The final four...
Parents and Friends,
Following four fantastic quarter-final matches Belgium, Croatia, England and France are the remaining teams.
The semis will see France playing Belgium on Tuesday with Croatia facing England the following day.
Some of the big talking points from the last eight were…
- Brazil lost to Belgium and have been knocked out by a European side for the fourth time in a row (France 2006, Netherlands 2010, Germany 2014, Belgium 2018).
- The victory was a big win for Belgian player development: eight (35%) of their 23-man squad were educated at Anderlecht’s academy,
- France were victorious over Uruguay and became only the second team to beat three South American nations in a single World Cup. The Netherlands eliminated Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil at the 1974 tournament.
- England defeated Sweden and reached their first World Cup semi-final since 1990.
- The Three Lions have been set piece masters scoring five of their 11 goals from corners or free kicks.
- Croatia beat the hosts Russia and became only the second team to win two World Cup penalty shootouts in a single tournament. The other was Argentina in 1990.
The Brazil–Belgium clash was compulsive viewing and Roberto Martinez’s side ran out 2-1 winners sending Neymar’s team home from Russia.
Brazil’s recent run had been built on solid defense and they had only conceded six goals in 25 games going into the quarter-final.
That might have been enough had La Selecao scored first and taken their big early chance but Silva thighed the ball off the post from a corner.
The Red Devils made Brazil pay soon after when Kompany flicked on Chadli’s near post corner and Fernandinho knocked the ball into his own net.
Things got worse just past the half-hour mark as one of Belgium’s devastating counter attacks caught out Brazil.
Neymar’s corner was cleared and Lukaku picked up the loose ball before making a powerful run deep into Brazil’s half.
He released De Bruyne who took a few touches before smashing the ball in from 20 yards.
Belgium sat back on their lead in the second half and Brazil dominated possession.
In the 76th minute Coutinho’s clever lofted ball picked out substitute Augusto and his header made it 2-1.
Augusto then missed a golden opportunity to equalize shooting wide when one-on-one with Courtois.
Courtois came up big for Belgium in injury time with a magnificent save from Neymar’s swerving shot.
It finished 2-1 and you have to say that Martinez got everything tactically right as well as on the scoreboard.
Because identifying weaknesses in your opponent and setting your team up to exploit those weak links is the key when coaching at the top level.
And Martinez showed that tactical nous by switching to a 1-4-3-3 formation and using a Hazard–De Bruyne–Lukaku combination in attack to unsettle Brazil.
Hazard was utilized out wide to target Fagner who was essentially Brazil’s third-choice right-back while Lukaku’s presence held Marcelo back on the opposite flank.
That left De Bruyne free to roam and do the damage.
A tactical masterclass!
Belgium v France, Tuesday 11 a.m. (Fox)
Belgium are ranked number three in the world by FIFA, but this is only their second appearance in the semi-finals.
They lost to eventual winners Argentina in 1986.
The Red Devils are unbeaten in 24 games under Martinez and are the top scorers at this tournament with 14 goals.
Martinez may play the 1-4-3-3 system he used against Brazil or he could revert to a 1-3-4-2-1 employed in the first round with De Bruyne partnering Witsel in central midfield.
Belgium will create opportunities from set pieces with Lukaku, Fellaini, Alderweireld and Kompany all extremely dangerous in the air.
The keys for Martinez’s men will be getting playmaker Hazard on the ball, testing the French fullbacks and matching up against France’s midfield.
Les Bleus are ranked seventh in the world and are making their sixth appearance in a World Cup semi-final.
They have competed in two finals beating Brazil as hosts in 1998 and losing the 2006 final on penalties to Italy.
Coach Didier Deschamps (captain of the 1998 winning side) is flexible with his system of play but generally alternates between a 1-4-4-2 or 1-4-3-3.
He could start with a three-man midfield of Pogba–Kante–Tolisso and a Dembele–Mbpappe–Griezmann combination in attack.
But if Chelsea striker Giroud is selected then a 1-4-4-2 formation would allow for a Griezmann–Giroud partnership up front.
Whoever partners Griezmann it won’t affect his performance.
The Atletico Madrid striker has been lethal at major tournaments scoring seven goals in his last six appearances in the knockout stages.
The keys for France will be supplying service to Griezmann and dominating the midfield.
Teenager Kylian Mbappe will be the wild card after a quiet game against Uruguay but he showed against Argentina what he is capable of and has the ability, creativity, and talent to perform on the big stage.
The World Cup is the perfect platform. It creates new stars!
Chat soon,
Patrick
Soccer1-1.com
