Only one football superstar remained in the ranks at the World Cup, she also flashed in yesterday's match. Before the match there was a lot of talk that the Brazilian national team can support the trend of this championship and join the other favorites who are already watching football on TV. But Tite did not arrange such a situation.
Brazil is not very much started its performances in this tournament, immediately dividing the points with Switzerland, but from the match to the match, they were constantly added to the game. And if in the group stage it was doubtful that the Brazilians will be able to reach the finals, now it does not seem like something unattainable. Mexico, though, and threw out of the tournament world champion has not yet convinced his game, and the devastating defeat from Sweden left a lot of questions.
The match began with active action of the national team of Mexico, the ball almost did not linger in the middle of the field and Brazil responded to this manner of play. Attacks Brazilians looked much more promising and only a miracle called Guillermo Ochoa saved Mexico from a missed goal. For this game, the Mexicans were forced to focus on defense and quick counter-attacks. At first it worked, but until the blows it could not reach. The goal of Brazil at the beginning of the second half stirred the game. Neymar, who is so often criticized for simulations and this time did not miss the opportunity to ride the field, but most importantly his achievement is that he brought his team forward. By the way, this time the violation was indeed, Miguel Layún came spiked on the foot of Neymar, but the referees apparently decided to teach a lesson to the famous simulator and left this episode without attention. In the second half, the game was more often at the gates of Mexico and Guillermo Ochoa often became the hero of the episode, but at the end of the match he still missed the second ball. Neymar broke into the penalty area and perfectly laid out an assist to Roberto Firmino, it was necessary to finish the ball into an empty net. Brazil perfectly held this match and reached the quarterfinal in the status of one of the main contenders for the title, and Neymar was the best player of the match.
Well, the second match was a real drama. It was a holiday of football. Hardly anyone could have guessed that Japan would give such a fantastic game, but it surprised everyone. The first time was a prelude, the teams were shot, there were moments for both Belgium and Japan, but the team did not score goals. In the second half, Japan fell from a place like a Formula 1 car and three minutes later Thibaut Courtois went to take the ball out of the net. Genki Haraguchi received an excellent pass from the depth of the field and struck in the far bottom corner. In response, Eden Hazard almost equalized the score, but the ball hit the post. No sooner had the Belgian national team come to their senses, as the second ball flew into the goal. Takashi Inui fantastic long-range shot hit the ball into the corner of the gate, Courtois was powerless, like the whole team. Team Japan tactically replayed Belgium on every centimeter of the lawn. The rebounds and interceptions were on the side of Japan, Belgium did not get anywhere in the middle of the field. But in the 69th minute, Jan Vertongen in an attempt to throw the ball to the far post threw the ball into the far corner of the gate. A beautiful goal and Belgium still had to play one more ball. Released Nacer Chadli and Marouane Fellaini entered the game very well and Belgium began to look for their moments in the canopies in the penalty area. At the 74th minute Eden Hazard throws the ball into the penalty area and Fellaini compares the score. After that, the moments arose at both gates, and in the 93rd minute Keisuke Honda smartly struck from the standard position on goal, but Thibaut Courtois coped with the blow. Everything already went to an additional 30 minutes, but Belgium had an opinion and for thirty seconds before the final whistle the "red devils" organized a quick counterattack as a result of which Nacer Chadli hammered the ball into the goal. And in the end, Belgium wins a beautiful strong-willed victory. Japan held an outstanding match and with dignity leaves this tournament.
And so in the third quarterfinal we will see the Brazil-Belgium supermatch.