The World Cup quarter-final fixtures will start today and the Big Game Focus takes a look at the match between Brazil and Belgium with suggested selections for your consideration.
The fixture between Brazil and Belgium is the pick of the quarter-final clashes with two of the strongest teams left in the tournament set to fight it out for a place in the last four. The Samba boys have had a smoother campaign to arrive here despite a somewhat unconvincing draw in their opening fixture against Switzerland
Belgium have had a tougher journey though they have simply been incredible going forward. They have averaged three goals per game since the tournament begun and they have been scoring goals for fun. They will be facing a much tougher opponent in Brazil but we don’t expect them to slow down on their attacks.
It will be the first really big test for both sides as we are bound to learn a lot more about Tite’s Brazil and Roberto Martinez’s Belgium.
Betting preview
Brazil have been defensively solid but the suspension of holding midfielder Casemiro is significant and his absence could just leave them exposed at the back. Belgium have scored 12 goals so far in the 2018 World Cup but they have let in goals in three of their last five outings. Both Teams to Score looks good at odds of 1.75 here.
Romelu Lukaku has scored with four of his five shots on target so far at the 2018 World Cup. He is a good choice for our Anytime Goalscorer market and you can back him at odds of 2.55 here.
Belgium have seen Over 2.5 Goals in all but one of their last five fixtures. Considering the attacking talent on both sides, odds of 2.00 for Over 2.5 Goals very attractive here.
Team news
Manchester City’s Fernandinho is expected to fill in for the suspended Casemiro in midfield for Brazil. Marcelo is expected to be fit again to return at left-back whereas Roberto Firmino is pushing for a start ahead of Gabriel Jesus.
Nacer Chadli and Maraoune Fellaini made a strong case for themselves to start in Belgium’s comeback win over Japan. Kevin De Bruyne could be considered in a more advanced role as Mousa Dembele could be started. They have several players who are a booking away in Thomas Meunier, Jan Vertonghen, Youri Tielemans, Leander Dendoncker and De Bruyne but they have a full squad, therefore, they have nothing to worry about.
Possible line-ups
Brazil: Alisson, Fagner, Silva, Miranda, Marcelo, Fernandinho, Paulinho, Coutinho, Willian, Neymar, Jesus.
Belgium: Courtois, Vertonghen, Kompany, Alderweireld, Chadli, Witsel, Dembele, Meunier, De Bruyne, Hazard, Lukaku