By Uzoma Akobundu (With agency report)
Brazil and Uruguay were on Friday sent parking from the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Russia, as uncertainty about the countries that will play the finals continues.
With a blistering counter-attack and sturdy goal-tending, Belgium shocked Brazil, 2-1, in the quarterfinal to become one of the tournament’s last four teams standing.
Brazil’s loss continued a string of World Cup upsets that previously eliminated heavyweights like Germany, Argentina, and Spain.
France is now the only remaining country in this tournament that has won a World Cup within the past 50 years. It beat Uruguay to secure a place in the semi final table next week.
Courtois made a breath-taking save
Neymar bent a shot around the Belgian defense that was headed for goal, but the Red Devils’ keeper lunged for it and flicked it over top the cross bar to preserve a one goal lead in the 95th minute.
Halftime update: Belgium 2, Brazil 0
After a first half in which everything went Belgium’s way, the Red Devils finish the first 45 minutes ahead of Brazil, 2-0. Belgium survived an early scare — a well-executed Neymar corner kick — to roar back with two goals in 19 minutes.
Vincent Kompany’s header struck Brazilian defender Fernandinho for an own goal in the 13th minute. In the 32nd minute, a wicked Belgian counterattack found midfielder Kevin De Bruyne 22 yards out for a shot that might have left a vapor trail. The last time Brazil, the five-time champions, fought back from a two-goal deficit in a World Cup match was in the 1938 third-place match against Sweden.
In the France versus Uruguay encounter, France carried the day to reach World Cup semi finals.
Goals from Raphael Varane and Antoine Griezmann gave the team ticket to the next round.
Consequently, France will likely meet Belgium in the semi finals
Belgium celebrate their victory over Brazil
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This is the first time France would be going to the semi final stage since 1998 when it won the World Cup.