World Cup 2018: Top 5 matches so far

Modified Jul 14, 2018 06:29 GMT

#3 Belgium 2-1 Brazil

Brazil were touted as the favorites to win the cup before they met Belgium in Kazan. They missed Casemiro owing to a booking and his absence proved to be decisive. Fernandinho, Casemiro’s replacement, was guilty of scoring an own goal from a Belgian corner.

Belgium started attacking more after the first goal and their forward trio of Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard made life difficult for the Brazilian defenders. Brazil conceded a second when Lukaku won the ball in the midfield and marauded his way through the Brazilian defence before providing the final pass to De Bruyne, who finished brilliantly.

Brazil were decidedly the better team in the second half and attacked a lot through the right wing as Douglas Costa, Willian’s replacement, had a tremendous game. However, the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Neymar could not find the elusive goal and Tite had to introduce Roberto Firmino and Renato Augusto in the attack. Augusto did score with a header in the 79th minute but it was not enough to rescue his team. Belgium celebrated the biggest victory in their footballing history as the Brazilian players looked crestfallen after the match.

About the author

Subhadeep, an adept tennis journalist at Sportskeeda, has been writing about the sport for seven years. He is known for his exclusive match reviews and opinion pieces, utilizing his MBA degree to tackle them effectively with his problem-solving abilities.

Subhadeep lives and breathes tennis. He watches matches regularly and engages in social media platforms to stay on top of the latest happenings. As a writer, he brings the fan's perspective to his pieces, ensuring his readers enjoy an exceptional experience every time.

Growing up, he idolized Boris Becker, but he now firmly believes Novak Djokovic stands alone as the 'Greatest of all Time', especially considering the 24-time Grand Slam champion's incredible stats. One thing that still puzzles Subhadeep, however, is how Becker's Wimbledon tally might have reached five if not for Pete Sampras.

Speaking of the All England Club, the British Major holds a special place in his heart as he admires its blend of tradition and grass-court excellence. When not working for Sportskeeda, Subhadeep delves into the other "love of his life": football, and enjoys contributing his insights to different websites dedicated to the sport.

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Edited by Zeeshan Ali