CNN
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All eight teams have now secured their place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup. Who are they and how did they get there?
when: Friday, December 9, at 10 a.m. ET
where: Education City Stadium
Croatia
Perhaps the weakest team on paper in the quarterfinals, Croatia look like a team struggling to regain the control that saw them reach the final in 2018. The team was comfortably held by Morocco in the group stage, lucky to draw with them. Had to rely on penalties to beat Belgium and Japan in the last 16.
For any other team, that would be a concern. But the Croatian has shown that he is a master at navigating matches that go down to the wire. All three of its knockout games in 2018 went to extra-time or penalties, but in each of them, the Croatians looked like the team in control.
This experience was on display against Japan. Much like their semi-final win over England four years ago, this was a game in which Croatia looked stronger and stronger as the game wore on. That tournament’s experience and flair will be put to the test as Cocasti faces a Brazilian side that suggests its pre-tournament tag as favourites.
Group Stage:
Morocco 0-0 Croatia
Croatia 4-1 Canada
Croatia 0-0 Belgium
16th Round:
Croatia 1-1 Japan (Croatia won 3-1 on penalties)
Brazil
A Seleção, for the first time in 20 years, looks as good as fans hoped. The five-time world champions comfortably defeated stubborn European rivals Serbia before resting the first team against Cameroon. But against South Korea, the world saw what this team is really capable of.
Brazil won the match within the first seven minutes Jogo bonito (The Beautiful Game) Back in the World Cup, scoring for fun. Neymar – after missing the final two group stage matches through injury – was back again and playing with a freedom that the star is rarely able to display in a green and gold shirt.
Brazil will once again be heavy favorites to face Croatia, but manager Tite and his team will not underestimate their opponents. For the past 16 years, Brazil have come into tournaments with hype before crashing against European rivals in the knockout stages. But this team could be the first team since 2002 to bring the World Cup trophy back to its spiritual home.
Group Stage:
Brazil 2-0 Serbia
Brazil 1-0 Switzerland
Cameroon 1-0 Brazil
16th Round:
Brazil 4-1 South Korea
when: Friday, December 9, at 2pm ET
Where: Lusail Stadium
the netherlands
In what is expected to be the final tournament of Louis van Gaal’s illustrious career, the Netherlands manager will be looking to repeat his 2010 achievement of reaching the World Cup final – and perhaps go one step further this time.
Lacking the stars of 2014, the Dutch have been a much more pragmatic side, conceding just two goals in the tournament so far. But that didn’t stop him from scoring one goal of the tournament against the USA. The team collected 20 passes in a beautiful display of beautiful play before Memphis Depay slotted the ball home.
The Netherlands had arguably the easiest route to the quarter-final stage, and their resilience will be tested as they play a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina.
Group Stage:
Senegal 0-2 Netherlands
Netherlands 1-1 Ecuador
Netherlands 2-0 Qatar
16th Round:
Netherlands 3-1 United States
Argentina
In their first match of the tournament, Argentina suffered one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history as Messi and co. Lost to Saudi Arabia. But since then, La Albiceleste have kicked into gear, winning their last three games comfortably.
In what is likely to be his last World Cup, Messi has grown slowly in the tournament, but against Australia he showed a glimpse of why he is regarded as one of the best to grow the game. He scored a trademark goal against Australia, finishing home with irresistible ease, and time after time created chances for his teammates.
This is arguably the least glamorous Argentina team of the 21st century, but Lionel Scaloni’s team has a system that has served the team well. Like the Netherlands, Argentina face their biggest test of the tournament.
Group Stage:
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
Argentina 2-0 Mexico
Poland 0-2 Argentina
16th Round:
Argentina 2-1 Australia Cup
when: Saturday, December 10, at 2 pm ET
where: Al Bait Stadium
England
The Three Lions have made the best start of any team in Qatar, keeping three clean sheets and easily seeing off African champions Senegal in the last 16. Which begs the question: is this the best England team since 1966, when it last won you the World Cup? ?
Under Gareth Southgate, England have become a tournament specialist, playing functional football and limiting their abundance of attacking talent in favor of defensive solidity. But against Senegal, fans were treated to a glimpse of what this England attack can do when given space and opportunity.
With the addition of Jude Bellingham in midfield, England are now playing like one of the best teams in the world, adding goals to a stout defence. One of the criticisms of England’s best ever manager is that Southgate struggles against superior opposition. There is no greater test of this principle than facing France in the quarter-finals.
Group Stage:
England 6-2 Iran
England 0-0 United States
Wales 0-3 England
16th Round:
England 3-0 Senegal
France
After a shaky first half against Australia, the French have quickly dispelled any pre-tournament concerns that they will follow the past three World Cup champions and crash out of the group stage.
Les Bleus looked unstoppable at times, and barring his second-string side from losing a dead rubber to Tunisia, the team looked as good as the one Russia dominated in 2018. Olivier Giroud has become France’s all-time top scorer, Aurelian. Tachoumeni and Adrien Rabiot have filled the Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante-sized hole in midfield, and forward Antoine Griezmann is back to his best.
But this team is about one man: Kylian Mbappe. The PSG forward looks irreplaceable and the best player in the tournament. Whether he’s sitting down a defender, or curling in stunning goals, it seems no one on earth has the tools to cope with the mercurial talent.
France face their neighbors from the next channel, but to get past England in the semi-finals, they will have to find a way to stop the best player in the world.
Group Stage:
France 4-1 Australia
France 2-1 Denmark
Tunisia 1-0 France
16th Round:
France 3-1 Poland
when: Saturday, December 10, at 10 a.m. ET
Where: Al Thumama Stadium
morocco
This Moroccan side has been a revelation in this tournament, defending bravely and attacking with gusto and more than deserved their place in the quarter-finals.
In Achraf Hakimi, who scored an audacious ‘panenka’ goal to win the penalty shootout against Spain, Morocco has a bona fide superstar and the Paris Saint-Germain fullback’s boundless energy on the right is the Atlas Lions’ biggest attacking threat.
Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech provides Morocco’s creative spark, while Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat has undoubtedly been one of the best midfielders ever at this World Cup.
Head coach Walid Regaragui has instilled incredible confidence and organization in his squad and Morocco will be rightly confident that they can beat Portugal and become the first African team in history to reach the World Cup semi-finals.
Group Stage:
Morocco 0-0 Croatia
Belgium 0-2 Morocco
Canada 1-2 Morocco
16th Round:
Morocco 0-0 Spain (Morocco won 3-0 on penalties)
Portugal
Defeat in their final group match against South Korea had raised questions about Portugal’s ability to go far at this year’s World Cup, but beating Switzerland in the last 16 gave them a valiant reply. Fernando Santos’ team went on a world stage thanks to a brilliant hat-trick from 21-year-old striker Goncalo Ramos.
The youngster was replacing Cristiano Ronaldo, who was relegated to the bench for the crunch tie. It is not yet clear whether the superstar striker will be installed back into the starting lineup for its quarter-final tie, but Portugal certainly did not miss him on Tuesday.
Portugal face a potentially difficult opponent, having already beaten Belgium and Spain in Qatar 2022.
Group Stage:
Portugal 3-2 Ghana
Portugal 2-0 Uruguay
South Korea 2-1 Portugal
16th Round:
Portugal 6-1 Switzerland
