Quarterfinal: Argentina vs. Belgium
Result: 1-0 win for Argentina
Goalscorers: 8' Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli)
Bookings: 53' Eden Hazard (Chelsea), 69' Toby Alderweireld (Atletico Madrid), 75' Lucas Biglia (Lazio)
Lineups
Argentina (4-4-2)
Sergio Romero (Monaco); Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Martin Demichelis (Manchester City), Ezequiel Garay (Benfica), Jose Maria Basanta (Monterrey); Ezequiel Lavezzi (PSG), Lucas Biglia (Lazio), Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Angel di Maria (Real Madrid); Lionel Messi (Barcelona, captain), Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli)
Changed from last match
Change from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2 formation. Federico Fernandez, Marcos Rojo (yellow card accumulation), and Fernando Gago replaced by Demichelis, Basanta, and Biglia in the starting lineup
Subs:
Enzo Perez (Benfica) 33' for Angel di Maria
Rodrigo Palacio (Inter) 71' for Ezequiel Lavezzi
Fernando Gago (Boca Juniors) 81' for Gonzalo Higuain
Belgium (4-2-3-1)
Thibaut Courtois (Atletico Madrid); Toby Alderweireld (Atletico Madrid), Daniel van Buyten (Bayern Munich), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City, captain), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham); Axel Witsel (Zenit), Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United); Kevin Mirallas (Everton), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Kevin de Bruyne (Wolfsburg); Divock Origi (Lille)
Changes from last match
Same starters and formation used against the United States except Mirallas starting in Dries Mertens's place
Subs:
Romelu Lukaku (Everton) 59' for Divock Origi
Dries Mertens (Napoli) 60' for Kevin Mirallas
Nacer Chadli (Tottenham) 75' for Eden Hazard
Both teams so far had harder roads to the quarterfinals than most people anticipated prior to this tournament, but for one of these teams this is where the road was to end. It was a very close match but unfortunately for Belgium an early Gonzalo Higuain, who notably had his best game so far at the World Cup, goal set the tone allowing for Argentina to take control of the match. It was shocking how sloppy the play was sometimes, although Argentina did lose some momentum with Angel di Maria needing to leave the game early (later being ruled out of the World Cup. Belgium, who enjoyed most of the possession and a lot of shots against their earlier opponents (notably the USA, forcing Tim Howard to make 16 saves to keep it at 2-1 at the end of the game), Belgium hardly got anything that Sergio Romero needed to keep out, even when they summoned the likes of Lukaku and Mertens, who had previously done well for Belgium. Argentina held on to break their streak of quarterfinal exits and head into the semifinals.
Elimination Analysis: Belgium
Like Colombia, in just a few years Belgium transformed from an under-performer to a dark horse contender to win the World Cup, and despite the dark horse riding off into the sunset now, we finally got a taste of what this Belgian team is all about after ending their 12 year major tournament drought by qualifying for this World Cup. Belgium had an interesting qualifying group which had the likes of Croatia, Serbia, and Scotland, but they took full command of that group, earning automatic qualification meaning Croatia had to head to playoffs and no World Cup for Serbia and co. Sometimes these players played with the class that we see week in and out for their European clubs, but many other times they sort of looked like strangers. Maybe it's the inexperience, the fact that no one besides Daniel van Buyten had competed in an international tournament before this one. Through the ups and downs this young Belgium team fought their way to the quarterfinals, and if things continue to go as they have and the bulk of their team continue to play in some of the biggest clubs in Europe, quite possibly they could be champions, or at least have another deep run, in the next World Cup.
