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Home , Eden Hazard, Kevin de Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Courtois

SUNDAY, JULY 8, 2018 18

Belgium’s ‘golden generation’ make South America their mark

AFP | Moscow

ong touted as World Cup contenders thanks to an abun- make early exit Ldance of talent, claimed their biggest scalp ever in beating five-time winners Brazil to reach just their second semi-final. Reuters | Moscow a dull moment when they and Belgium respectively. lombia’s fourth penalty in the A ‘golden generation’ featuring , Kevin their thousands or colourful, France proved to be the bogey shootout against England. De Bruyne, and exited tamely outh America will be ab- vociferous fans were around. team for South America as they And if any one of Peru’s nu- to Argentina four years ago and blew a huge chance at Euro sent from the World Cup Four out of five of them got eliminated Peru in the group merous shots against Denmark 2016 when on the kind side of the draw. Ssemi-finals for the fifth through the group stage — a stage, Argentina and then Uru- had found the target, they Now in their prime, this group of players is unlikely to time in the tournament’s history better percentage than Europe guay to remain unbeaten at the could have made the knockout get a better opportunity to win a major international tour- after the continent’s top players where 10 out of 14 teams pro- World Cup against teams from round and then found them - nament than over the course of the next week, with France either failed to excel or suffered gressed — and at one point, they the continent in 40 years. selves in the easier half of the to come in the last four on Tuesday. injuries at key moments during rolled off seven wins in a row. In several cases, a few centi- draw. the tournament in Russia. But it all ended in tears as Ar- metres could have produced a But if there was a recurring Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, gentina and Colombia went out very difficult outcome such as theme, it was that there was an Courtois stands tall Uruguay and Peru all contrib- in the round of 16, the latter on when hit the post over-dependence on big name uted to making the 2018 World penalties, while Uruguay and early on against Belgium and players who either failed to The giant Chelsea Cup one of the most dramatic Brazil both lost their quarter-fi- when Mateus Uribe struck the make the difference or suffered stopper needed every in history and there was rarely nals on Friday, to France and underside of the bar with Co- injury at key moments. inch of his 6 feet 6 inch (1.99 metre) frame to prevent Ney- mar hauling Brazil into extra-time with a stunning stoppage time save on Friday. Thibaut Courtois “I know likes to curl it that way. I was ready and made a good save,” said Courtois. “I have been unfairly criticised a lot this year. Today I proved again who I am and why I am here.” Widely regarded as one of the world’s best goalkeepers, Courtois has won two titles with Chelsea and while on loan at Atletico , but his nine- save display against Brazil was one of his best yet on the big international stage. Last chance for ageing defence Trailblazers for a wave of Belgian talent to make their way to the Pre- mier League, and have battled Neymar Jr of Brazil reacts back from years of injury problems just to make the squad at the age of 32. Kempes joins Before ’s own injury Maradona in Hazard takes over as WC star problems this season, he and Totten- ham teammate had offering to coach Reuters | St Petersburg, Russia to be tournament’s most excit- been hailed as the Premier League’s ing talent and final itself could best defensive partnership. Argentina hen and throw up another contender However, Vertonghen, 31, and Alderweireld, 29, also do not AFP | Buenos Aires WCristiano Ronaldo were but at this stage it is Hazard have time on their side. sent packing from the World who is setting the standard. The pace of Kylian Mbappe could cause problems in Saint ot on the heels of Die- Cup a week ago, the stage was Face to face with Neymar on Petersburg on Tuesday, but Belgium will not be short of Hgo Maradona, another set for Brazil’s Neymar to take Friday, the difference between experience at the back. Arentine World Cup winner over the role of the tourna - their contributions was strik- has thrown his hat into the ment’s true star. ingly evident. Midfield maestros ring to become the next na- But it is now Belgium’s Eden Many will blame Brazil’s exit Coach Roberto Martinez had been criticised for not finding tional team coach. Hazard who is making the on the way in which their at- the right balance to get the best out of De Bruyne early in the Jorge Sampaoli may still strongest bid for that crown. tacks were constantly funnelled tournament, but the Spaniard’s bold tactical plan worked be resisting pressure to re- On Friday night in Kazan, towards Neymar in hope that he to perfection against Brazil. sign after Argentina’s World Neymar too saw his World Cup would deliver the world-class took De Bruyne’s place in a deep-lying Cup debacle and last 16 end prematurely, as a Brazil individual skill he has shown midfield role to free up Manchester City’s player of the year elimination against France team packed with talent but he is capable of but which he to play much further forward and to devastating effect as in Russia, but now Mario over-reliant on the forward’s rarely delivered in Russia. Hazard he blasted home Belgium’s second of the night and his first Kempes has said he wants inconsistent individual con- With all the talent and Bra- of the tournament. to take over. tribution, were beaten 2-1 by a zilian coach Tite’s disposal, merous times against Brazil, Captain Eden Hazard has been consistently brilliant, scor- “Of course!” he said when brilliant Belgium team, inspired the vortex of Neymar ended especially with a mesmerising ing twice against Tunisia in the group stage, and providing asked by current employers by the gifted Hazard. up weakening their collective dribble from wide in the second the teasing cross from which Fellaini equalised in a thrilling ESPN, for whom he works The semi-final clash against effort, whereas Hazard has had half, and the statistics showed comeback from 2-0 down to beat Japan 3-2 in the last 16. as a commentator, if he France will give a chance for opposite effect on Belgium. that all 10 of his dribbles in the As Bel- gium tired against waves of Brazilian at- would be interested in the the 19-year-old Frenchman Ky- The Chelsea winger show- game ended with his team still tacks in the second half, Hazard carried job. lian Mbappe to make his claim cased his individual skill nu- in possession. his side up the field, winning free-kicks and relieving the pressure -- a sign of his and this side’s growing maturity. Lukaku more than a goalscorer Kazan confirmed as graveyard of champions Still in the race for the Gold - en Boot behind , Reuters | Kazan, Russia Remarkably, all three of the with Belgium now guaranteed soccer superpowers, who have two more matches, Romelu azan’s official participation won 11 World Cups between Lukaku has shown another Kin the World Cup was com- them, bowed out of the tourna- side to his game so far in ing to an end yesterday as the ment at the Kazan Arena. the knockout phase after Brazil squad made their way to First to go were defending scoring four times in the the airport for the long flight champions Germany, beaten 2-0 group stages. home and their fans consoled by South Korea to finish bottom His superb run off the ball and dum- each other over beers on the of their group in a match that my in the final seconds against Japan streets of the Tatarstan capital. certainly made up for in late cleared the space for The Selecao’s quarter-final drama what it lacked in quality. to tee up ’s winner. exit at the hands of Belgium in Next to depart were Lionel Against Brazil, again it was Lukaku’s the last of the six matches in the Messi’s Argentina, who were link-up play that proved decisive as city on Friday night ensured this overwhelmed by the pace of he powered past Fernandinho and would be the first World Cup Kylian Mbappe and 4-3 losers to Paulinho on a rapid counter-attack without at least one of Brazil, France in thrilling last-16 clash before feeding De Bruyne to smash Argentina or Germany in the that married quality football home from the edge of the area. semi-finals. Brazil fans look dejected with tension and atmosphere.