FIFA World Cup 2018: End of road for Americas: Belgium shocks Brazil
The FIFA World Cup 2018 will be all European affair as the last of two South American challengers, including five times World Cup champion Brazil, and Uruguay, made exit from the biggest soccer event.
In the first two quarter-finals played on Friday, five times World Cup champions Brazil lost to Belgium 1-2 while pre-tournament favourites France defeated Uruguay 2-0 on a day that belonged to the European teams.
Besides Brazil and Uruguay, another main contender for the FIFA World Cup title Argentina had already made its exit in the round of 16.
Buyoed by likes of Neymar, Phillipe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino, Brazil did try to salvage some of its pride in the later stages of the game through a goal by Renato Augusto in the 75th minute, it could not overcome the 0-2 deficit of the first half.
Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard may not have been among goals for the European challengers Belgium but Fernandinho (13th minute) and Kevin De Bruyne (31st minute) had virtually taken the fight out of the five time World Cup champions and the strongest South American hope in Russia.
Belgium have reached the World Cup last four round only for the second time in the history. Its previous entry in 1986 was halted by Argentina.
What happened today was nothing new for Brazil as in each of the last four editions of the World Cup, Brazil has lost to European teams in the knock out stage.
Interestingly, in this World Cup, Belgium has also created a record of sorts as it already has nine different scorers in the World Cup. And this excludes self goals.
The previous record of different goal scorers in a single World Cup stood in the name of Italy (2006) and France (1982) with 10 goal scorers each.
Belgium broke out in huge celebrations after its splendid win today. The loss today not only shocked the Brazilian fans but also brought to an end antics of Neymar who had in first four games of this World Cup been on the ground for almost 14 minutes holding world attention.It was not his day.