Quarterfinal: Netherlands vs. Costa Rica
Result: 0-0; Netherlands advancing 4-3 on penalties
Penalty Shootout:
Costa Rica 1: Celso Borges (AIK) successful
Netherlands 1: Robin van Persie (Manchester United) successful
Tied 1-1
Costa Rica 2: Bryan Ruiz (PSV) unsuccessful
Netherlands 2: Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich) successful
Netherlands 2-1
Costa Rica 3: Giancarlo Gonzalez (Columbus Crew) successful
Netherlands 3: Wesley Sneijder (Galatasaray) successful
Netherlands 3-2
Costa Rica 4: Christian Bolanos (Copenhagen) successful
Netherlands 4: Dirk Kuty (Fenerbahce) successful
Netherlands 4-3
Costa Rica 5: Michael Umana (Saprissa) unsuccessful
Netherlands advance upon winning the shootout 4-3
Bookings: 37' Junior Diaz (Mainz 05), 52' Michael Umana (Saprissa), 64' Bruno Martins Indi (Feyenoord), 81' Giancarlo Gonzalez (Columbus Crew), 107' Johnny Acosta (Alajuelense), 111' Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke)
Lineups
Netherlands (5-2-2-1)
Jasper Cillessen (Ajax); Dirk Kuyt (Fenerbahce), Stefan de Vrij (Feyenoord), Ron Vlaar (Aston Villa), Bruno Martins Indi (Feyenoord), Daley Blind (Ajax); Georginio Wijnaldum (PSV), Wesley Sneijder (Galatasaray); Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich), Memphis Depay (PSV); Robin van Persie (Manchester United, captain)
Changes from last match
Change from 4-3-1-2 to 5-2-2-1 formation. Paul Verhaegh and Nigel de Jong (injured) replaced by Martins Indi and Depay in the starting lineup
Subs:
Jeremain Lens (Dynamo Kyiv) 76' for Memphis Depay
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke) 106' for Bruno Martins Indi
Tim Krul (Newcastle United) 120+1' for Jasper Cillessen
Costa Rica (5-2-2-1)
Keylor Navas (Levante); Cristian Gamboa (Rosenborg), Johnny Acosta (Alajuelense), Giancarlo Gonzalez (Columbus Crew), Michael Umana (Saprissa), Junior Diaz (Mainz 05); Yeltsin Tejeda (Saprissa), Celso Borges (AIK); Bryan Ruiz (PSV, captain), Christian Bolanos (Copenhagen); Joel Campbell (Olympiacos)
Changes from last match
Acosta replaces Oscar Duarte (suspended after receiving a red card against Greece), otherwise the same lineups and starting lineup that faced Greece
Subs:
Marco Urena (Kuban Krasnodar) 66' for Joel Campbell
David Myrie (Herediano) 79' for Cristian Gamboa
Jose Cubero (Herediano) 97' for Yeltsin Tejeda
A very interesting match between two interesting teams, this match was tight as tight can be, which explains the 0-0 scoreline. However, the Dutch came much closer to scoring than los Ticos. Several chances, a few of which hit metal which denied them what could've been a fatal blow. Despite Costa Rica playing strong, attractive soccer in their group stage games, this match they looked more like the "classic" Costa Rica we've come to know and hate in Gold Cups and World Cup Qualifiers, where they excel defensively, frustrating their opponent, but don't get much done offensively. Many will claim that Costa Rica wanted to go to penalties all along and that wouldn't shock me. The most interesting part of the match came from Louis van Gaal's late substitution: he brought on Tim Krul in place of Jasper Cillessen just for the penalty shootout. How often do you see that? An incredible gamble but one that paid off as Krul saved Ruiz and Umana's shots to take Netherlands to their 2nd semifinals in a row. And the last shocker gets knocked out of the World Cup, Costa Rica doing far better than even their fans hoped for going into this tournament
Elimination Analysis: Costa Rica
The notion that CONCACAF is just Mexico, USA, and several other minnows is no longer correct. For a long time now Costa Rica had been seen as one of the biggest threats in their region but a minor threat in the global stage. Like USA, Costa Rica found themselves in a difficult group that they were expected to finish last in. Instead, Costa Rica became the most shocking team in the tournament by winning their group through defeating Uruguay and Italy as well as drawing with England. In the group of champions, the sole nation without a World Cup to its name was victorious. They bravely emerged triumphant in their round of 16 clash against Greece having played nearly half of the 120' minutes with 10 men, and they pushed Netherlands to a penalty shootout where only some mighty saves from Tim Krul ended their run at the World Cup. Costa Rica will exit this tournament undefeated and with their best performance at a World Cup to date. Will Costa Rica continue to be a threat? It's quite possible, and if that happens the respect CONCACAF has earned in this World Cup will not fade away any time soon.
Semifinals
That's a wrap for the quarterfinals and we say goodbye to these four teams
Belgium
Colombia
Costa Rica
France
Even though they aren't winners, Colombia and Costa Rica had their best run ever at a World Cup, Belgium their 2nd best ever, and France their best since they finished as runners up in 2006.
So despite a fair bit of surprises at this World Cup, we're left with 4 giants to fight for the World Cup trophy. Two from local South America, hosts Brazil and neighbors and rivals Argentina, and two from Europe, Germany and Netherlands. Up next is a rematch of the 2002 World Cup final: Brazil vs. Germany. So many talented players of both teams, it will definitely be a great game. Germany will not take their opponents lightly, who promise to be their biggest obstacle yet despite the absences of Thiago Silva and Neymar due to suspension and injury respectively. Does Brazil have enough depth to cope with their absences, or will Germany avenge their defeat that cost them what would've been their 4th World Cup from 12 years ago?
