Neymar and his diving antics are going home. Belgium is through to the semifinals with a 2-1 win over Brazil on Friday, ensuring the 2018 World Cup champion will be European. And the Brazil vs Belgium highlights will show just how much the Red Devils deserved to advance at the expense of the Seleção.
Belgium scored two first-half goals and held off a determined effort late to advance to the semifinals, where France awaits. France beat Uruguay 2-0 in the other quarterfinal on Friday.
Belgium’s first goal was an own goal but Kevin De Bruyne’s laser into the far corner was a deserved winner. Renato Augusto pulled one back for Brazil, which couldn’t complete a rally similar to the one Belgium pulled off against Japan in the Round of 16.
Brazil peppered 26 shots toward Thibaut Courtois’ goal, nine of which were on target. The Seleção had 57 percent possession but couldn’t find an equalizer.
Let’s get to the Brazil vs Belgium highlights.
Brazil vs Belgium Highlights — First Half
Brazil nearly took an early lead when a corner kick caromed awkwardly off Thiago Silva and then off the post before Belgium keeper Thibaut Courtois corralled the ball. Not long later, misfortune struck Brazil on another corner kick, only this time at the other end of the pitch.
A corner kick from Nacer Chadli ricocheted off Fernandinho and into the back of his own net in the 13th minute for the game’s opening goal.
Fernandinho replaces Casemiro (yellow card suspension).
Not off to the best start. pic.twitter.com/yI9yY67TYAVia: @TelemundoSports
— The18 (@the18com) July 6, 2018
It was the 11th own goal of the 2018 tournament, a World Cup record.
Own goal. Again. This game has a high Craziness Potential.
— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) July 6, 2018
Belgium struck again with a brilliant counterattack, once again showing how clinical the Red Devils can be in open space. To score the winner against Japan in the Round of 16, Romelu Lukaku made a brilliant dummy on a counter attack. This time Lukaku started the play before laying off to Kevin De Bruyne, who finished things off with a laser into the bottom left corner.
#MundialTelemundo ¿Definitivo? Zapatazo de @DeBruyneKev y #BEL aumenta la ventaja sobre #BRA . Así lo narró @AndresCantorGOL pic.twitter.com/kcVyHpOwRP
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 6, 2018
Brazil vs Belgium Highlights —Second Half
The second half began with Neymar trying to draw a penalty with a pitiful dive. Brazil’s star was fortunate not to receive a yellow card for a dive, which would have suspended him for a potential semifinal, though it doesn’t matter now.
#MundialTelemundo ¿ Penal sobre @neymarjr ? ¡Sigue, sigue! dice el casaca 10 de #BRA pic.twitter.com/0T82AVKaEH
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 6, 2018
In the 57th minute, the referee opted against giving Gabriel Jesus a penalty after Vincent Kompany slid into him in the box as the ball was going out of bounds.
The tackle came right after Jesus nutmegged Jan Vertonghen.
Dear Gabriel Jesus,
Jan Vertonghen has a family and friends. Please keep this in mind next time you consider doing this.With love,
Jimmy pic.twitter.com/pdm0v0Wk3c
— Jimmy Conrad (@JimmyConrad) July 6, 2018
Ultimately, VAR ruled it was not a penalty kick and play resumed.
Brazil finally pulled one back in the 76th minute when Renato Augusto, who had just come onto the pitch, nodded home a chip from Philippe Coutinho.
Everything about this goal is beautiful from #BRA.
— The18 (@the18com) July 6, 2018
Renato Augusto nearly equalized in the 80th minute with a clean look at goal, but he missed the target wide. In the 84th minute it was Coutinho’s turn to shank a great opportunity after Bobby Firmino and Neymar combined to break down the Belgian defense.
Coutinho misses a HUGE chance to pull Brazil level! pic.twitter.com/eZiuCmU6q3
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 6, 2018
Neymar tried to curl in a shot in the 94th minute but Courtois was equal to the task, though the shot may have been too high anyway.
#MundialTelemundo ¡La atajada que vale un boleto a semifinales! Thibaut Courtouis mantuvo en la pelea a #BEL ante #BRA pic.twitter.com/dciNqVJvpy
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 6, 2018