Match Previews

Danilo is ruled out. Casemiro is banned. Marcelo expected to be fit. Costa set to to the squad. Alves is sidelined.

Delivered a strong performance to overcome a dangerous and driven Mexico side in the last-16 clash on Monday. Brazil were under pressure at the back for quite a while but lifted their game in the second half and goals from Neymar and Roberto Firmino propelled them to a satisfying and assured performance.

It seems like Brazil are emerging as the leading candidate for the World Cup title now as they are growing ever more in confidence and seem pretty assured at the back, having kept three clean sheets in a row now.

Will be looking to lift their game further for the blockbuster game against a star-studded Belgium side for a place in the last four. Brazil will be prepared for a different challenge against a side playing three at the back but they will look to stick to their strengths and maintain the tempo that has been garnered in the past ten days or so.

Casemiro is a major absentee for the Belgium game as he picked his second booking of the competition against Mexico and is thus suspended. Fernandinho is hardly a downgrade in terms of a replacement, however. Marcelo is set to be restored in the starting 11 as he is progressing well on injury and should be able to feature.

Thiago Silva and Paulinho sustained minor niggles at the end of the Mexico game but are training well and there is no real doubt about their participation. Danilo suffered a new ankle injury in training and is out for the rest of the World Cup. Douglas Costa is also back training after missing two games with a thigh injury and is set to included on the bench for the game. Dani Alves is a long-term absentee.

Brazil faced Belgium once in the World Cup before, winning 2:0 in 2002 in a last-16 tie.