World Cup 2018 - Brazil 2-0 Mexico, RESULT: Neymar and Roberto Firmino goals help ease their side into the World Cup quarter-finals

For 20 minutes we looked like having a proper contest on our hands. But once Mexico's threat on the flanks died down, Brazil rarely looked like being troubled.

Tite's men are now through to the quarter-finals where they will now face either Belgium or Japan... and that is coming up next this evening here.

That's all from me here though - thanks for following and cheerio.

Brazil are through to the World Cup quarter-finals

90+5min: Mexico still attack but there has been nothing about them since the first 20 minutes of this game. Even with this being against Brazil, this is a rather meek exit from the Mexicans.

90+5min: Mexico still attack but there has been nothing about them since the first 20 minutes of this game. Even with this being against Brazil, this is a rather meek exit from the Mexicans.

90+2min: With that seventh straight last-16 exit now knocking on the door, Mexico are losing their minds a bit as Guardado pick sup a booking for a foul.

90+1min: We are into six added minutes as Brazil send on Marquinhos for Willian.

Here is how Firmino made the game safe for Brazil:

88min: Job done. Brazil counter through Neymar on the left, and while his shot across goal is well saved by Ochoa, Roberto Firmino is on hand to tap home.

86min: It's Roberto Firmino coming on as he replaces former Liverpool team-mate Philippe Coutinho who makes the customary slow jog off the pitch.

85min: All the play is with Mexico but it's going nowhere right now - even if a cross does eventually win them a corner. Brazil are preparing another change.

83min: Nothing much happening on the field right now, so back to Neymar's acting skills. It was quite amusing seeing him crawl across the turf to make space for rolling around...

80min: First change for Brazil and it sees Paulinho make way for Fernandinho as Brazil look to protect what they have, which at the moment is a place in the World Cup quarter-finals.

79min: That Neymar incident has rather stopped the flow of this game and after a dull few minutes, Mexico now find themselves 10 minutes away from going out of the World Cup. Is there a last charge to com from them. I;m not too sure - there are a lot of tired bodies out there.

76min: Neymar is not going to be too popular in Mexico tonight. His goal already looks like sending them out now he is down again following a challenge from Carlos Salcedo who is booked.

73min: We've all seen that Neymar meme where he goes for a roll everywhere, and his over-theatrics are back centre stage.

On the touchline Miguel Layun leaves a sneaky foot on the forward's ankle trying to retrieve the ball and that causes Neymar to start rolling around like the Mexico star has just thrown a sledgehammer down on him.

The reaction is pathetic, but the fact is Layun's conduct was atrocious and he probably should have been sent off there. 

He is not even booked.

70min: Half-chance for Mexico. A cross from the right is cleared away but only as far as Andres Guardado whose 20-yard first time strike is blocked by Casemiro.

68min: It's been a better second half and Mexico you feel are just holding on a little now. Willian squares the ball for Gabriel Jesus on the edge of the box, whose bottom corner bound drive is deflected wide for a corner.

65min: Credit to Mexico here - even with the gaps they are giving this a good go. Hirving Lozanao picks up the ball in the box but his low ball across goal has no takers.

63min: Gaps are appearing in the Mexico defence as they begin to gamble going forward, in combination with a few tired legs starting to show. Brazil have a good effort on goal but Ochoa saves well again, this time from Willian.

60min: Paulinho sees a shot well saved by Ochoa as Casemiro is booked for a late challenge shortly after - he will now miss the quarter-final through suspension as it stands.

Mexico make a final change as Raul Jimenez comes on for Javier Hernandez.

58min: Mexico are going to have to attack Brazil at some point. The trouble is Brazil are still pressing for a second goal to follow up this Neymar effort:

55min: Second change for Mexico as Jonathan Dos Santos replaces Edison Alvarez, while Hector Herrera is booked after bringing down Willian. He will miss the quarter-final should Mexico turn this game around.

54min: If this was a Premier League match there would be chants of 'It's happening again' around Samara. Mexico are now on course to exit the last-16 for a seventh consecutive World Cup.

51min: Breakthrough from Brazil! Willian does all the hard work as he shows a burst of acceleration to get into the box before he cuts a low ball across goal for Neymar to slide home at the back post.

