FIFA World Cup 2018: Brazil face a mammoth encounter against Belgium after their victories in the Round of 16

Neymar lights up the World Cup stage

He scores one and creates Brazil's second

Brazil face a mammoth clash against Belguim tonight

Brazil Vs Mexico

Neymar 51'

Firmino 88'

Match Highlights

Brazil took a step closer on their Road to the Final of the FIFA World Cup as their star player Neymar scored once and created a brilliant second to end their South American rivals Mexico's campaign.

Brazil was undefeated so far in their WC campaign after topping Group E, whereas Mexico had finished runners-up in Group F, ahead of champions Germany.

This South American encounter began in favor of Mexico who dominated the first half, but Brazil sprung into life in the second-half. Neymar's clever backheel, presented Willian with space to run as he drove in a ball which was tucked home by Neymar to hand Brazil the advantage.

Thereon, it was all Brazil as a fierce attack once again led by Neymar saw him play the perfect pass behind the Mexican defense for substitute Roberto Firmino to tap-in Brazil's ticket into the quarter-finals.

Conclusion:

Brazil's recent performances have made them among the favorites to reach the finals and win the competition. Their next test is a fierce encounter against another side who are favorites to win the competition; Belguim who earned a dramatic qualification spot by beating Japan.

One of their influential midfielder Casemiro will be suspended for that game but they have an equally good replacement in Fernandinho, who hands down was the best holding midfielder in the Premier League last season.

Mexican fans will be immensely proud of the performance and heart their players showed this campaign. Even though they are leaving at the same stage they have been exiting since 1994, that victory over current and soon to be former champions Germany will live in the hearts of every Mexican player and fan for a very long time. 

FIFA World Cup 2018: Spain suffer a shocking exit at the hands of the hosts Russia

Russia witnesses a memorable day

The hosts secure a penalty shoot-out victory

Russia has now progressed into the quarter-finals

Spain's exit has set the footballing world by storm

Spain Vs Russia

Ignashevich 12' (OG)

Dzyuba 41' (P)

Match Highlights

Russia win on penalties

(3-4)

Iniesta ✔️

Smolov ✔️

Pique ✔️

Ignashevich ✔️

Koke ✖️

Golovin ✔️

Ramos ✔️

Cheryshev ✔️

Iago Aspas  ✖️

"Russia has beaten Spain and qualify for the quarter-finals," this statement will stay with the Russian players and fans for many years to come after the hosts pulled a shock upset by beating the 2010 Champions. 

Heading into this game, Spain who had stumbled their way into the last-16 was still the likeliest team to win but the hosts pulled off the biggest upset in the competition so far. 

Spain sprung into the lead after a tight tussle in the box with Sergio Ramos saw the ball flick last off Sergei Ignashevich's heel who also became the oldest own goal scorer ever in a World Cup campaign. 

This strike was canceled out in the 41st minute as Gerard Pique's alleged handball in the box awarded Russia a spot-kick which was calmly converted by Artem Dzyuba.

Russia did their best to keep the scoreline at 1-1 as their hero Igor Akinfeev made nearly 12 saves throughout the game, taking it for a penalty shoot-out. 

Penalty Shoot-out

Spain's Andreas Iniesta was the first player to take and successfully convert his spot-kick, which was then followed by Russia's Smolov.

Pique took the next Spanish penalty and successfully converted it as did his Russian counterpart Ignashevich.

The game's first decisive moment arrived as Koke's penalty was saved by Akinfeev and Russia's Aleksandr Golovin successfully converted his spot-kick, sending the Russian fans into overdrive.

The 4th set saw Ramos successfully convert his spot-kick, but Russia's Denis Cheryshev scored and handed match-point to his side.

Finally, the telling blow arrived as Iago Aspas' spot-kick was convincingly saved by the legs of Akinfeev and the next moments will live in the hearts of all the Russians for a very long time.

Final Conclusion

Russia did know the coming into this game, it will be very difficult to pull up a victory but they did come with a plan and also with the belief that they can overcome this major obsatcle. One of the biggest motivation of the game was the home crowd who were behind their nation from the getgo.

This was Spain's first ever penalty shootout since nearly a 48-year span and for this particular shootout, they were second best to Russia.

It was a mixed World Cup campaign with the sudden sacking of the now Real Madrid coach Julen Lopeteugi a day before the competition began and the appointment of Fernando Hierro.

An inexperienced and young Spanish side heading into this competition failed to make the type of impact they intended to, but the future of Spanish football is bright.

However, Spain's 2010 hero Andreas Iniesta has announced his international retirement and for some of the senior players such as Pique, Ramos, and Pepe Reina, it maybe their last ever World Cup.

FIFA World Cup 2018: Uruguay's Edinson Cavani knocks out Portugal to seal a quarter-final place

Edinson Cavani: Uruguay's "Man of the Moment"

His spectacular brace sends Portugal home

Uruguay  now await the "magnificent" France in the quarter-finals

Uruguay Vs Portugal

Cavani 7', 62'

Pepe 55'

Match Highlights

Edinson Cavani put in the best performance of his career scoring a brace which led Uruguay sealing qualification into the quarter-finals and also ending Portugal's WC campaign.

With both sides starting with their strongest line-ups, Uruguay grabbed the early advantage as Luis Suarez played a delicious cross from the left wing onto Cavani's head, and the PSG striker's header had the right amount of power and accuracy thumping Uruguay into the lead.

Cristiano Ronaldo rallied his side as they pushed in for the equalizer but the Uruguay defense who hadn't conceded a goal in the competition so far kept them at bay in the first half.

But, in the second-half, Portugal got the breakthrough in the 55th minute as an unmarked Pepe rose high to head in the equalizer. 

Cavani's spectacular second

Portugal's dominance lasted for a mere 5-6 minutes as Uruguay launched a devastating counter-attack which led to Cavani taking a first-time curling shot; spectacular from every angle, and bring the advantage back to his side.

Uruguay's night was going perfectly in every way but an injury to their goal-hero Cavani saw him limp off and he was also helped off the field by Ronaldo, making the stadium rise and applaud from all ends for the kind gesture.

But, Ronaldo who could have played his last ever World Cup couldn't save his side as Uruguay marched on with a tough challenge now awaiting against France who sent Ronaldo's compatriot Lionel Messi and Argentina home with a 4-3 defeat.

Final Conclusion:

Uruguay showed heart in yet another game in their World Cup campaign and so far, they are the only team to win all their four games.

They perhaps have one of the best center back partnerships in Europe at the moment with Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez, partnering at club as well as international level. Even though their all-around team isn't with the most recognized players in the world, they are giving it their all every single time they wear the Uruguay colors.

They also have the World Cup's fiercest strike-pair of Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani; if both players stay fit, they will make it to the finals and perhaps even win the competition.

For Portugal, this World Cup may have been the last one for most of their players including Pepe, Jose Fonte, Joao Moutinho and notably, their captain Cristiano Ronaldo.

They do have a bright future awaiting ahead with their young crop of players who are capable of winning trophies in the future. It's sad to see both Ronaldo and Messi head out of the competition on the same day but Its Football and we all have to accept it.