Belgium defence key - Claesen

Former striker Nico Claesen believes defensive organisation will be crucial if Belgium are to get past Brazil in tonight’s (Friday 6 July) World Cup quarter-final in Kazan (7pm UK).

A Spurs player between 1986 and 1988, Nico scored three goals during the Red Devils’ famous run to the semi-finals of the 1986 World Cup and also featured for his nation at the tournament in 1990.

The 55-year-old continues to keep a close eye on the exploits of Roberto Martinez’s men in Russia and, in particular, our trio in the squad of Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Mousa Dembele.

After seeing them come back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 against Japan in a dramatic last 16 tie earlier this week, he says the way Belgium contain Brazil’s three-pronged attack will have a major bearing on this evening’s game.

“Belgium are playing in a 3-4-3 for the moment and only in the last 20 minutes against Japan they changed a little bit with four at the back,” he explained.

“At that moment, Kevin De Bruyne played a little bit higher because they were 2-0 down and they had to do something, so I hope that Martinez will try to put that good organisation into effect when they play against Brazil.

“The Brazilians have a good attacking way of playing – the defence stays always low, the attackers stay high so the midfield has to do a lot of work. If Belgium play three at the back with Alderweireld, Vertonghen and now Vincent Kompany, when they play against three front players it’s man against man. With Brazil having three out of Neymar, Willian, Gabriel Jesus or Roberto Firmino, they play with three at the front in a 4-3-3 so then we play man against man at the back.

“Everybody speaks about the golden generation of Belgium but I hope we can do it against Brazil. Maybe if we play with good organisation we can do it. The most important thing is that we can go to the next round.”

Defender Jan was on target with a looping header to kick-start the revival against Japan and Nico is pleased to see him performing solidly on the world stage along with Toby and Mousa when he plays.

“Jan scored a goal in the last game, a lucky goal, but it was good for the Belgian team because sometimes you have to be lucky,” he added.

“Toby plays at his level, he plays for the team but Dembele hasn’t played that much. Saying that, when he played against England in the last group game he was one of the best players, he didn’t lose the ball and he was strong one against one. We know that Axel Witsel is always the man that the trainer puts on the teamsheet first in that midfield position and he does the job so I believe we cannot discuss that position. Sometimes we can discuss the second midfield position though. Now De Bruyne plays alongside Witsel but then in the last 20 minutes against Japan he played a little bit higher.”