XtraTime Web Desk: Belgium footballers can thank their teammate and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois whose heroics helped them to beat five-time champions Brazil 2-1 in the quarterfinals of the World Cup. After a remarkable performance against the Selecaos he hit back his critics and told that he proved himself to everyone after an “unfair” criticism.
While playing for Chelsea he didn’t have a great season in the Premier League and his future in the club was uncertain amid transfer rumours.
But he showed just why he has regularly been considered one of the world’s best goalkeepers on Friday in Kazan, producing a string of vital saves – including from Neymar late on – as Belgium managed to cling on to a 2-1 win and reach the World Cup semi-finals.
“I know Neymar likes to curl it that way, I was ready and made a good save,” Courtois said of his late stop to BBC Sport.
“I have been unfairly criticised a lot this year, today I proved again who I am and why I am here.
“Our tactical plan was great. We felt it was our day. It is a childhood dream to be in the World Cup.
“It’s incredible. This team wants to win every game, against England people said it was better to lose but we won the game, we have confidence in our team.”
Kevin De Bruyne, meanwhile, acknowledged that keeping up with Brazil at times in the second half was a struggle, but he saluted the Red Devils’ character.
“It’s not easy to play Brazil, they are a wonderful team,” De Bruyne said. “But the power we have as a team showed today. We were magnificent in the first half.
“Second half it was very difficult, they had a lot of players in the middle. In the last 15 minutes it was a character test and we showed the world what we are capable of.”
On the other hand as per Kevin De Bruyne Brazil had no idea how to contend with Belgium’s ferocity on the counter during the first half of the Red Devils’ “really beautiful” 2-1 World Cup quarter-final win.
Belgium went into half-time 2-0 up thanks to a Fernandinho own goal and De Bruyne’s fierce strike, giving a Brazil side previously seen as World Cup favourites a mountain to climb.
Both goals came as the result of swift counter-attacks – De Bruyne’s finish applied after a brilliant run and pass from Romelu Lukaku.
And De Bruyne feels Brazil’s inability to properly adapt to Belgium’s tactics ultimately cost them.
“I think we switched things up tactically,” Man of the Match De Bruyne told reporters at the Kazan Arena.
“Romelu [Lukaku] and Eden [Hazard] changed position they tried to create many opportunities with Marcelo on the flank.
“I think in the first half we played very well, generated a lot of opportunities and they didn’t really know what they had to do.
“In the second half they changed tactically and Brazil were better, but even then we managed to create opportunities.”