Eight teams are still competing in the 2022 World Cup, all with the same goal of lifting the trophy on December 18, 2022. After a tournament of surprises on the group stage, we’ve arrived at the main event, and the quarter-finals are loaded with talent. Six of the remaining teams are former champions or finalists, and they have won the competition a total of ten times. There’s also a surprise in store, with Morocco aiming to become Africa’s first semi-finalists after reaching their first quarter-final. BBC Sport examines some of the themes that are brewing as players strive to cement their greatness and go down in footballing history.
- Friday: Croatia v Brazil (15:00 GMT), Netherlands v Argentina (19:00).
- Saturday: Morocco v Portugal (15:00), England v France (19:00).
Shock group-stage exits for Germany and Belgium, as well as Spain’s elimination in the last 16, meaning they will not be part of a quarter-final line-up to remember. The headline names are Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but big names like Neymar, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, and Luka Modric are still around. The four ties are so similar that you can’t tell them apart. It’s going to be spectacular.
Also Read: Morocco 0-0 Spain, Morocco win 3-0 on penalties
An Anglo-French battle
The reigning champions, England and France, meet in a major tournament for the first time in ten years, and for the first time ever in the knockout stages. The teams drew 1-1 in the Euro 2012 group stage, but their last meeting at a World Cup was in 1982. Bryan Robson scored twice as England defeated France’s great Michel Platini’s team 3-1. The Three Lions did not go on to win the World Cup that year in Spain, but the only time they did was in 1966, and one of the teams they defeated on their way to victory was, you guessed it, France.
It’s not a bad omen. They now face the daunting prospect of facing Mbappe, who leads the Golden Boot race with five goals and plays alongside his country’s all-time top goalscorer, Olivier Giroud. Saturday will be extremely difficult,” England captain Kane predicted. “France is a great team and the reigning world champions, so we know it’s going to be a tough evening. I believe that in order to win the World Cup, you must play the best teams in the world, and France is certainly up there.
Also Read: Portugal 6-1 Switzerland, as Goncalo Ramos nets hat-trick
A Messi v Ronaldo final?
Sunday, December 18th a clash at Doha’s Lusail Stadium. The two greatest players of their generation square off in their final World Cup match. It’s on! For years, Argentina’s Messi and Portugal’s Ronaldo have pushed each other to rewrite the record books. Messi scored on his 1,000th career appearance in the last-16 win over Australia in this tournament, while Ronaldo became the first man to score in five World Cups. Both have won continental titles, with Messi winning the Copa America last year and Ronaldo winning the European Championship in 2016, but the biggest prize in football remains elusive.
Sunday, December 18th. A showdown at Doha’s Lusail Stadium. The two greatest players of their generation square off for one last shot at World Cup glory. It’s on! For years, Argentina’s Messi and Portugal’s Ronaldo have pushed each other to break records. Messi scored on his 1,000th career appearance in the last-16 win over Australia, and Ronaldo became the first man to score in five World Cups. Both have won continental titles – Messi won the Copa America last year and Ronaldo won the European Championship in 2016 – but the biggest prize in football remains elusive.
Also Read: Brazil 4-1 South Korea in the last-16 clash
South American skirmish?
Sunday, December 18th. A showdown at Doha’s Lusail Stadium. The two greatest players of their generation square off for one last shot at World Cup glory. It’s on! For years, Argentina’s Messi and Portugal’s Ronaldo have pushed each other to break records. Messi scored on his 1,000th career appearance in the last-16 win over Australia, and Ronaldo became the first man to score in five World Cups. Both have won continental titles – Messi won the Copa America last year and Ronaldo won the European Championship in 2016 – but the biggest prize in football remains elusive.
A mouth-watering semi-final could be on the cards before that. If both teams defeat Croatia and the Netherlands, a heavyweight South American clash between Brazil and Argentina will take place at Lusail Stadium. Brazil, the tournament’s five-time champion and favorite, cruised past South Korea, while Argentina needed the brilliance of their captain Messi to beat Australia. The teams have met four times at the World Cup, but not since 1990, when Argentina advanced to the quarterfinals thanks to Claudio Caniggia’s late winner.
These two teams have a good chance of taking the trophy away from Europe, with Brazil being the last non-European team to win the competition in 2002. Neymar recovered from an injury sustained in their first game to score in the last-16 victory over South Korea, and now needs just one more goal to match Pele’s 77 for the Selecao. However, Luka Modric’s Croatia and Virgil van Dijk’s Netherlands will have a big say in whether or not that massive spectacle takes place.
Also Read: France 3-1 Poland in the last-16 clash
Bergkamp’s brilliance
When it comes to the Netherlands, Louis van Gaal’s team and Argentina have met six times in this tournament and are set to meet for the sixth time for a place in the semi-finals. It’s a rematch of the 1978 final, which Argentina won on penalties. Their most recent meeting was in the last four eight years ago, with Argentina winning on penalties. But one of the most famous moments in World Cup history occurred in 1998, when Dennis Bergkamp scored a sensational last-minute goal to send the Netherlands to the semi-finals. Dennis Bergkamp, Dennis Bergkamp, Dennis Bergkamp,” yelled the Dutch commentator as the Arsenal midfielder expertly controlled Frank de Boer’s raking pass before turning inside Roberto Ayala and flicking a shot home.
Also Read: Netherlands 3-1 USA in the last-16 clash
Magnificent Morocco
Achraf Hakimi’s winning penalty in the shootout victory over Spain was magnificent, smacking down the middle of the goal and igniting wild celebrations at Education City. Their progress to the World Cup quarter-finals was also given royal approval, as manager Walid Regragui received a phone call from Morocco’s King Mohammed VI following the game. Morocco is well-organized and difficult to beat; they have yet to lose at this World Cup and have conceded only one goal in their last seven games. Morocco is the fourth African country to reach the last eight, and they hope to become the continent’s first team to reach the semi-finals.
Also Read: Argentina beat Poland 2-0 to set up last 16 clashes with Australia