FIFA World Cup Quarter-Final Win Over Brazil with Teammate Dries Mertens in Kazan, Russia, Yesterday
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FOOTBALL | Page 3 CRICKET | Page 7 Sweden stand Gabriel in the way of inspires WI England’s World to win over Cup charge Bangladesh Saturday, July 7, 2018 FOOTBALL Shawwal 23, 1439 AH Griezmann GULF TIMES seals France’s semi spot with Uruguay win SPORT Page 2 REPORT BRA 1-2 BEL Belgians hold off Brazilian fi ghtback to reach semis Fernandinho own goal and De Bruyne stunner ensure first all-European semi-final line-up since the 2006 edition AFP Kazan, Russia Belgium coach superb fi rst half display by Martinez hails Belgium ended Brazil’s hopes of a record sixth World Cup ‘heroes’ crown as a Fernandinho own Agoal and a superb Kevin De Bruyne AFP strike proved enough to win 2-1 and seal Kazan, Russia a semi-fi nal spot. Although Brazil roared back in the second half with a headed goal from elgium Renato Augusto, it is the Belgians who coach will face France in Saint Petersburg on BRob- Tuesday. erto Martinez Unbeaten in their last 15 games, Bra- said his side zil’s bid for a second consecutive place “deserve to be in the semi-fi nals looked in safe hands. heroes” back “We are leaving the World Cup with home after sadness,” said Brazil skipper Miranda. downing five- “We lost to a great team who took their time champions chances to score two goals. We are a Brazil yesterday battling group, with good young play- to set up a ers who can win the next World Cup. World Cup semi-final clash with “Our team tried, fought until the end France. and we leave with our heads held high The Red Devils tore Brazil apart because we gave everything.” on the counter-attack in the first After an energetic start that saw Thi- half, before hanging on in the ago Silva come close and Neymar show second to close out a famous 2-1 early promise, Brazil heads went down victory. following Fernandinho’s own goal be- “They did incredible. There were fore De Bruyne’s superb strike from amazing hearts out there. I didn’t distance put the Red Devils in control think for one minute their hearts on 31 minutes. would give way,” said Martinez. Late changes by Brazil coach Tite “You have to accept that Brazil paid off as Renato Augusto’s superb have so much quality and finesse, header 14 minutes from time dragged they break you down, but we did the south Americans back into conten- not accept it. Not for one minute tion. were they (Belgium) going to give But as Belgian legs tired, Brazil up. spurned several great chances to push “These boys deserve to be heroes the match into extra-time, Augusto in Belgium. The execution of the drilling inches wide and Coutinho tactics was magnificent. skewing his eff ort off target from Ney- “It is special and we can’t let the mar’s pass. people of Belgium down. We can Courtois produced a great save in the pass that down the generations — dying minutes, tipping over a curling Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne (centre) celebrates the FIFA World Cup quarter-final win over Brazil with teammate Dries Mertens in Kazan, Russia, yesterday. (Reuters) beating Brazil.” drive from Neymar as the Belgians en- Belgium will next face France in sured they will make just their second the Red Devils were oozing confi dence, and inside the ‘keeper’s far post. Saint Petersburg on Tuesday as visit to the last four, 32 years after their Hazard and De Bruyne linking inci- Tite replaced the ineff ective Willian they look to reach the final for the surge to semis in Mexico. sively to carve open the Selecao’s well- with Roberto Firmino at half-time and first time in their history. oiled defence with surprising ease. soon after changed Jesus for Douglas The current team has been RED SURGE On 21 minutes De Bruyne set up Haz- Costa. tagged the ‘golden generation’ On eight minutes Courtois was fl apping ard on a free run inside to set up Tho- But it took the arrival of China-based in recent years, but had lost their when Neymar’s corner was fl icked on mas Meunier, only for Miranda to block Augusto 17 minutes from time that last two major quarter-finals by Joao Miranda, came off the thigh of his intended cross for Lukaku. sparked Brazil into life. against Argentina four years ago Thiago Silva and then off the post. A minute later De Bruyne found Lu- Brazil saw two penalty claims in and Wales at Euro 2016. Tite had replaced suspended holding kaku in acres of space, the big striker quick succession waved away by Ser- Martinez’s men put that to bed in midfi elder Casemiro with Fernandinho coolly