Result: 1-0 win for Argentina
Goalscorers: 8' Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli)
Bookings: 53' Eden Hazard (Chelsea), 69' Toby Alderweireld (Atletico Madrid), 75' Lucas Biglia (Lazio)
Lineups
Argentina (4-4-2)
Sergio Romero (Monaco); Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Martin Demichelis (Manchester City), Ezequiel Garay (Benfica), Jose Maria Basanta (Monterrey); Ezequiel Lavezzi (PSG), Lucas Biglia (Lazio), Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Angel di Maria (Real Madrid); Lionel Messi (Barcelona, captain), Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli)
Changed from last match
Change from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2 formation. Federico Fernandez, Marcos Rojo (yellow card accumulation), and Fernando Gago replaced by Demichelis, Basanta, and Biglia in the starting lineup
Subs:
Enzo Perez (Benfica) 33' for Angel di Maria
Rodrigo Palacio (Inter) 71' for Ezequiel Lavezzi
Fernando Gago (Boca Juniors) 81' for Gonzalo Higuain
Belgium (4-2-3-1)
Thibaut Courtois (Atletico Madrid); Toby Alderweireld (Atletico Madrid), Daniel van Buyten (Bayern Munich), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City, captain), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham); Axel Witsel (Zenit), Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United); Kevin Mirallas (Everton), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Kevin de Bruyne (Wolfsburg); Divock Origi (Lille)
Changes from last match
Same starters and formation used against the United States except Mirallas starting in Dries Mertens's place
Subs:
Romelu Lukaku (Everton) 59' for Divock Origi
Dries Mertens (Napoli) 60' for Kevin Mirallas
Nacer Chadli (Tottenham) 75' for Eden Hazard
Both teams so far had harder roads to the quarterfinals than most people anticipated prior to this tournament, but for one of these teams this is where the road was to end. It was a very close match but unfortunately for Belgium an early Gonzalo Higuain, who notably had his best game so far at the World Cup, goal set the tone allowing for Argentina to take control of the match. It was shocking how sloppy the play was sometimes, although Argentina did lose some momentum with Angel di Maria needing to leave the game early (later being ruled out of the World Cup. Belgium, who enjoyed most of the possession and a lot of shots against their earlier opponents (notably the USA, forcing Tim Howard to make 16 saves to keep it at 2-1 at the end of the game), Belgium hardly got anything that Sergio Romero needed to keep out, even when they summoned the likes of Lukaku and Mertens, who had previously done well for Belgium. Argentina held on to break their streak of quarterfinal exits and head into the semifinals.
Elimination Analysis: Belgium
Like Colombia, in just a few years Belgium transformed from an under-performer to a dark horse contender to win the World Cup, and despite the dark horse riding off into the sunset now, we finally got a taste of what this Belgian team is all about after ending their 12 year major tournament drought by qualifying for this World Cup. Belgium had an interesting qualifying group which had the likes of Croatia, Serbia, and Scotland, but they took full command of that group, earning automatic qualification meaning Croatia had to head to playoffs and no World Cup for Serbia and co. Sometimes these players played with the class that we see week in and out for their European clubs, but many other times they sort of looked like strangers. Maybe it's the inexperience, the fact that no one besides Daniel van Buyten had competed in an international tournament before this one. Through the ups and downs this young Belgium team fought their way to the quarterfinals, and if things continue to go as they have and the bulk of their team continue to play in some of the biggest clubs in Europe, quite possibly they could be champions, or at least have another deep run, in the next World Cup.
