Brazil -FIFA Ranking 2nd: Belgium -FIFA Ranking 3rd
Five times champions and all time favorite in World Club Brazil in HEXA mission is now set for a quarter final date with European Power House Belgium.
An assembly of leading players of European leagues Belgium was tagged as dark horse of FIFA World Cup 2018. Playing wonderfully aggressive football they topped group F above one of the tournament favorites England. From their performance in the tournament so far many have started considering as strong contender for the Championship.
On the other hand for a team which never consider anything less than champion in any world event Brazil building on the ruins of World Cup 2014 German avalanche of 7-1 has played wonderfully attractive football over the past two years.
Brazil is ranked 2 in FIFA ranking. They were not stretched so far playing four games in the tournament winning the each of the last three 2-0. Brazil plays 3rd FIFA ranked team Belgium in the Quarter finals. Brazil looked regaining Samba tune steadily match after match. They won comfortably against strong Mexico 2-0 riding on Neymarmagic. Belgium on the other hand huffed and puffed to overcome strong challenge of Blue Samurai Japan. Till almost two third of the match, it looked like Belgium exiting trailing behind 2-0. But fast and furious Belgium rebounded in the last 25 minutes scoring three spectacular goals. The victory was snatched away from the jaws of Japanese (3-2).
Irrespective of whatever has happened so far the quarter finals of Brazil and Belgium is expected to be a thriller.
Whatever is the state of Brazil no team ever feels comfortable playing against Brazil. We had earlier seen reluctance among England and Belgium for winning their encounter in strategy for avoiding Brazil. But it became inevitable. Unfortunately one better performing team would leave the scene before the final.
How Will Be The Match?
Belgium and Brazil remains unbeaten in the tournament. Belgium scored 12 goals and conceded 4 so far. Brazil on the other hand scored 7 and conceded only one. So far no team went into all out attack against Brazil and kept their defense packed. But Brazil is attacking from different direction managed to crack all defense and won three matches by 2-0 margin against Costa Rica, Serbia and Mexico. Belgium won 3-0 against Panama, 5-2 against Tunisia and 1-0 against England. Then it survived Janaese scare 3-2. Tunisia and Japan exposed the vulnerability of Belgian defense. Very talented Brazil would exploit. No doubt Belgium has world class front line (Lukau and Hazard).De Bruyen ,Mortens are dynamic. They will definitely try to crack Brazil defense which so far proved impregnable .Thiago Silva and Miranda so far repulsed everything keeping Alliison almost on holiday. Belgian defence may be caught napping from fast counter attack when Brazil four in 6 -7 players to punch on half chances .Neymar to Brazil is doing what Messi could not do at all for Argentina and Rnaldo could not consistently do for Portugal. It will be a test of Brazilian defence against Lukaku and Hazard. On the other hand, Belgium has to contain the creative brilliance of Neymar ,Coutinho , Willan and Paulinho.
In this wide open world cup of fluctuating fortune where football has become a game of glorious uncertainty like cricket all now hesitates to forecast. But in our opinion Brazil with all round brilliance is looking confident. The encounter may see many goals. But my money will be Brazil winning and winning big.
Probable Squad:
Brazil; Allision , Marcello , Thiago Silva , Miranda , Fagnar , Casimero, Willian, Cautinho , Paulinho , Neymar and Jesus
Belgium:Courtios, Vermaelen, Kompany, Alderweireld, Meanier , De Bruyen, Witsel, Carrsco, Mortens , E Hazard and Lukaku.
These two teams should have met in the finals. But Belgium possibly lost the tricks with England in the last group match. May be who knows England may be caught in their own trap against Columbia today.
BDST: 1626 HRS, JUL 05, 2018
AH