50min: Mexico are often leaving as many three up top to break on the counter attack - a similar system helped take apart Germany. Jesus Gallardo fires over from distance though.

48min: Brazil on top from the off. Neymar wins a corner from the left and that results in a chance being set up for Philippe Coutinho, whose shot is very well beaten away by Guillermo Ochoa.

We may have just seen the last of Rafael Marquez in a Mexico shirt after 21 years as he has been replaced by Migeul Layun.

Which is a credit to the Mexico defence who have kept the Paris Saint-Germain forward quiet.

Neymar did have one good moment on the ball though where he cut inside before seeing a shot blocked. 

Not too much happening right now. Mexico managed to limit Brazil's growing momentum during that first half. But neither side have really created a clear cut chance in the stifling heat. Slow burner?

44min: Well that was just rubbish. The ball crossed into the box fails to find any Mexican player and it gives Alisson an easy take.

43min: With a similar tackle in terms of its recklessness, Filipe Luis is now booked for hacking down Vela. Mexico with a free-kick 35 yards out to the right.

42min: Mexico are struggling a bit now, and would probably settle for half-time now if you offered it to them as Ochoa does well to claim a low Willian cross.

40min: Neymar indeed goes for goal but it's wide of the top corner and it was never troubling Ochoa.

39min: First booking of the game as Edson Alvarez rather recklessly clatters Neymar 35 yards from the Mexico goal. It's not classic shooting range, but Neymar is eyeing this up. 

36min: Still quite low tempo between the teams but you do sense Brazil are starting to work their way up the gears.

33min: Brazil are getting closer to an opening goal. Gabriel Jesus weaves his way through green shirts inside the box before his shot is blocked. The ball falls loose for another Brazil forward who also sees an effort charged down before Mexico eventually clear.

30min: Brazil have come into this game a bit since their curiously cautious start but the game remains even in terms of possession. Mexico  are not quite posing the same problems down the flanks as they were earlier.

27min: Like a light switch, Brazil have suddenly turned it on. Mexico are left scrambling to clear a set-piece before Philippe Coutinho wastes an effort from the edge of the box.

'Our press position here is above the Mexican left flank - a perfect spot to see that this is where the central Americans are hurting Brazil in an excellent start. The right back Fagner is coming under intense pressure and looks the Brazil weak link to me.'

25min: Chance for Brazil! Neymar has been close to anonymous but with a drop of the shoulder he bursts into the box with stunning pace only to see his shot from an acute angle blocked by Ochoa. Good stop.

22min: Brilliant from Carlos Vela. The former Arsenal midfielder controls a long ball on the flank before quickly cutting inside to leave Fagner trailing.

He then squares the ball for Hector Herrera who inside the box takes one touch too many before failing to get a clear shot on goal.

21min: It's been a really interesting first 20 minutes. I was half expecting Mexico to be sitting back and waiting to counter on Brazil but that has not been the case at all.

Mexico are playing all the football and instead it is Brazil who are doing a lot of the organised defending.

18min: Outside of that Neymar snapshot we still have not seen too much from Brazil. They win a corner on the right but Willian's delivery is easily cleared.

15min: Mexico have been the better side so far, they certainly are winning the battle against Brazil's full-backs.

Hirving Lozano brings down a beautiful pass on the right before beating Filipe Luis and crossing through the six-yard box and just out of reach of Hernandez at the back post. 

'Covered about 10 game at this tournament but none with atmosphere quite like this. Brazil and Mexico fans' deafening booing each time the other side picks up possession. South and Central American presence here in Russia has been monumental.'

10min: Another scare at the back for Brazil, as Fagner struggles to stop the flow of Mexico attacks down the right.

It's another corner but although the set-piece is headed into the path of Javier Hernandez, he is flagged offside.

7min: First sight of goal from Neymar as from the edge of the box he spots a small gap to shoot. However his effort is straight at Guillermo Ochoa, who perhaps should do  little better than parrying out wide.

5min: No urgency on the ball from Brazil so far but that isn't too much surprise. In fact it's probably the best way to approach the opening minutes as conditions are very hot and humid in Samara - more so in fact than in Brazil or Mexico.

