The drama of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil just keeps on going and going as we head into the quarter-finals after an incredibly dramatic Last 16 that could have seen a number of different results to what we actually saw as the games between Brazil and Chile and Costa Rica and Greece went down to penalty shoot-outs while Netherlands beat Mexico with 2 very late goals and Germany, Belgium and Argentina had to win in extra time against Algeria, USA and Switzerland. What it all means is that we have 8 quality teams into the quarter-finals all with very good chances of picking up the biggest prize in world sport, including the hosts who are still battling it out with a chance of lifting a World Cup on home soil, but the pressure is certainly on them to produce.
As I say things are moving at a very fast pace as we hit the quarter-finals and the pressure will start to tell on all of the remaining teams, so lets have a look at the big ties:
Quarter Final Draw:
France Vs Germany - First up tonight in the World Cup quarter-finals is a very tight little all-European tie between France and Germany who have both been very strong so far in this World Cup. Germany have a very strong squad with plenty of hard working players just like the French, but I think the difference in this game could lie within the management. A lot of people have been impressed with the style of play that Didier Deschamps has brought to this French side and it has worked for them with a more convincing Last 16 win and 2 great wins and a draw in the group stages. Meanwhile Germany have struggled at times including in the Last 16 where they had to go through extra time to see off Algeria and they could have to go through extra time again here which could take it's toll on a side that has already had to work harder than expected to get to this stage. In all honesty Germany haven't quite been as strong as everyone really expected them to be after that cracking start against Portugal, but essentially Portugal were always a one man team, while France are working much better as a team than they did in 2010 and are still performing to a great standard playing brilliant football with plenty of class players throughout the team.
Prediction: France
Brazil Vs Colombia - This all South-American tie looks like an incredibly close match that could quite easily go to extra time or even penalties like many of the Last 16 ties. Brazil have hardly been convincing so far in this tournament with a couple of games in the group stages that could've gone very differently and with their last 16 game going down to penalties in a game that they could've so easily lost and in fact I expected them to lose because of their poorer performances and they'll have to play a lot better as a collective unit to make it into the semi-finals and then go on and meet the expectations of the home crowds and win the tournament. Colombia however, have really impressed me and a lot of other people who've been watching this world cup closely and in my opinion they've got to have a brilliant chance at seeing off the hosts. They were brilliant in what can be considered as an easier group, but they were equally as good and convincing against Uruguay without the need for any extra time or penalties like Brazil have had, and let's face it Brazil have had to work a lot harder to get to this stage in their games than Colombia have, there's no pressure on Colombia and Brazil have a lot more to improve upon than Colombia to progress further in this world cup.
Prediction: Colombia
Argentina Vs Belgium - Belgium were tipped by many as the dark horses for this world cup, while Argentina were always going to be one of the South American favourites for this tournament but it has to be said that despite the fact they have a very good team, they still don't seem to be playing like one and they are still reliant so much on Lionel Messi to do all of the work for them and that won't always work against much stronger teams like Belgium. Messi had to provide the assist for the Di Maria goal that sent Argentina through with just minutes to go before them and Switzerland were set for penalties. Belgium did have to go through extra time though to beat a very spirited USA that were led by record breaking Tim Howard. However, Belgium despite having a very strong unit of quality players have struggled to actually produce much quality in the world cup having to scrape 2 or 3 wins now and that's not necessarily the basis for a strong run. This game could come down to experience, and with a lot of young players Belgium probably don't have as much as they'd like to here, but I have a feeling this could go right down to a penalty shoot-out and it is certainly one of those you could flip a coin on. Argentina might just nick it with their extra world cup experience.
Prediction: Argentina
Netherlands Vs Costa Rica - Costa Rica have been one of the surprise packages of this World Cup in Brazil topping a very difficult group that many thought they wouldn't even make it out of, before beating Greece on penalties with some very impressive penalties in what was a near perfect shoot-out for them and they've shown they can hold themselves together well in the big games and high pressured situations. Meanwhile Netherlands have also come good at the right times so far in this tournament. In very crucial first and final group games against Spain and Chile they produced 2 very good performances, while they also got 2 late goals when they needed them the most against Mexico to get into the quarter-finals and on paper they are a much stronger side with a manager in Louis Van Gaal that is also used to the big occasions like they're just normal practice for him so Netherlands will have no problems in experience and there's no reason why with their strength they can't go 1 better than their 2010 performance, while Costa Rica's relative inexperience could make this the end of the road for them.
Prediction: Netherlands
Whoever the winners are from here I really hope that this world cup can continue to bring us plenty more excitement, tension and entertainment, just as it has down throughout the group stages and the start of the knockout phase as it's full steam ahead now for the remainder of the tournament. Who can walk away with the title? Well their are plenty of good sides remaining so it's a very tough one to call so let's just sit back and see how it pans out.
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