The tag of tournament chokers would have been almost indelible. But it worked: Belgium comprehensively peeling Brazil open on their way to a win. The semi-final against France was different again. Belgium dominated possession and territory, only to lose to an inspired defensive rearguard and a single set-piece goal. This, then, is the moment when we discover whether Belgium have learned how to navigate the unique currents of tournament football: a task that requires a little luck and an ability to roll with the punches, to manage games with intelligence, to find the little moment of coolness and class that unlocks elite defences.
Portugal are not the team they were five years ago: they feel passive and flat-footed at the back, too vulnerable to pace, too reliant on the goals of Cristiano Ronaldo. Increasingly this is beginning to look like a tournament too far for Pepe. Belgium should win if they concentrate on their own strengths. Jurgen Klinsmann, a World Cup winner with West Germany in , was similarly impressed: "It was a stunning performance.
They hung in there and fought. You can see they have an amazing team spirit. They are very close - Roberto Martinez is doing an amazing job. Eden Hazard was brilliant, as was De Bruyne, who you know always makes the right pass, and Romelu Lukaku was unplayable up to 60 minutes.
Less than two years after being sacked as Everton boss, Spaniard Martinez will take Belgium into a World Cup semi-final with France - their first appearance in the last four since They turned to him after going out in the quarter-finals of the World Cup and Euro - the latter to Wales - with a very real danger that this golden generation would fail to deliver a trophy.
Now, they are unbeaten in 24 games since a defeat by Martinez's homeland in his first game in charge. Ferdinand said: "That's being able to manage egos. Hazard, De Bruyne and Lukaku are all the main men at their clubs and they've had to be brought together.
The manager has got them playing together and got them believing in a dream. Ex-England captain Alan Shearer said: "The big question about Belgium was 'are you a team of individuals or can you come together as a team? That's got to come from the manager. There's a huge difference between where they are now and where they were two years ago.
Klinsmann, who managed Germany at the World Cup, said: "He formed this Belgium team in a way that they believe in it. They stick to the plan.
He changed tactics, the players bought into it and it seems everyone is on the same page. They have good chemistry. The quarter-final is the most important point of a World Cup - you either make it or break it.
Martinez made a big call at down against Japan, bringing Marouane Fellaini and Nacer Chadli off the bench - with both players scoring in the comeback. Both kept their places in the team which beat Brazil as Belgium abandoned their wing-back formation, instead playing with no main striker and Lukaku on the right. Shearer said: "The manager made big changes against Japan. He brought Fellaini on and he changed the game.
He kept him tonight and he was magnificent, the way he and Axel Witsel supported that back four. All the decisions he made, like pushing De Bruyne further forward and changing the system, all worked. Nevin said: "Roberto Martinez will make many decisions in his managerial career but he won't make many better than today. We thought Belgium would struggle with a back three against Brazil, so he changed it.
Credit to him for that. It was a big call to bring Fellaini back, but he stuck to his job so the system was perfect. Former Wigan manager Martinez said: "Brazil have so much finesse and you know that they can cut you open. But I didn't think for one second that the players would give up. It has created a nice memory and we should treasure it. But now we need more energy for our next game to try to make sure we're just as good in the semi-finals. We can't let them [fans] down back home now.
Brazil striker Neymar's diving and exaggeration has made lots of headlines in the World Cup - and the BBC pundits think that might have cost his side a legitimate penalty. The Paris St-Germain player went down easily after going past Fellaini - and was lucky to avoid a booking. Five minutes later, Vincent Kompany appeared to foul Gabriel Jesus but no penalty was awarded. The referee did not go to view the incident on a screen.
BBC One co-commentator Danny Murphy said: "I don't know how they can see what we have just seen and not give a penalty. That's a huge let-off for Belgium. Kompany got very lucky. Shearer had a theory after the game: "This [Neymar dive] is the reason I think they didn't get the call of the VAR five or 10 minutes later. If the guys are looking for any dodgy or iffy decisions, it's going to go against Brazil because of that.
I think they've been punished because of that. Klinsmann said of the tackle on Jesus: "It's a clear penalty. Do the VAR leverage the dive of Neymar? What are they saying to the referee? These comments are now closed. New Zealand's Devon Conway punches his bat in the T20 World Cup semi-final win over England, breaking his hand and ruling him out of the final.
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Everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment. The latest rumours and stories from around the world of football. Despite missing out on the final, Belgium were all smiles as they beat England in the third place playoff. With the victory, the Red Devils confirmed their best ever finish at a World Cup.
Mario Mandzukic, Ivan Rakitic and Ivan Perisic from left to right celebrate with a photographer they had just bowled over in their excitement after Mandzukic scored Croatia's winning goal in their semifinal against England. It looks like the photographer was okay. Umtiti scored the only goal France would need to reach their first final since The win means that Deschamps will get the opportunity to become just the third man to win the World Cup as both a player and a manager, having been part of the team that won the title at home in Paris.
Harry Maguire scores his first international goal in England's quarterfinal win over Sweden. The Leicester City defender, who traveled to France to watch England as a fan, has been one of the feel-good stories of this World Cup. The Manchester United striker delivered another brilliant performance to help his team to victory on another historic night in Kazan.
England finally won a penalty shoot-out at a major tournament, thanks to Eric Dier pictured above and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. After a dramatic Round of 16 game, Gareth Southgate's side made history. Nacer Chadli finishes off a swift move that started with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to score Belgium's third goal against Japan deep into time added on in their last 16 clash in Rostov Arena. This completed Belgium's comeback after they had gone down in the 52nd minute. Ivan Rakitic scored for Croatia to win the penalty shootout over Denmark, which put the Balkan nation through to the quarterfinals, but it was Danijel Subasic who was the real hero, stopping three shots in the shootout.
Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev stopped two in the penalty shootout to send Spain packing. Here he stops Iago Aspas' effort, his second save, which sent the Cinderella host nation through to the quarterfinals. Edinson Cavani provided the two goals Uruguay would need to get past Portugal in the round of 16, but in the 74th minute he was forced to hobble off injured.
Portugal skipper Cristiano Ronaldo rushed over to help him off. A sporting gesture? But with Uruguay in the lead, maybe CR7 was just making sure there was no time-wasting on Cavani's part. Some moments are memorable for the wrong reasons. Colombian fans would love to forget this one. James Rodriguez limps off the pitch injured after half an hour of play in his country's last group stage match against Senegal.
Even without their biggest star, Colombia won the match to finish top of Group H. The win sent Germany crashing out in the opening round of a World Cup for the first time since A devastating loss for the reigning world champions. It all happened in a matter of seconds, but it was the moment football fans around the world had been waiting for. Ever Banega supplied the pin-point pass and, two sublime touches later, Lionel Messi was picking out the top corner with his weaker foot.
After being late to the party in the group stages, Argentina's star man has a chance to make amends with France to come in the Round of After having a doping ban temporarily lifted in order to feature at the World Cup in Russia, Paolo Guerrero assisted Peru's first and scored their second in a win over Australia.
It was a true captain's performance, helping Peru secure their first World Cup win since beating Iran back in CR7 had a penalty saved by Ali Beiranvand and also picked up a yellow following a review as Iran's players called for him to be sent off for an incident with Morteza Pouraliganji.
A tough end to a what had been a glittering group stage campaign. The Tottenham Hotspur striker already has five goals in the tournament, putting him in the running for the golden boot.
Panama also made history scoring their first ever goal at a World Cup courtesy of Felipe Baloy.
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