2min: Good start from Mexico who create a half-chance. Alisson poorly punches clear a looping cross before Miranda is forced to block a Mexico shot.

It gives Mexico a corner but Brazil manage to clear their lines.

Here is a reminder of the full team news:

Brazil: Alisson, Fagner, Thiago Silva, Miranda, Filipe Luis, Paulinho, Casemiro, Willian, Coutinho, Neymar, Gabriel Jesus.

Subs: Cassio, Pedro Geromel, Renato Augusto, Marcelo, Marquinhos, Danilo, Fernandinho, Fred, Firmino, Taison, Ederson.

Mexico: Ochoa, Alvarez, Ayala, Salcedo, Gallardo, Herrera, Marquez, Guardado, Vela, Hernandez, Lozano.
Subs: Jose de Jesus Corona, Gutierrez, Jonathan, Layun, Fabian, Jimenez, Giovani, Jesus Corona, Peralta, Aquino, Talavera.

Referee: Gianluca Rocchi (Italy)

The reward for Brazil or Mexico today would be a quarter-final clash with Belgium or Japan who face each other later in the evening.

Uruguay and France is the other quarter-final on this side of the draw.

Let me explain. A couple of the Mexico squad have dyed their hair blonde, including Javier Hernandez.

Although thankfully most of the squad have avoided the fashion faux pas from World Cup '98 where every member of the Romania squad dyed their blonde after beating England in the group stage.

'Even the warm-up keep-ball game for the Brazil subs is entertaining. None stays in circle for long as the passes are a galaxy of tricks. Some subs’ bench here for Brazil.'

Turns out he is a Brazil fan. Who knew?

Curious one this as it is almost a reversal of Brazil's fortunes. They started like a train defeating world champions Germany 1-0, and cruised into a 2-0 lead over South Korea before conceding a stoppage-time consolation.

They looked good to top the group but then collapsed in a 3-0 defeat by Sweden.

Read more World Cup fixtures, tables and results here

'Surprise among the Mexican media contingent here that coach Juan Carlos Osorio is bringing in 39-year-old Rafael Marquez, to operate in front of a probable three-man defence. Marquez has history, as we reported last month.'

Seems a while ago now, but for nearly two games the five-time champions were really struggling.

A 1-1 draw against Switzerland was followed by what was looking likely to be a goalless draw with Costa Rica... only for Philippe Coutinho and Neymar to score in stoppage time.

Serbia hardly troubled them in the final group game and now Tite's squad look like kicking on.

Read more World Cup fixtures, tables and results here

It comes in at left-back, with Marcelo dropping out the starting XI as former Chelsea player Filipe Luis is drafted into the team that comfortably saw off Serbia 2-0 to win Group E.

Allison, Filipe Luis, Miranda, Silva, Fagner, Casemiro, Paulinho, Coutinho, Willian, Jesus, Neymar.

That is one brave call from Mexico, who throw in Rafael Marquez as well as Hugo Ayala in place of Miguel Layun and Hector Moreno in their defence to face Brazil as they make two changes from the side beaten 3-0 by Sweden.

Marquez may have the experience playing in his fifth World Cup but he is also 39-years-old...

As Mike Bassett would say though, if you are old enough, you are good enough. 

Ochoa, Gallardo, Salcedo, Ayala, Alvarez, Marquez, Herrera, Guardado, Vela, Lozano, Hernandez.

I feel like I have been a bit harsh on them and we have only been going 20 minutes.

So here is a stat that might encourage them a bit. Their World Cup record over Brazil may be poor but they have not lost against them in this competition since 1962.

Their last meeting was only four years ago in a group stage draw. Don't remember it? Don't be too surprised - it was goalless. None of that today please.

Well the stats don't look good for Mexico. Their record against Brazil is dreadful (see below) while they have never won a World Cup knock-out match on foreign soil.

In fact, they have been knocked out of the World Cup in the last-16 for the last six World Cups.

To put a positive spin on it, at least they are consistent.

Argentina out, Portugal out, Spain out. Could Brazil follow?

They take on a Mexico side who have been a little bit inconsistent so far as I welcome you to live coverage of the World Cup.