Germany, Brazil, Argentina all absent from the semi-finals:For the first time in history, the world's three football powers failed to make it to the last four.

Germany caused the biggest shock when they were eliminated in the group stage despite being the defending champions. Argentina played inconsistently, and fell to France in the first knockout round. Brazil was considered a candidate for the championship but lost to Belgium in the quarterfinals. This was a scenario that few people expected before the tournament. Germany and Brazil were both considered to have a well-balanced squad and stable playing style over a long period of time. Meanwhile, Argentina has a star capable of carrying the team, Lionel Messi.

France is the most traditional team left:All three teams with the most semi-final appearances in World Cup history are absent this year.

Germany hold the record with 12 appearances, Brazil eight, while Italy - who have made seven semi-finals - have not even qualified. The fourth team on the list, France (six), are therefore the most traditional team left. Coach Didier Deschamps' team will need to overcome Belgium on the evening of July 10 if they are to have any chance of recreating their 1998 World Cup triumph.

Top four Ballon d'Or nominees absent:The 2018 World Cup semi-finals will not feature the top four nominees for the 2017 Ballon d'Or.

Cristiano Ronaldo left the Portugal team after losing to Uruguay in the round of 16. Messi had a similar end after Argentina were defeated by France. Neymar could not help Brazil overcome Belgium in the quarter-finals, while Gianluigi Buffon had no chance to show his ability as Italy lost to Sweden in the European play-off. Historically, this has rarely happened. The last time was in 1962. At that time, Omar Sivori (Italy) and Luis Suarez (Spain) both went home after the group stage. Johnny Haynes (England) and Lev Yashin (Soviet Union) were eliminated in the quarter-finals.

Europe dominates in the semi-finals:The last four teams at this year's World Cup are all from the old continent: France, Belgium, England and Croatia.

This is only the fifth time in history and the fourth time since World War II that this has happened. The first was in 1934 when the semi-finalists were Italy, Austria, Germany and Czechoslovakia. In 1966, England, Germany, Portugal and the Soviet Union were the finalists. In 1982, it was Italy, Germany, Poland and France. In 2006, it was Italy, Germany, Portugal and France. Notably, Germany has always been there on those occasions, while Italy has appeared three times. That will not happen again this year.

New representatives in the semi-finals:None of the 2014 World Cup semi-finalists have repeated the feat this year.

Four years ago, the teams who did this were Germany, Brazil, the Netherlands and Argentina. France and Belgium were both eliminated in the quarter-finals. England and Croatia were eliminated in the group stage. The only change in the semi-finalists in four years was 52 years ago at the 1966 World Cup. England, West Germany, Portugal and the Soviet Union were the semi-finalists, while the semi-finalists in 1962 were Brazil, Czechoslovakia, Chile and Yugoslavia.

European representative won the World Cup four times in a row:With the previous three World Cups all won by European teams, France, Belgium, England and Croatia will have the opportunity to extend that dominance.

Italy won in 2006, Spain in 2010 and Germany in 2014. This has never happened before. Before this cycle, the longest streak of European teams winning World Cups in a row was two. And that only happened once, 80 years ago, when Italy successfully defended their title in 1938.

Belgium and Croatia on the verge of reaching the final for the first time:Although both are considered underdogs compared to their semi-final opponents, they will create a final between two representatives who have never reached this round if they win.

It would also pave the way for a new team to get their hands on the World Cup. Belgium's best finish to date was fourth in 1986, while Croatia finished third in 1998. Turkey and South Korea had a chance to do so in 2002, but both lost to Germany and Brazil in the semi-finals. France and Croatia never made it to the final in 1998, but in the end, only the Blues emerged victorious in the semi-finals.