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World Cup

Dramatic late winner sees Belgium crush Japanese dreams

Samba Boys Brazil await in the last eight

Brazil knocked Mexico out of the World Cup
Brazil knocked Mexico out of the World CupCredit: Hector Vivas

The incredible action at Russia 2018 keeps coming thick and fast, with Belgium coming back from two-goals down to beat Japan 3-2 thanks to a goal from West Brom's Nacer Chadli deep into injury time.

Backers of Belgium would have been fearing the worst after two superb strikes from Genki Haraguchi and Takashi Inui put Japan within touching distance of a World Cup quarter-final against Brazil, but a looping header from Jan Vertonghen and close-range effort from Marouane Fellaini squared it up before Chadli's dramatic winner.

Bet365 paid out on both Belgium and Japan due to their early payout offer - bets paid out as a winner if a team goes two goals ahead - and the firm reported their worst in-play result of the tournament after Belgium touched 20-1 to win the match when 2-0 down.


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Roberto Martinez's lads were available at up to 33-1 to win the World Cup in-play, but are now just 7-1 and Belgium face a much greater threat in the last eight where they will tackle tournament favourites Brazil.

The Samba Boys were a little short of swagger but they eased past Mexico with a 2-0 victory in Sochi to stay firmly top of the World Cup betting.

The Selecao have been cut from 7-2 to 11-4 clear favourites as they advanced to the quarter-finals.

It took time to open up a spirited Mexico outfit but main man Neymar struck six minutes into the second half to set Brazil on their way. The PSG frontman had been 3-1 favourite to score first, and he also set up the clinching goal on 88 minutes for Liverpool's Roberto Firmino.

It was only his second goal at Russia 2018 and Neymar remains a 16-1 shot to finish as top scorer, while he is 6-1 to be named Player of the Tournament - Harry Kane and Philippe Coutinho are the same price behind 5-1 favourite Kylian Mbappe.

With Spain, Argentina and Portugal all gone, Betway make a Brazil v Croatia final their 7-1 favourite, while it's 15-2 that Brazil face England in the tournament showpiece on July 15.


Match reports

Brazil 2 Mexico 0Belgium v Japan


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