Belgium coach Roberto Martinez said Thursday he expects his squad to match Brazil's talent, effort and skill level, but the thing that separates the teams is World Cup-winning pedigree.

Speaking at Kazan Arena ahead of the teams' quarterfinal on Friday, the 44-year-old Spaniard touched on the magnitude of the Red Devil's quest to reach the World Cup semifinals for the first time since 1986, and only second time ever.

He said Brazil long ago put behind them the psychological barrier that his team must breach if they are to take the next step in their World Cup journey.

(Belgium coach Roberto Martinez) [Getty/Kyodo]

"Brazil have, apart from the technical, tactical, and all the talent in their squad, they have the know-how and the mentality to know what it takes to win," he said of the five-time World Cup champions.

"The two sides are very similar in the qualities that we have. The difference is that we have not won a World Cup, it's as simple as that."

After staking a claim to the underdog label, Martinez explained that Belgium, like Brazil, will rely on individual talent, seeking out one-on-one situations, playing open soccer and, most importantly, scoring goals.

"We are not a team that relies on keeping clean sheets," he said. "Tomorrow, you have to be perfect when you defend, but we rely on what we can do on the ball, same as Brazil."

Controlling the Selecao's on-ball maestro Neymar will be essential if Belgium is to advance, and perhaps ominously, Brazil coach Tite said the Paris Saint-Germain superstar is just finding form.

He said Neymar has been "participating collectively" in the team rather than dominating, something for which he has taken flak at home.

"What makes me happy is to have him playing at his best, more than that," the 57-year-old said. "It is not just winning the ball and not just dribbling. There are defensive transitions."

"Sometimes he will counterattack and I don't even want (him to), but the sense of teamwork is the best virtue."

If Neymar is key to Brazil's hopes, for Belgium it is Romelu Lukaku.

The man who was at the very center of Japan's late-game round-of-16 downfall in Rostov-on-Don, Lukaku may hold his country's hopes in his hands.

For the giant Manchester United attacker, the task ahead against Brazil provides an opportunity to judge Belgium's growth against the benchmark, he said.

"We are playing against the favorites, and it will definitely be a test to see where we are as a team," Lukaku said. "We know it won't be easy, but we have enough quality to make the difference."

(Lukaku (R) challenges Maya Yoshida in Belgium's 3-2 win over Japan in the round of 16) 

Lukaku explained that Belgium's 3-2, come-from-behind win over Japan provided a lesson to use against Brazil.

"Nothing in life is easy. If you want to achieve something, you have to fight every time. The game against Japan was a sign of that, we had to fight to the last second, and I wanted that message to pass on to the players."

Tite wants Brazil to bring a similar attitude to the match.

"We need a team that is mentally strong...The greatest challenge of the World Cup is the mental fortitude, the pressure is immense, it is extraordinary, and it proliferates," he said.

"The creative power of Belgium is very strong, their quality (also)...Two teams that play beautiful football, with their different characteristics, they have individual technical value, it is going to be a great match.