Quarterfinal: Netherlands vs. Costa Rica
Result: 0-0; Netherlands advancing 4-3 on penalties
Penalty Shootout:
Costa Rica 1: Celso Borges (AIK) successful
Netherlands 1: Robin van Persie (Manchester United) successful
Tied 1-1
Costa Rica 2: Bryan Ruiz (PSV) unsuccessful
Netherlands 2: Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich) successful
Netherlands 2-1
Costa Rica 3: Giancarlo Gonzalez (Columbus Crew) successful
Netherlands 3: Wesley Sneijder (Galatasaray) successful
Netherlands 3-2
Costa Rica 4: Christian Bolanos (Copenhagen) successful
Netherlands 4: Dirk Kuty (Fenerbahce) successful
Netherlands 4-3
Costa Rica 5: Michael Umana (Saprissa) unsuccessful
Netherlands advance upon winning the shootout 4-3
Bookings: 37' Junior Diaz (Mainz 05), 52' Michael Umana (Saprissa), 64' Bruno Martins Indi (Feyenoord), 81' Giancarlo Gonzalez (Columbus Crew), 107' Johnny Acosta (Alajuelense), 111' Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke)
Lineups
Netherlands (5-2-2-1)
Jasper Cillessen (Ajax); Dirk Kuyt (Fenerbahce), Stefan de Vrij (Feyenoord), Ron Vlaar (Aston Villa), Bruno Martins Indi (Feyenoord), Daley Blind (Ajax); Georginio Wijnaldum (PSV), Wesley Sneijder (Galatasaray); Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich), Memphis Depay (PSV); Robin van Persie (Manchester United, captain)
Changes from last match
Change from 4-3-1-2 to 5-2-2-1 formation. Paul Verhaegh and Nigel de Jong (injured) replaced by Martins Indi and Depay in the starting lineup
Subs:
Jeremain Lens (Dynamo Kyiv) 76' for Memphis Depay
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke) 106' for Bruno Martins Indi
Tim Krul (Newcastle United) 120+1' for Jasper Cillessen
Costa Rica (5-2-2-1)
Keylor Navas (Levante); Cristian Gamboa (Rosenborg), Johnny Acosta (Alajuelense), Giancarlo Gonzalez (Columbus Crew), Michael Umana (Saprissa), Junior Diaz (Mainz 05); Yeltsin Tejeda (Saprissa), Celso Borges (AIK); Bryan Ruiz (PSV, captain), Christian Bolanos (Copenhagen); Joel Campbell (Olympiacos)
Changes from last match
Acosta replaces Oscar Duarte (suspended after receiving a red card against Greece), otherwise the same lineups and starting lineup that faced Greece
Subs:
Marco Urena (Kuban Krasnodar) 66' for Joel Campbell
David Myrie (Herediano) 79' for Cristian Gamboa
Jose Cubero (Herediano) 97' for Yeltsin Tejeda
A very interesting match between two interesting teams, this match was tight as tight can be, which explains the 0-0 scoreline. However, the Dutch came much closer to scoring than los Ticos. Several chances, a few of which hit metal which denied them what could've been a fatal blow. Despite Costa Rica playing strong, attractive soccer in their group stage games, this match they looked more like the "classic" Costa Rica we've come to know and hate in Gold Cups and World Cup Qualifiers, where they excel defensively, frustrating their opponent, but don't get much done offensively. Many will claim that Costa Rica wanted to go to penalties all along and that wouldn't shock me. The most interesting part of the match came from Louis van Gaal's late substitution: he brought on Tim Krul in place of Jasper Cillessen just for the penalty shootout. How often do you see that? An incredible gamble but one that paid off as Krul saved Ruiz and Umana's shots to take Netherlands to their 2nd semifinals in a row. And the last shocker gets knocked out of the World Cup, Costa Rica doing far better than even their fans hoped for going into this tournament
Elimination Analysis: Costa Rica
The notion that CONCACAF is just Mexico, USA, and several other minnows is no longer correct. For a long time now Costa Rica had been seen as one of the biggest threats in their region but a minor threat in the global stage. Like USA, Costa Rica found themselves in a difficult group that they were expected to finish last in. Instead, Costa Rica became the most shocking team in the tournament by winning their group through defeating Uruguay and Italy as well as drawing with England. In the group of champions, the sole nation without a World Cup to its name was victorious. They bravely emerged triumphant in their round of 16 clash against Greece having played nearly half of the 120' minutes with 10 men, and they pushed Netherlands to a penalty shootout where only some mighty saves from Tim Krul ended their run at the World Cup. Costa Rica will exit this tournament undefeated and with their best performance at a World Cup to date. Will Costa Rica continue to be a threat? It's quite possible, and if that happens the respect CONCACAF has earned in this World Cup will not fade away any time soon.
Semifinals
That's a wrap for the quarterfinals and we say goodbye to these four teams
Belgium
Colombia
Costa Rica
France
Even though they aren't winners, Colombia and Costa Rica had their best run ever at a World Cup, Belgium their 2nd best ever, and France their best since they finished as runners up in 2006.
So despite a fair bit of surprises at this World Cup, we're left with 4 giants to fight for the World Cup trophy. Two from local South America, hosts Brazil and neighbors and rivals Argentina, and two from Europe, Germany and Netherlands. Up next is a rematch of the 2002 World Cup final: Brazil vs. Germany. So many talented players of both teams, it will definitely be a great game. Germany will not take their opponents lightly, who promise to be their biggest obstacle yet despite the absences of Thiago Silva and Neymar due to suspension and injury respectively. Does Brazil have enough depth to cope with their absences, or will Germany avenge their defeat that cost them what would've been their 4th World Cup from 12 years ago?
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