World Cup 2018: Five Takeaways from Brazil vs Belgium

Goalkeepers and luck decided the game

2018 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals: Brazil 1 - 2 Belgium

For all the discussion surrounding the emergence of the counter-attack, the importance of Casemiro and managerial decisions, it was really goalkeepers and luck that decided the game.

Goalkeeping was not as influential in this game as France vs Uruguay but still retained an important role. At one end, Thibaut Courtois played the game of his life as he made save after save as Brazil lay siege to the Belgian goal (especially in the second half) - his last-minute save from Neymar's strike was excellent. In fact, the Chelsea goalkeeper had the highest WhoScored player rating of anyone in the game.

On the other end, Alisson did not make any glaring errors as compared to Fernando Muslera earlier in the day. However, the Roma goalkeeper was unconvincing throughout and could have done better for Belgium’s first. It would be no exaggeration to suggest that the result of this game would have been different if the goalkeepers had been swapped.

The other major factor that decided this game was luck - on another day, Brazil would have won this game 2-1. On another day, Thiago Silva’s shot in the 8th minute would have bounced back in off the post. On another day, Fernandinho’s header would have cleared Belgium’s corner rather than sending it into his own net. On another day, Phillippe Coutinho’s curler in the 37th minute would have ended up in the top right corner. On another day, Roberto Firmino would have reached Marcelo’s cross. On another day, Brazil would have gotten a penalty.