Brazil vs Mexico: Brazil beat Mexico 2-0 to reach quarter-finals at 2018 FIFA World Cup

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbE4SOruc2nUysAWBNFcvtYsozvcFGUr_ChiRbeFaih6P3I_nTwYGcBMVpzs29XqikAGza77IEPRHcm6xzjey3dhVdIj_W-XyJasNKILa6dC6iR66V85rbPhOUxxepzuVdIpNO93ilD8Dy/s1600/brazil-neymar1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbE4SOruc2nUysAWBNFcvtYsozvcFGUr_ChiRbeFaih6P3I_nTwYGcBMVpzs29XqikAGza77IEPRHcm6xzjey3dhVdIj_W-XyJasNKILa6dC6iR66V85rbPhOUxxepzuVdIpNO93ilD8Dy/s640/brazil-neymar1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neymar celebrates after scoring the opening goal. </td></tr> </tbody></table> Brazil roared in the World Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 victory over Mexico on Monday as Neymar shone with a goal and an assist that dumped the central Americans out at the last-16 stage for the seventh straight occasion.<br /> <br /> The PSG forward slid home in the second half and then teed up Roberto Firmino late on as the five-time champions beat an otherwise stubborn Mexico, whose World Cup began with such promise with a victory over champions Germany but ended in familiar fashion in the first knockout round.<br /> <br /> It was the seventh World Cup running that Brazil have reached the last eight, where they will now face Belgium or Japan, while Mexico have not made it to that stage since they hosted the tournament in 1986.<br /> <br /> Mexico, who enjoyed an enviable recent record against Brazil having won seven of their previous 15 matches against them, were a threat on the counter in the first half but then faded without ever really being put to the sword.<br /> <br /> A glaring spotlight had been on Neymar after his opening three performances saw him miss a litany of chances, frequently squander possession and spend far too long on the turf.<br /> <br /> Yet he answered a number of questions with a much more positive display and a decisive finish early in the second half from a move that he had started himself, although his propensity for histrionics were again in evidence.<br /> <br /> Minutes after the restart Brazil took the lead in exquisite fashion with Neymar starting and ending the move.<br /> <br /> He darted across the edge of the area before a perfect backheel released Willian, whose low cross fizzed into the danger area where Neymar slid in to turn the ball home.<br /> <br /> It was a choking blow for Mexico, who had been the better side for the opening half an hour, pegging Brazil back and creating several half chances.<br /> <br /> <br /> Brazil had to wait until the 88th minute to put the match to bed as Neymar was the architect, crossing for Firmino to tap the ball home.<br /> <br /> They will have to do without defensive midfielder Casemiro in the quarters, however, after he picked up his second booking.<br /> <br /> Credit: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ Brazil national football team Brazil vs Mexico Featured FIFA World Cup FIFA World Cup Round of 16 Igor Akinfeev Mexico Football Team Neymar Jr. Sports Brazil vs Mexico: Brazil beat Mexico 2-0 to reach quarter-finals at 2018 FIFA World Cup

Neymar celebrates after scoring the opening goal.  Brazil roared in the World Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 victory over Mexico on Monda...

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FIFA World Cup 2018: Russia defeat Spain 4-3 on penalties after match ends 1-1 after extra time

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqd99Vl6seaUeOs3vG2d4i6p63UEq7xRUkhdWcR2aJFA462Gic93lj8nAJMJva7UnEYBL544T5ZWgEoclNJ4011UogrCB69t3QkjEXxbA_iEujDY5zkR31hVyp24QtMfDMksQFIEtRd3C/s1600/Spain1-vs-Russia1-3-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqd99Vl6seaUeOs3vG2d4i6p63UEq7xRUkhdWcR2aJFA462Gic93lj8nAJMJva7UnEYBL544T5ZWgEoclNJ4011UogrCB69t3QkjEXxbA_iEujDY5zkR31hVyp24QtMfDMksQFIEtRd3C/s640/Spain1-vs-Russia1-3-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Russia defeat Spain 4-3 on penalties after match ends 1-1</td></tr> </tbody></table> <h2> <ul> <li>The Luzhniki Stadium has exploded into a sea of celebrations. The hosts, Russians are into the quarter-finals!</li> <li>Russia stun Spain with penalty shootout win to reach quarter finals, Iago Aspas and Koke miss pens.</li> <li>Russia hung on in extra time to beat Spain on penalties in a shock result that sends the hosts through to the last eight of World Cup 2018.</li> <li>Russia reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the second time in history, after they achieved the feat in 1966.</li> </ul> </h2> In a match where Spain enjoyed 79 per cent of possession, not even the positive impact of another stand-out performance from Isco could break down the Russia defence to give Spain the easy win many had predicted.<br /> <br /> Two saves from Igor Akinfeev in the penalty shoot-out gave the hosts the 4-3 win.<br /> <br /> The match still started well for Spain. Russia seemed overwhelmed by the occasion for the first time this tournament, in this their first knock-out stage match at a World Cup since Mexico 1986.<br /> <br /> The first goal highlighted this quality discrepancy early on, as abysmal Russia defending gave Spain the lead. Sergei Ignashevich seemed more concerned by bulldozing Sergio Ramos down in the six-yard box than defending the Spain corner, and with his back to the ball accidentally clipped it over the line to put Russia behind in the 11th minute.<br /> Spain's Sergio Ramos was fouled by Russia's Sergei Ignashevich, who directed the ball into his own net.<br /> <br /> But some counter-attacking from Russia late in the half gave paid off, as a Russia corner turned into a penalty thanks to Gerard Pique's flailing arm catching the ball in the air.<br /> <br /> Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov couldn't even bear to watch, turning his back on the action as the weight of the country's expectations fell on Artem Dzyuba's shoulders.<br /> <br /> But you wouldn't have guessed it, as the striker coolly slotted the penalty into the bottom-left corner of the goal in the 41st minute to the delight of the home crowd's booming cheers.<br /> <br /> Spain's frustration going into the half-time undoubtedly motivated their much more positive start to the second period - with more purposeful crossing and penetration at goal, but still struggling to create tangible goal-scoring opportunities.  Report by Molly McElwee.<br /> <br /> credit: telegraph.co.uk

2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ Featured FIFA World Cup FIFA World Cup Round of 16 Igor Akinfeev Russia football team Sergio Ramos Sergio Ramos García Spain Football Team Spain vs Russia Sports FIFA World Cup 2018: Russia defeat Spain 4-3 on penalties after match ends 1-1 after extra time

Russia defeat Spain 4-3 on penalties after match ends 1-1 The Luzhniki Stadium has exploded into a sea of celebrations. The hosts, Rus...

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