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FIFA World Cup 2018: Brazil knocked out as France progresses

Belgium shocked Brazil with an excellent performance.

Belgium shocked Brazil with an excellent performance. Photo: Getty

Pre-tournament favourite Brazil was knocked out of the FIFA World Cup on Saturday morning (AEST), the South American heavyweights stunned by Belgium in Kazan.

Belgium scored twice in the first half and then held its nerve against a fast-finishing Brazil to win 2-1 and book a semi-final meeting with France, who also won in another thrilling day of action in Russia.

Fernando Muslera’s goalkeeping howler highlighted France’s 2-0 win over Uruguay, with the results meaning that for the first time in World Cup history, the final four will not feature Brazil, Argentina or Germany.

In a tremendous match full of the end-to-end excitement that has been a feature of this World Cup, Belgium rode its luck early.

Paulinho wasted two good chances in the initial stages for Brazil, while a corner that hit an unaware Thiago Silva looped on to the crossbar and was eventually cleared.

But after withstanding that early pressure, Belgium took the lead through a 13th-minute own goal from Fernandinho.

The Brazil midfielder got the decisive touch after Vincent Kompany flicked on a corner with a clever near-post header, delighting the noisy contingent of Belgium fans.

And those fans were delirious in the 31st minute, when a swift counter-attack, sparked by a tremendous Romelu Lukaku run, finished in a second goal.

Lukaku ran 40 yards with the ball, beating a range of Brazil defenders before finding De Bruyne, who lashed a superb strike from the edge of the penalty area into the bottom-left corner.

Kevin De Bruyne

De Bruyne’s goal was a thing of beauty. Photo: Getty

Brazil threw everything at Belgium as the match wore on, and after a penalty appeal was harshly turned down, Tite’s side set up a grandstand finish with Renato Augusto’s 76th-minute header.

The substitute nodded Philippe Coutinho’s cross in and he nearly doubled his account, shooting just wide shortly after.

Coutinho then wasted a chance to equalise before Neymar, in the 94th minute, forced an acrobatic save from Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois from distance.

It was not to be for Brazil, though, with Belgium’s switch in formation – allowing the excellent De Bruyne to roam free in attack – proving a Roberto Martinez masterstroke.

“This is something special. These boys deserve to be real special people back in Belgium,” Martinez said.

“Beating Brazil in the World Cup … just treasure it.”

France also triumphs

France’s victory was far more routine, with Didier Deschamps’ side cruising past Uruguay 2-0 in Nizhny Novgorod.

Uruguay goalkeeper Muslera had a moment to forget in the match, flapping at a tame Antoine Griezmann strike and then having to watch as it looped over his head and crossed the line in agonising fashion.

https://twitter.com/TheWorldGame/status/1015254357393092608

The goal doubled France’s advantage after defender Raphael Varane had earlier opened the scoring with a smart header.

“We had done something big against Argentina [in the round of 16] and today we have again raised our level,” Deschamps said.

“I have a good team that still has plenty of room for improvement.

“You can see our lack of experience sometimes, but we have so many qualities too.

“It definitely won’t be a failed World Cup now.”

Uruguay received a blow before kick-off with the confirmation that star striker Edinson Cavani would not feature due to a calf problem.

Teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe, who scored a double in France’s 4-3 last-16 win over Argentina, could have opened the scoring in the 15th minute for France but his header was below par.

Varane gave France the lead five minutes before the break, though, getting a glancing header on a Griezmann free-kick to break open the contest.

Raphael Varane

Raphael Varane celebrates scoring France’s first goal. Photo: Getty

Uruguay thought they had levelled just minutes later, when Martin Caceres’ header looked to be creeping in at the far post, only for France shot-stopper Hugo Lloris to produce a sensational save.

Muslera was not so impressive, his attempt at palming a routine Griezmann effort ending in disaster for Uruguay.

And Uruguay could not mount a late fightback, as France became the first nation to reach the last four.

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