One team has attacking football written into the DNA while the other is currently enjoying a generation that, while yet to be proven golden, continues to express a love of goals.
Five-time World Cup winners Brazil have been efficient if not breathlessly exciting so far but turned up the heat in a stifling Samara when they needed to in the round of 16 against Mexico.
Belgium, meanwhile, pulled their World Cup hopes out of the fire as substitutes Marouane Fellaini and Nacer Chadli sparked a nerve-shredding 3-2 win over Japan.
It’s hard to imagine the ball will stay out of the net. But who are the players likely to place it there? We look at some of the key battles below.
Histrionics aside, the boy who would be King has elevated his game with each match as he continues to shake off the ring-rust that saw him sidelined with a foot injury back in February.
Against Mexico he looked more relaxed and was happy to trust his stellar supporting cast with more of the ball rather than taking on the world himself.
Indeed, he only completed two dribbles against El Tri while making five key passes, including the cheeky back-heel to Willian which led to the PSG superstar’s opener.
If Belgium roll out the green carpet in between midfield and defence like they did against Japan, it’ll be easy pickings for Neymar.
He’s been fouled nearly six times per game so far and roughly dispossessed the same amount. Whatever happens – he’ll make himself the centre of attention.
Eden Hazard has been less conspicuous than Neymar but that is through no fault of his own, as the statistics suggest he has been every bit as good as his Brazilian counterpart so far.
The Chelsea forward was the only player that consistently troubled Japan, first half and second, as defenders didn’t know whether to back off due to his pace or get touch-tight with his dribbling.
It was both that did for the Japanese in the end, as his twist and burst of pace on the left opened up the space for him to pick out Marouane Fellaini for the equaliser.
With Casemiro banned, Brazil have lost a crucial layer of defensive coating ahead of Miranda and Thiago Silva. It is likely Fernandinho who will be asked to perform mop-up duties but right-back Fagner also needs to have the game of his life against the drifting dribbler.
PHILIPPE COUTINHO v KEVIN DE BRUYNE
Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi came to inglorious ends swiftly in the knockouts. If they had a Phillipe Coutinho to dovetail with then most likely their storybooks wouldn’t have slammed shut in the round of 16.
Indeed Neymar is lucky to have a player that so effortlessly unearths space between the lines and treats the ball with the utmost care – all while having the daring to pick out a pass and launch long-range howitzers.
His pass success rate so far at the World Cup is 90 per cent, which is quite remarkable for a player tasked to move the needle in the attacking third.
Belgium likely underestimated Japan’s efficacy in those areas, so lackadaisical were they in cutting off space in Rostov, and while Coutinho will be afforded more respect the Barcelona midfielder will like what he will have seen.
Takashi Inui’s superb strike is almost meat and drink to Coutinho, who averages 4.3 shots per game and already has a similar effort for his World Cup portfolio from the game against Switzerland.
Kevin De Bruyne is of the same silky ilk but sits deeper with Belgium than he does for Manchester City and that has curbed some of his effectiveness.
The wonderful counter-attack he sparked to set up Belgium’s late, late winner versus Japan was the first time we’ve truly seen a trademark De Bruyne moment in Russia.
When he plays alongside a safe but limited Axel Witsel in a midfield two, he has more responsibility to sit back – particularly with how recklessly attacking Belgium can be under Roberto Martinez.
De Bruyne might have some more freedom in which to operate against Brazil, with Casemiro out and the Canarinho’s own tendencies to pour forward, but a shrewd Tite is bound to have a plan to keep the shackles on Belgium’s chief playmaker.
MARCELO v YANNICK CARRASCO
Marcelo was not risked in the sapping heat in Samara as Tite treats his back injury with kid gloves, but he’ll be relishing the prospect of exploiting Belgium’s open flanks.
Though he started the game admirably, 20-year-old Mexico full-back Edson Alvarez was eventually taken to school by Neymar and that was without the usual support of the marauding Marcelo.
Thomas Meunier, a defender by trade, should be fairly well-equipped to tackle that particular challenge but worryingly he’s conceded fouls at a rate more than any other Belgian – an average of 2.7 per game.
If Marcelo is fit enough to replace a solid but unspectacular Filipe Luis, and he, Neymar and Coutinho start weaving triangles, then it’s difficult to see how the Red Devils will be able to keep the Canarinho at bay.
On the other side Yannick Carrasco’s place on the left for Belgium is under threat after going walkabouts defensively for much of the game against Japan.
At times he could barely be seen on screen as Japan were given the freedom of Rostov down that side – with left-sided centre-back Jan Vertonghen crying out for help. The ruthlessly direct Willian is sure to cut a repeat performance to ribbons
Given that Nacer Chadli came on in his stead and scored the winning goal at the death, there is no guarantee he will get a second chance.
Carrasco and Chadli have both had their moments up the other end of the pitch, however, and while Fagner has been quietly effective for Brazil this will most certainly be his acid test.
