World Cup 2018: Belgium put history on the backburner by slaying Brazil

Ask any Bengali to associate things with the nation Belgium and they’d probably say – chocolates, beer, waffles and obviously Tintin.  

Like Herge’s fictional investigative journalist whose exploits took him across the world, the Belgian national team has also set its sights on parts unknown. And they did so by slaying the quintessential Bengali’s favourite home team – Brazil.

By beating Neymar’s Brazil, Belgium reached the semi-final of the World Cup for the second time in their history. Now they face perhaps the best squad in the tournament so far and whoever wins the France vs Belgium showdown will be the favourites to lift the cup.

Belgium has a history of criminally underperforming at major tournaments, losing to Wales and Italy in Euro 2016 and Argentina in World Cup 2014.

The victory against Brazil, wasn’t easy by any stretch of imagination. The match was won in the first half thanks to a tactical switch from manager Roberto Martinez.

Martinez, who had come under-fire from his own players over his tactics in the past, got it spot-on against Brazil.

Against a talented line-up, Martinez chose to put out a team that looked like it was there to chase a goal. Eschewing his traditional 3-4-2-1, he deployed a 4-3-3 formation with Kevin De Bryune in the false nine role, with Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard on the flanks.

Of course, this was just a starting position and as play went on the trio were fluid and launched devastating counter-attacks against a Brazilian team missing the suspended Casemiro.

Fernandinho, his replacement, failed to evoke the same amount of confidence and was directly responsible for the first goal when he appeared to head it in while under pressure from Vincent Kompany.

Felliani and Chadli, two of the heroes of Belgium’s 3-2 comeback win against Japan, got a starting berth and the former in particular was a constant nuisance getting up in Neymar’s face and not allowing him any space to breathe.

The big man, who is often derided by fans for his supposed lack of craft, showed why his managers – Mourinho and Martinez – rate him so highly. Thankfully, he didn’t give the VAR-assisted referees any elbow-related issues to fret over.

However, the standout performers against this Brazilian side was undoubtedly the front three in the first half. Lukaku, De Bruyne and Hazard – who were all together on the books at Chelsea at one point – gave a masterclass in counter-attacking football, the kind the Premier League thrives on.

In the first half, Brazil’s hapless defence had little answer for Hazard’s runs, who completed 10 dribbles against his opponents, the most by a player with a 100% success rate at the World Cup match since 1966.

Lukaku, who has often been the subject of somewhat racist criticism that he wasn’t a thinking footballer, a tag often given to black footballers, was operating on a different level in the first half. His fabulous leave in the match against Japan, was improved by a marauding run that brought Belgium’s second. His direct running and link-up play was absolutely top drawer.

De Bruyne’s brilliant second was created by Lukaku’s marauding run which saw him skip past Fernandinho and Paulinho.

De Bruyne’s goal also meant Belgium have had 9 different scorers so far, suggesting a focus on the collective despite the presence of brilliant individuals, something Brazil couldn’t emulate.

The win took Belgium’s unbeaten run to 23 matches, out of which they’ve won 18 – a national record.

The second-half was a more of a back-to-walls performance with Brazil bringing on Firmino and laying siege to the Belgium goal. Belgium held on for dear life after Renato Agusto’s late goal.  

Yet at the end of it, with little help from Courtois’ magical save from Neymar Jr deep in injury time, it was Belgium which stood tall.

Most ‘Golden Generations’ in football, from England to Portugal, become warning tales of failed promise. This golden generation from Belgium however have the chance to make sure they are not spoken off in the same breath.