The FIFA World Cup quarter-finals wrapped up on Saturday as the reigning world champions sealed their spot in the last-four.
Qatar 2022 truly peaked at the quarter-final stage with several big names exiting the competition complemented by a few shocking twists and turns. The two finalists from 2018, France and Croatia are both into the semis once more. 2014 runners-up Argentina join them, as do the courageous outfit of Morocco.
There are three continents among the final four teams, as Europe, South America, and Africa are all represented in the penultimate round of the showpiece event.
Brazil, England, Portugal, and the Netherlands all crashed out of the tournament in the last 48 hours.
– England 1-2 France
A titanic battle took place at Al Bayt Stadium, as the Three Lions and Les Bleus shared a pitch at the World Cup for the first time in 40 years. It was a contest of two high-quality sets of players, and two of the most in-form teams in international football.
French junior midfielder Aurelien Tchouaméni opened the scoring inside the opening 20 minutes, a low-driven shot from range which crept into Jordan Pickford’s bottom-right corner.
The French led into the break, though England came out firing in the second period. With elevated confidence and energy levels, the Three Lions earned a penalty through smart combination play between Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham. Harry Kane converted past club teammate Hugo Lloris, for what was his 53rd goal for his country – the joint-most with Wayne Rooney.
Kylian Mbappé was kept relatively quiet by Kyle Walker, though it was fellow striker Olivier Giroud who grabbed the decisive goal meanwhile Antoine Griezmann also caused havoc for the England backline. Griezmann produced the assists for both Tchouaméni and Giroud’s strikes.
England were awarded another spot-kick, just two minutes after Les Bleus had gone ahead for a second time. Kane stepped up again, but this time the Three Lions skipper launched his effort over the crossbar.
Despite their valiant efforts at Qatar 2022, it wasn’t enough to end 56 years of anguish. By the time 2026 rolls around, it will have been six decades since England were last crowned world champions.
Gareth Southgate didn’t afford his substitutes adequate time to impact the game and there has been a mixed reception towards the England boss in the aftermath of the defeat to France.
Some are insistent Southgate has done excellently with the current group while others suggest alternative candidates could perhaps take this team further.
Jubilation for France.
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) December 10, 2022
Heartbreak for England.#ENG | #FRA |#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/Rc7ZfccjnX
– Morocco 1-0 Portugal
The North Africans caused yet another upset at Qatar 2022, this time overcoming European heavyweight Portugal. Morocco have defied the odds and made history as the first Arab or African nation to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup.
Youssef En-Nesyri scored the decisive goal in the first-half, a towering header which got the better of Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa.
For the entirety of this tournament, Morocco have been watertight and robust in defence, and they put up another solid display to deny Portugal at Al-Thumama Stadium. Morocco took seven points from nine in Group F, becoming the first African nation to top a World Cup group this century.
The Moroccans have yet to concede a goal to an opposing player at Qatar 2022; the only goal they have let in came against Canada, as defender Nayef Aguerd deflected the ball into his own net.
For the second match in a row, Cristiano Ronaldo made a substitute appearance though neither he nor his teammates could conjure anything of significance and the Atlas Lions saw out the contest with a narrow 1-0 triumph.
Considering this was Ronaldo’s last realistic chance of winning – and playing in – the World Cup, it remains to be seen whether the 37-year-old will persist with international duties in 2023.
– Croatia 1-1 Brazil [4-2 pen]
Croatia’s midfield trio of Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić, and Marcelo Brozović worked extremely hard at winning the ball and recycling it in the middle third, though with no primary focal point in attack the 2018 finalists desperately lacked an end product and the sides reached half-time with the deadlock still intact.
Despite the many fresh (and talented) legs introduced by Brazil manager Tite, Croatia held on for a goalless draw in regular time, giving the teams an extra 30 minutes to find a winner.
On the brink of half-time in extra-time, Neymar graced observers with a glimpse of individual brilliance to put the South Americans ahead. This sensational effort was his 77th goal in Brazil colours, equalling record-holder Pele in that respect.
Remarkably, the Croatians struck back in the 116th minute through substitute Bruno Petković, with what was their first shot on target all game. With insufficient time left for Brazil to conjure a response, this forced penalties at Education City Stadium.
Nikola Vlašić scored the first spot-kick of the shootout before Rodrygo was denied by Livaković. All of the next five kicks were converted after which Marquinhos thumped his onto the base of the post, crushing Brazil’s dreams of a sixth world title.
Tite has since relinquished his role as head coach of the Brazilian national team.
Eight of Croatia’s last nine tournament knockout games have gone to extra-time:
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) December 9, 2022
Euro 2008 QF vs 🇹🇷
Euro 2016 R16 vs 🇵🇹
World Cup 2018 R16 vs 🇩🇰
World Cup 2018 QF vs 🇷🇺
World Cup 2018 SF vs 🏴
Euro 2020 R16 vs 🇪🇸
World Cup 2022 R16 vs 🇯🇵
World Cup 2022 QF vs 🇧🇷 #FIFAWorldCup
– Netherlands 2-2 Argentina [3-4 pen]
These teams met in a rematch of the 2014 semi-finals and there was almost an identical outcome as well. A quiet first-half came to life 10 minutes before the interval as Nahuel Molina drew first blood, only made possible by a delightful and ingenious pass perfectly executed by Lionel Messi.
La Albiceleste were awarded a penalty in the second-half after Denzel Dumfries brought down Marcos Acuña in the area. With no hesitation Messi tucked away from 12 yards, for his fourth goal at Qatar 2022.
Netherlands substitute Wout Weghorst halved the deficit with less than 10 minutes of the 90′ to play. The two-metre tall striker then netted a dramatic equaliser, 10 minutes into stoppage time, courtesy of a shrewd set-piece routine by Die Oranje.
Neither side could find a decisive goal in extra-time, and for the second time in one day the quarter-final tie was to be decided via penalties. There were yellow cards aplenty at Lusail Stadium, with no fewer than 17 bookings dished out by referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz.
Messi, Leandro Paredes, and Gonzalo Montiel all dispatched their spot-kicks for Argentina, while goalkeeper Emi Martínez kept out Steven Berghuis and Virgil van Dijk’s efforts from 12 yards.
Lautaro Martínez sent Andries Noppert the wrong way for the South American champions to advance to the last-four.
For Louis van Gaal, this was his last dance with Die Oranje following three stints in charge of the national team. Not including penalty shootouts, the 71-year-old has never been on the losing side at the World Cup finals. His only two defeats at the tournament have been to Argentina on penalties, twice.
2 – Wout Weghorst has become the first ever substitute to score twice in a World Cup match for Netherlands. His equaliser was timed at 100:30 – the latest second half goal in a World Cup knockout stage game since Opta have exact goal times (from 1966). Saviour. pic.twitter.com/3oKSPTXoQU
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 9, 2022
Argentina battle Croatia in the semi-finals, meanwhile World Cup holders France take on Morocco.
Initial Odds – Bet365
Argentina 1.80
Croatia 5.25
Draw 3.25
France 1.50
Morocco 8.00
Draw 3.60
