world cup

Belgium eliminates Brazil from World Cup to reach semifinals

29 Comments
By ROB HARRIS

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29 Comments
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He's going home, he's going home

Neymar's going home!

The look of utter disdain on the ref's face when Neymar flung himself to the pitch in the second half was priceless.

Roberto Martinez, tactical genius. Who'd have thought it? Yet another sign that the Apocalypse is imminent.

The Ginger Prince, Big Rom and Eden Hazard were superb in the first half. Hazard completely overshadowed Neymar and KdB's winning goal was a thing of stunning beauty. A great game and the best team won. France vs Belgium should be an absolute cracker.

This is the best World Cup since 1998. Fantastic football and great entertainment.

12 ( +13 / -1 )

Well done Belgium! Thoroughly deserved. Would be nice to see them hold the Cup for the first time.

Neymar pretty much spent the entire world cup writhing around on the ground like a worm! Happy we dont have to watch him any more.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

Brazil was ranked #2 in the world, Belgium #3. I'm not sure a win by Belgium can really be called "shocking." A slight upset? Maybe.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

Good riddance to Neymar and the rest of the Brazililan cheats!

Amen to that! The Brazil team need to have a long, hard look at how they approach football games. Neymar & co. lost the PR battle in Russia, refs weren't falling for their BS even when VAR might have gotten them a decision. I hope the World Cup & VAR heralds the beginning of the end for teams that rely on the dark arts to con match officials.

Hazard completely overshadowed Neymar

Bad news for Chelsea fans, he's gonna be top of everyone's shopping list this summer.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

A correction for the article, it is not the third time the semifinals has been all-European, it is actually the fifth, it also happened in 1934 and 1966.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Great job Belgium. Courtois had an unavailable second half. No more Neymar antics.

Unbelievable! Samurai Blue actually pushed Belgium far more than Brazil, and were unlucky not to win. This could have been Japan in the Semi. Next time!!

Unbelievable, typical Ganbare! Turning this into Japan football again. I it even possible for to acknowledge other teams?

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Well, the day is done and the South Americans are out. Good to see Brazil get stuffed. Their self-assurance and silly one-name handles are annoying.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Loved that second Belgian goal.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Good riddance to Neymar and the rest of the Brazililan cheats!

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Good riddance to Neymar.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

South American football didn’t cover itself in glory in this competition.

Neymar arguably the most annoying player in the World Cup in a very competitive field.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

I thought Hazard was sublime (Lukaku had a 'good' game but not great. not sure why everyone's talking him up tbh?! 6.5-7/10).

Hazard's a more complete (and imo much smarter) player than Neymar who has moments of brilliance but just lacks consistency (often loses the ball & doesnt even bother getting it back). Hazard v Kante, Lukaku v Umtiti and (possibly) Vertonghen v M'bappe should be interesting.

South American sides better do some soul searching after this wc.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Was it an Optical illusion, but were Belg team taller than the Brazilian team ?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

ganbare japan: "Unbelievable! Samurai Blue actually pushed Belgium far more than Brazil, and were unlucky not to win. This could have been Japan in the Semi. Next time!!"

No, it couldn't have been, and obviously wasn't. All we know is that they are not, anymore than Brazil is not, Germany is not, etc. No point talking about what ifs. Glad Brazil is out -- Neymar was over the top with his ridiculousness.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Very impressed. Looking forward to watching plucky Belgium play its older cousin in the semis.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

 Individually the Brazilians were superior and despite the rolling any connoisseur would say that Neymar showed his talent. Belgium survived as a team in the second half as Brazil had most of the chances.

have you ever watched football?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

@mmwkdw

No illusion.

Average heights 183 vs 181 cm.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I’m spending my July in Belgium, about 100m from the French border. Let’s say Tuesday will be quite interesting over here...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Good riddance. Now looking forward to a World Cup winner that hasn't won in at least 20 years (if ever) !

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Beaten by that sudden counter-attack of Belgium showed how fragile was the defense of Japan and Brazil, it will serve to those 2 countries be stronger to find protective tactics. For this World Cup Belgium has a big chance to be champion, they have a full arsenal of surprises.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Great game with the first half for Belgium playing a tactical strong game and the second half for Brazil who found an answer but no second goal despite all the 'open' chances.

The team that wins next Tuesday will finally become the Champ :)

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

France is the best team left and should win this. I am a Brit but this a fact; France is the better team left.

Next WC final will be Canada v USA, the real footballing superpowers.

With Australia in third place.

The Peeping: Soccer Extraordinaire Connoisseur.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Great job Belgium. Courtois had an unavailable second half. No more Neymar antics.

Definitely no football lover posting here. Individually the Brazilians were superior and despite the rolling any connoisseur would say that Neymar showed his talent. Belgium survived as a team in the second half as Brazil had most of the chances.

Brazil also missed injured key players in the back.

Unbelievable! Samurai Blue actually pushed Belgium far more than Brazil, and were unlucky not to win. This could have been Japan in the Semi. Next time!!

Unbelievable, typical Ganbare! Turning this into Japan football again. I it even possible for to acknowledge other teams?

Yep typically Ganbare, but he has right that Japan pushed more and successfully eliminated Kevin de Bruyne and Lukaku for most of the game. That they were unlucky to win is arguable.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Well, the day is done and the South Americans are out. Good to see Brazil get stuffed. Their self-assurance and silly one-name handles are annoying.

No football lover posting here. Does mentioning 'self-assurance' say something about a posters self-esteem?

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Unbelievable! Samurai Blue actually pushed Belgium far more than Brazil, and were unlucky not to win. This could have been Japan in the Semi. Next time!!

-16 ( +4 / -20 )

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