World Cup: Quarter Finals Preview

The tournament is getting to the business end of things, and Morocco are left flying the flag for the underdog nations. So let’s look ahead to the Quarter-Final matches……..

Croatia v Brazil
Having scrapped past Japan by way of a penalty shootout in the round of 16, the Croats will take on the underdog mantle as they face tournament favourites Brazil. History might tell us that they face an uphill task, as two previous World Cup encounters against the Brazilians have ended in defeat, but some will expect them to at least make life difficult for Neymar and co. Nevertheless, Croatia have a full squad to choose from and will always look to Real Madrid veteran Luka Modric to inspire them to a famous victory.

Brazil haven’t really had to come out of second gear so far and a defeat to Cameroon when already qualified from the group stages when Manager Tite was able to make 11 changes to the starting line up a bit of an inconsequential blip. Normal service was resumed with a bloodless 4-1 win over South Korea in the last round, with the game put to bed in the opening 35 mins. Neymar returned for that contest from an ankle injury, while Spurs striker Richarlison continued his rich vein of form with another goal. Brazil should ease their way into the semi-final.

Prediction
Brazil 3-0 Croatia

Netherlands v Argentina
A more classic World Cup encounter you would be hard-pressed to think of than these two great footballing nations, but if the truth be told, both the current squads are just pale imitations of their country’s former great sides. The Dutch have been solid, if unspectacular, so far, and Luis Van Gaal will rely on Virgil Van Dijk to keep tabs on Lionel Messi. He will know the key to progressing to the semi-finals will be stifling the little maestros’ influence on this game.

Argentina are all about just one man, and if Messi has an off day here, they could be on the next plane home. That’s not something expected to happen, as the PSG genius has shown a little bit more of his old Barcelona spark as each game progresses. Having the weight of the entire nation on his shoulders is a task he relishes. The South Americans have some injury concerns coming into this tie: Angel Di Maria, who sat out the 2-1 win over Australia.

Prediction
Netherlands 0-1 Argentina AET

Morocco v Portugal
The African nation has been a breath of fresh air this World Cup, and they will be hoping that the penalty shootout shock victory over Spain wasn’t a flash in the pan. These sides met as recently as the 2018 tournament, and Morocco will look to avenge a narrow 1-0 group-stage defeat. Out of favour, Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech has been a revelation, and Blues fans will be wondering where this form has come from, as there hadn’t been even a hint of it in the premier league this season. Sofiene Boufel has ably supported him, and those two are the main dangers to Portugal’s defence.

Portugal have surprised so far, and certainly so with the emphatic 6-1 demolition of Switzerland in the last 16. Christiano Ronaldo was left out of the starting lineup for that clash, and the Portuguese seemed all the better for it. Rumours have been rife of Ronaldo’s discontent at his omission, and manager Fernando Santos will have a big call to make as to whether he will reinstate Portugal’s all-time top goal scorer for this game. If he believes his team are a little more harmonious without the self-proclaimed GOAT, he may make that big call, but it will be a sword he will live or die on, depending on the outcome of this match.

Prediction
Morocco 1-2 Portugal

England v France
The last of the quarter-finals is the most mouth-watering. Gareth Southgate’s side comfortably dismissed Senegal in the last round, but that was after a very uncomfortable opening 35 mins when the Senegalese were easily the better side and unlucky not to go ahead. Credit to England for weathering that storm and killing the game in a frantic final 5 mins of the opening half. Harry Kane opened his 2022 World Cup account with the second goal, and the English fans will be praying he can strike a rich vein of form for the rest of the tournament. Phil Foden looks sure to start after his impressive impact in recent games.

France are many people’s fancies for outright glory and a slight favourite on the books coming into this mammoth clash. Oliver Giroud became his country’s all-time leading scorer when he netted the opening goal in the 3-1 victory over Poland, and he’s definitely a player who saves his best form for the international stage. The French also possess arguably the world’s greatest player in Kyllian Mbappe. He will surely be licking his lips at the prospect of taking on clumsy Manchester United centre-half Harry Maguire. That match-up could be the deciding factor in the game, and if it is, there’s only one winner.

Prediction
England 1-3 France