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| Kevin De Bruyne scored a superb goal in Belgium's win over Brazil |
The World Cup favourites are on their way home, after Belgium pulled off a memorable 2-1 win over Brazil to seal a semi-final with France.
A Fernandinho own goal and a fine strike from
Kevin De Bruyne were enough to see off the South Americans, despite Renato Augusto setting up a thrilling finish.
But how did Roberto Martinez's men get the better of a Brazil side tipped for the title? We dissect the quarter-final upset…
Tactics change
There was a surprise an hour before kick-off, when it was revealed Marouane Fellaini and Nacer Chadli would be starting. The two midfielders had changed the game against Japan when they were thrown on with Belgium trailing, but their inclusion from the first whistle against Brazil in place of the more attack-minded Yannick Carrasco and Dries Mertens hinted at a change in approach.
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| Roberto Martinez changed Belgium's tactics |
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Come kick-off there was a further twist, as it became apparent Martinez had swapped his go-to three-at-the-back set-up for a bold 4-3-3, with
Romelu Lukaku pushed out to the right flank,
Eden Hazard on the left and Kevin De Bruyne through the middle as a false nine.
Those three players were regularly left up the field, giving Belgium a real threat on the counter-attack, while
Fellaini protected the defence alongside
Chadli and Alex Witsel.
The switch also meant chief playmaker
De Bruyne was able to play further forward than he did against Japan, where he was often too far from goal to create openings.
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Team ethic/unity
After the match, Martinez was keen to heap praise on his players' enthusiasm in embracing the tactics change. "It's the execution of the tactics which matters - and the execution was magnificent," he said. "Players have to be so brave to accept it. In two days they changed their tactical disposition. There was a desire to make it happen."
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| Nacer Chadli and Vincent Kompany celebrate Belgium's opening goal | |
That team unity and willingness to work together was underlined by captain
Vincent Kompany before the match, when he insisted Belgium would have to work together to overcome a more individually talented Brazil side.
Sharing the goals around
Belgium have had nine different goalscorers at the 2018 World Cup (excluding own goals). Only Italy in 2006 and France in 1982 (10 each) have ever had more in a single tournament.
Romelu Lukaku was a fine example of that commitment in action. The Manchester United man put his personal goal-scoring ambitions to one side and dedicated himself to his task of working the channels and pinning back Brazil's full-backs. The forward, who once clocked the lowest distance covered figures in a Premier League season, ran himself into the ground for his team-mates, held up the ball with skill and gelled Belgium's attacking play.
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| Eden Hazard completed 10 dribbles and was fouled seven times |
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