World Cup

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Attendance: 42,873

World Cup | Quarter-Finals

Jul 6, 2018 at 7pm UK

Brazil
1-2
Belgium

Augusto (76')

FT(HT: 0-2)

Fernandinho (13' og.), De Bruyne (31')

Belgium boss Roberto Martinez: 'Thomas Meunier can handle Brazil's Neymar'

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter

Published: July 5 2018 | 12:24

Last updated: July 6 2018 | 09:45

Belgium boss Roberto Martinez backs defender Thomas Meunier to handle the threat offered by Brazil's Neymar in the World Cup quarter-final between the two nations.

Belgium boss Roberto Martinez has backed Thomas Meunier to perform against Neymar in the nation's World Cup quarter-final clash with Brazil.

Two of the favourites for the competition meet in Kazan on Friday evening, and Meunier has recently suggested that he may struggle to handle the threat offered by his Paris Saint-Germain teammate.

However, Martinez has indicated that he has faith in the right wing-back after he nullified Neymar during a Champions League fixture when the attacker played for Barcelona.

Martinez told Goal.com: "It was one of the best defensive performances that Thomas Meunier has had and probably one of the best performances against Neymar.

"On that day, Paris Saint-Germain against Barcelona, it was a 4-0 defeat for Barcelona where Thomas Meunier defended Neymar's area really well, but then he went forward and assisted the fourth goal and it was a complete performance."

Meunier has contributed two assists in his three outings in Russia.