draw on offer at 12/5.