nutmegging Miranda before see- bian referee Milorad Mazic after Ney- style in Kazan, though, matching in his starting line-up, handing the ing the ball frantically cleared into the mar tumbled following contact with Belgium’s previous best World Manchester City player his fi rst World stands. Fellaini and Gabriel went to ground af- Cup run when they reached the Cup start since he was hauled off at Superb control from Marcelo saw ter a challenge from Vincent Kompany. last four in 1986. half-time on Brazil’s way to the humili- the Real Madrid defender chest down, De Bruyne released Hazard down “I know it’s not easy to play ating 7-1 semi-fi nal defeat to Germany cut inside and unleash a low drive that the left but he fi ring narrowly wide of against Brazil,” midfielder Kevin in 2014. Courtois did well to block. Alisson’s far post as Lukaku waited to De Bruyne told the BBC. Fernandinho’s World Cup woes con- But when Belgium countered on the pounce. “But we were magnificent first half tinued, Hazard’s corner coming off the half hour, it was with devastating ef- Minutes later Augusto hung in the air and they changed tactics second midfi elder’s arm to glide past Alisson fect. to meet Coutinho’s perfectly-weight- half. We showed our character and into the net as he rose to block. Lukaku looked invincible as he pow- ed cross and direct it past Courtois to after they scored. We did very well Brazil almost equalised immediately, ered through Brazil’s midfi eld before spark celebrations among the Brazilian with our running from deep, it is Neymar dribbling down the left and fi nding De Bruyne in space on the right. fans in Kazan. wonderful. fi nding Gabriel, only for his eff ort to go The Manchester City ace had time to But he drilled inches wide minutes “We are here to try and win the amiss. pick his spot before unleashing a right- later, one of several misses that Brazil Brazil’s Neymar walks off the field after the loss to Belgium in the FIFA World Cup World Cup and are very united.” But Belgium’s early opener showed footed drive that screamed past Alisson were made to regret. quarter-final in Kazan, Russia, yesterday. (Reuters) FOCUS FIFA boss hopes Thai cave boys rescued soon, invites them to fi nal AFP ing fl oodwaters two weeks ago, would able to join us at the fi nal, which will wearing football shirts. called their plight “terrible”. in minutes, hours or the next few days.” Moscow be rescued in time to watch the fi nal in undoubtedly be a wonderful moment Their harrowing ordeal coincides “The world of football hopes that Meanwhile the Croatian Football Moscow on July 15. of communion and celebration.” with the World Cup in Russia and it has someone can fi nd a way to take these kids Federation said it was “awed” by the “If, as we all hope, they are reunited The Thai footballers, aged 11-16, have not escaped the attention of players. out of there,” he said, according to CNN. team’s calm under pressure. IFA president Gianni Infan- with their families in the coming days been stuck in darkness deep under- “I’ve been speaking about it with a few Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp “We are awed by the bravery and tino has invited the Thai boys’ and their health allows them to travel, ground after setting off to explore the of the boys,” said England defender John urged them to “stay strong and know strength that these young boys and football team trapped in a cave FIFA would be delighted to invite them cave with their 25-year-old coach after Stones, according to British media. we are with you”, in a video message their coach have shown amidst such to the World Cup fi nal, as mes- to attend the 2018 World Cup fi nal as training on June 23. “It’s so sad to see where they are and sent to CNN. frightening circumstances,” it said on Fsages of support poured in from top our guests,” he wrote in a letter to the The players remain trapped despite we hope they get out safe and sound.” “We are following all the news and its website. players. head of the Football Association of being reached this week by cave-diving Japan’s World Cup squad tweeted hoping every second that you see day- Many fans on social media said the Infantino said he hoped the Wild Thailand. rescuers, who released footage of them a video urging the team to “Hang in light again,” Klopp said. “We are all very boys deserved the World Cup trophy for Boars team, who were stranded by ris- “I sincerely hope that they will be looking emaciated but calm, some there!”, while Brazil legend Ronaldo optimistic that it will happen, hopefully the way they have handled their ordeal.