Belgium shot Brazil out of the World Cup with a 2-1 quarterfinal win yesterday to set up a semifinal dash with France on Tuesday.

The five-time champions did everything in their power to crawl out of the 2-0 hole they had found themselves in within the first 30 minutes - which saw Fernandinho head the ball into his own net before Kevin de Bruyne fired in a dean right-footer into Allison Becker's far post -- but could only pull back one in the 83rd minute of the game. It was a Renato Augusto header that finally beat Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who made at least half a dozen saves to take the men in red dose to dreamland.

Earlier, in the first quarterfinal match,

France had made light work of Uruguay in a 2-0 win, who looked lost in attack without star striker Edinson Cavani to complement Luis Suarez. Raphad Varane soared high and headed home the opening goal from a brilliant Antoine Griezmann free-kick in the 40th minute before Griezmann doubled the lead in the 61st minute courtesy of goalkeeper Fernando Muslera's incredible blunder.

For Brazil it was a chastening blow after playing so well in the last three games. Interestingly, it was the very ground where young French forward Kylian Mbappe destroyed Argentina with his pace and guile a week ago. Last night it was the turn of Manchester United forward Romelu Lukaku, who rattled a Brazil defence that conceded just one goal in the last four games.

Belgium's opening goal came off a quick counter attack. Lukaku made a darting run down the middle before releasing the ball to Marouane Fellaini, whose shot was blocked for a corner. Belgian defender Vincent Kompany's backwards header from the near post was deflected into Brazil's net by Fernandinho, who actually had a miserable game after coming into the team as a replacement for the suspended Casemiro.

Belgium silenced the five-time world champions again in the 31st minute. Although De Bruyne scored with neat rightfooter past Alisson, the instigator was once again a giant Lukaku. The 25-year-old powered through the middle and drew almost all of Brazil’s defensive pack towards himself before releasing a perfect through pass wide on the

ight-hand side from where Manchester City forward De Bruyne made no mis-ake in drilling a low shot.

By time Brazil captain Miranda vas entrusted with the duty to defuse _ukaku, the Belgian had already done he damage. After that it was the Courtois' turn, the Chelsea goal-ceeper who kept Brazil at bay time md again.

It is not that Brazil were at the receiving end in a game that was alayed at a frantic pace. They were tot only unlucky to have one of their nany attempts come off the post, but hey had at least four shots saved by Courtois in the first half.

Brazil made two changes in the tecond half with Roberto Firmino :oming on in place ofWillian at the nterval before Gabriel Jesus made vay for Douglas Costa in 55th min-ite to bolster the attack.

They created a lot of opportunities nut were only to be blamed as they wasted at least four chances with only Courtois to beat. Augusto replaced ?aulinho in the 70th minute and leaded a Coutinho floater into the let in the 73rd minute.

Brazil still had plenty of time to score but somehow managed to hoot the ball wide from advanta-jeous positions.

With the game heading into the last en minutes and a tiring Belgium resort-ng to time wasting, Neymar dashed iown the flank before providing a neat cutback to Firmino, whose left footed hot on the turn flew over the bar.

Augusta had only Courtois to beat n the 80th minute but shot the ball idles over the bar. Brazil had a final hance to take the game into extra-ime when Neymar nicely fed Soutinho with a superb cutback in he 85th minute. But the Barcelona brward, who had earlier in the tour-lament scored a couple of magnifi-:ent goals, somehow managed to hoot the ball over the bar from top if the box. And when Courtios ipped Neymar's curler over the bar, a iefeat was a foregone conclusion.

Brazil's departure from the tourna-nent means that six out of the eight earns who have already won the Aforld Cup have left the biggest stage, -rance, who dispatched former cham-lions Uruguay 2-0 in the first match if the day, are one of two remaining leavyweights alongside England.