Five-time champion Brazil were knocked out of the World Cup on Friday by Belgium, who have made it to the semi-finals for the first time in 32 years.
Belgium scored the decisive goal on a counterattack just after a corner had been taken by Neymar. Romelu Lukaku surged forward with the ball and Kevin De Bruyne put it in the net to give Belgium a 2-0 lead in the 31st minute.
The opener came after a bit of good fortune. Fernandinho's trailing arm inadvertently helped Belgium captain Vincent Kompany's header land in his own net in the 13th minute.
As Belgium lost cohesiveness in the second half and Brazil's changes stirred the team, substitute Renato Augusto reduced the deficit in the 76th with a header.
But it was too late for Brazil to muster an equaliser as efforts to force the game into extra time were thwarted by Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
With eight shutouts in the last nine games, including three in the four games in Russia, Brazil had the tightest defense of the remaining teams at the World Cup. But it was breached after 13 minutes in Tatarstan.
Fernandinho's own-goal ensured for the first time since March 2017 that Brazil was trailing in a competitive match. Unlike then — an eventual 4-1 victory over Uruguay — there was no comeback.
He was running to catch an early flight home ✈ 😂😂#BRABELpic.twitter.com/DTsmLgWIoz
Germany, Argentina, Spain...and now Brazil. What a World Cup this is shaping out to be 😵 #WorldCup18 #WorldCupRussia2018 #BRABEL #WorldCup #ItsCominHome #threelions pic.twitter.com/ND2WTa9bw2
#BRABEL #Neymar #Hazard #Brasil #Belguim pic.twitter.com/kjsWIseYoN
Humiliated 7-1 by Germany in the semifinals fours year ago on home soil, Brazil didn't even get that far this time. Just like defending champion Germany and Argentina before them, the Kazan Arena is where Brazil's World Cup challenge ended.
For the third time in a World Cup — after 1982 and 2006 — the semifinals will feature only European teams. There is guaranteed to be a fourth straight European team winning the World Cup on July 15 in Moscow.
Not the perfect World cup for South American Giants. 😑😑😑#BRABEL pic.twitter.com/o7BG7Or7GC
Maradona after BELGIUM 🇧🇪 win. #BRABEL #URUFRA #InternationalKissingDay #البرازيل_بلجيكا #فرنسا_الاورغواي #FRAURU #Maradona #Neymar #kevind #kompany #Lukaku #curtois #WorldCup2018 #Avenfieldverdict pic.twitter.com/uIVrSHrCgd
Now this is the REAL shiiiii ...😂😂😂😂😂#WorldCup#BRABEL#WhereFootballLives #NFFCShow#BetheHERO pic.twitter.com/Npvj39QKF1
What a game Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had! The Belgian goal was an impenetrable barrier, courtesy Courtois.
Belgium is now on a 24-match unbeaten streak. Belgium, which finished fourth at the 1986 tournament and has never won the European Championship, will hope its golden generation can deliver its first trophy.
W H A T A M A N 🔥🔥🔥
He deserves a standing ovation for today's awesome performance #BRABEL pic.twitter.com/e07Cxc0p3K17 Shots Fired In The 2nd Half. Only 1 Went Through. Take A Bow For Thibaut Courtois. One Of The Reason #Belgium Won Tonight. 💪👏🙏
#BRABEL #BELBRA #WorldCup #WorldCup2018 #Brazil pic.twitter.com/vyWlyxsjtxCriticised for his playacting, Neymar again went down lightly under minimal contact from Marouane Fellaini at the start of the second half. But as the referee started to seek a video review, Neymar appeared to urge him against it.
Thought so #BRABEL #Belgium #Brazil #neymar #worldcup pic.twitter.com/DshdvwhRgg
When they say neymar is a GOAT this is the goat they're are talking about#BRABEL pic.twitter.com/O5H9One4th
So, Twitter suggested him the best way to return home.
Neymar on his way home #bra #BRABEL#worldcup pic.twitter.com/WuU8wQA0lj
Neymar had other options too.
Neymar joins them better yessss yyy😂😂😂😂😜 #BRABEL pic.twitter.com/kRKHt2itOI
Twitter can never come last, your GOATs #BRABEL pic.twitter.com/Sw5zjDbjK1
(With inputs from AP)
(For complete FIFA World Cup 2018 coverage, click here to visit our special WC page.)
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