Here are the 8 teams that have advanced to the World Cup quarter-finals.
This is the first time in history, since the World Cup was expanded to 32 teams, that all eight teams that topped their group have advanced to the quarter-finals.
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| Brazil, Germany, and the Netherlands remain strong contenders in the tournament. |
The home team failed to beat Mexico in the group stage, but still provided many memorable moments. Chile fought bravely in the round of 16, and Brazil needed luck to advance, winning 3-2 on penalties. Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari's team is too reliant on goals from Neymar, who is plagued by injuries. They also have many problems in defense.
Netherlands (Top of Group B, beat Mexico)(in the round of 16)
The Netherlands had a very impressive start in their group, beating Spain 5-1 and then overcoming Australia. Their victory against Chile only served as a preliminary test before facing Mexico in the round of 16, a real challenge. Late goals from Wesley Sneijder and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar were just enough for the Netherlands to advance.
Colombia (Top of Group C, beat Uruguay)(in the round of 16)
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Perhaps the most impressive team in the tournament so far. They easily topped their group with a perfect 9 points and then eliminated a Uruguay side without Luis Suarez with a brace from James Rodriguez. But now they face their biggest challenge: defeating Brazil in their own home ground.
Costa Rica (Top of Group D, beat Greece)(in the round of 16)
Considered the weakest team in the quarter-finals, Costa Rica had never progressed this far in the World Cup. They performed exceptionally well in the group stage, beating both Italy and Uruguay and drawing with England, before eliminating Greece in the round of 16 after a penalty shootout despite playing with only 10 men for almost an hour.
France (Top of Group E, beat Nigeria in the Round of 16)
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France experimented with using star striker Karim Benzema in both central and wing positions. And with Benzema playing on the wing, France displayed a formidable attacking force. Nigeria seemed capable of frustrating France, but ultimately, the patience and firepower of Les Bleus made the difference.
Argentina (Top of Group F, beat Switzerland in the Round of 16)
Lionel Messi haswon 4 Man of the Match awards.In this World Cup, Messi was truly the undisputed hero for Argentina. He scored four of Argentina's five goals in the group stage against Bosnia, Iran, and Nigeria, and then rescued the Albiceleste once again with an assist for Angel Di Maria's late goal in extra time.the match against Switzerland.
Germany (Top of Group G, beat Algeria in the Round of 16)
A France-Germany clash at the Maracana is perhaps the biggest match of the World Cup quarter-finals after Germany struggled to overcome Algeria in the knockout round. They started their campaign with a big win against Portugal, but have since played unconvincingly. The victory against Algeria exposed several weaknesses in their defense, but Germany compensated for that with the form of Thomas Mueller.
Belgium (Top of Group H, defeated USA in the Round of 16)
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Belgium have won all their World Cup matches so far, but their reputation hasn't improved. Marc Wimots' team has played rather disjointedly and only led for a total of 52 minutes across all their games, highlighting their lack of impressive performances. However, against the USA, Belgium showed just how strong their attack is, forcing goalkeeper Tim Howard to make 15 saves. If they are in top form, Belgium will be very dangerous.
