The second game on Friday for the quarterfinals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia features Brazil and Belgium playing at the Kazan Arena in Kazan, Russia.
Brazil is the favorite to win the World Cup with its odds at +220, while Belgium’s odds are at +500. For the game the oddsmakers favor Brazil at -110, Belgium is +225, while the draw (at the end of 90 minutes) is also at +225.
This is expected to be a brilliant game with a Belgian team that although it’s fragile on the back and concedes goals, as seen against Japan, is very good going forward and pushing the ball up to mount fast counter attacks that can change the outcome of the game very quickly (as also seen against Japan).
Belgium’s best weapons are captain and attacking midfielder Eden Hazard, midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, and striker Romelu Lukaku.
Brazil is a solid and balanced team from back to front and is a team that has gotten better as the tournament advances. Its best players in the attack are Neymar, Douglas Costa, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firminho, while Marcelo commands the defense in the back.
The only way Belgium can have a chance of winning this game is if they try to push the ball up and look for a way to keep the ball in Brazil’s half. By doing that they of course risk Brazil mounting a counter-attack and scoring goals on their fragile defense, but that is way better than sitting back and letting the Brazilians dominate the action.
If the Belgians let Brazil keep the ball close to their goal it will be a matter of time before they bow to their pressure and find themselves down in the game.
Brazil’s defense has proved to be considerably better than Belgium’s in this tournament. They have only conceded one goal so far in the World Cup, so don’t expect them to be caught off guard as easily as their opponents, consequently if the Red Devils want to score they will need to apply constant pressure and play going forward.
Brazil’s Road to the Quarterfinals:
Group Stage
Brazil 1 – 1 Switzerland
Brazil 2 – 0 Costa Rica
Serbia 0 – 2 Brazil
Round of 16
Brazil 2 – 0 Mexico
Belgium’s Road to the Quarterfinals:
Group Stage
Belgium 3 – 0 Panama
Belgium 5 – 2 Tunisia
England 0 – 1 Belgium
Round of 16
Belgium 3 – 2 Japan
