Belgium holds off Brazil to book semi-final date with France

A 76th-minute goal from Renato Augusto failed to inspire Brazil to a successful comeback, as the Selecao fell 2-1 to Belgium in Friday's quarter-final.

A Fernandinho own goal and a thunderous strike from Kevin De Bruyne gave Belgium a two-goal lead by half-time. The Red Devils will now meet France in the semi-final after Les Bleus defeated Uruguay 2-0 earlier in the day.

Brazil nearly found an equaliser in the dying minutes of stoppage time through Neymar, but Belgium 'keeper Thibaut Courtois made an incredible, fingertip save at full stretch to deny the Paris Saint-Germain star a dramatic goal.

It's only the second time Belgium has made it to the World Cup semi-finals, and the first instance since 1986 when it fell 2-0 to Argentina thanks to a pair of goals by Diego Maradona.

Brazil has now been eliminated in the quarter-finals at three of the last four World Cup tournaments. The one exception came four years ago when the Selecao was infamously throttled 7-1 at home by eventual champion Germany in the semi-final.

As the last standing South American side in the tournament following Uruguay's earlier exit, Brazil's elimination guarantees a European country will lift the World Cup trophy on July 15. It will mark the 12th time that a side from Europe wins the competition compared to nine from South America.