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All eight groups have now booked their locations within the World Cup quarterfinals. Who’re they and the way did they get there?

When: Friday, December 9, 10 a.m. ET

The place: Training Metropolis Stadium

According to Opta, Croatia has a 2.86% chance of winning the World Cup.

Croatia

Maybe the weakest workforce on paper within the quarterfinals, Croatia seems to be like a aspect struggling to reclaim the management that took all of it the way in which to the ultimate in 2018. The workforce was held comfortably by Morocco within the group phases, was very fortunate to attract with Belgium and needed to depend on penalties to beat Japan within the final 16..

For every other workforce, that may be a fear. However Croatia has proven that it’s the grasp of navigating matches that go all the way down to the wire. All three of its knockout video games in 2018 went to extra-time or penalties, however in each a type of, the Croatians regarded just like the aspect in management.

That have was on present in opposition to Japan. Like its semifinal victory over England 4 years in the past, this was a sport by which Croatia regarded stronger and stronger as the sport went on. That match expertise and nous might be put to the take a look at as Kockasti face a Brazil workforce that appears each bit pretty much as good as its pre-tournament tag as favourite would counsel.

Group stage:

Morocco 0-0 Croatia

Croatia 4-1 Canada

Croatia 0-0 Belgium

Spherical of 16:

Croatia 1-1 Japan (Croatia received 3-1 on penalties)

According to Opta, Brazil has a 27.6% chance of winning the World Cup.

Brazil

A Seleção, for the primary time in 20 years, seems to be pretty much as good as followers anticipate. The five-time world champion comfortably beat cussed European opponent, Serbia, earlier than giving the primary workforce a relaxation in opposition to Cameroon. However in opposition to South Korea, the world noticed what this workforce is actually able to.

Throughout the first seven minutes, Brazil had already received the match and introduced jogo bonito (the gorgeous sport) again to the World Cup, scoring for enjoyable. Neymar – after lacking the ultimate two group stage matches by way of damage – was again once more and taking part in with a freedom that the star has hardly ever been capable of exhibit within the inexperienced and gold shirt.

Brazil will as soon as once more be heavy favourite because it faces Croatia, however supervisor Tite and his workforce is not going to be underestimating its opponent. For the final 16 years, Brazil has come to tournaments with hype earlier than crashing out in opposition to European opponents within the knockout phases. However this workforce seems to be prefer it may very well be the primary since 2002 to carry the World Cup trophy again to its non secular dwelling.

Group stage:

Brazil 2-0 Serbia

Brazil 1-0 Switzerland

Cameroon 1-0 Brazil

Spherical of 16:

Brazil 4-1 South Korea

When: Friday, December 9, 2 p.m. ET

The place: Lusail Stadium

According to Opta, the Netherlands has a 8.96% chance of winning the World Cup.

Netherlands

In what is anticipated to be the final match of Louis van Gaal’s stellar profession, the Netherlands supervisor is seeking to replicate his 2010 accomplishment of reaching the ultimate of the World Cup – and possibly going one step additional this time.

Missing the celebs of 2014, the Dutch have been a much more sensible aspect, solely conceding two objectives thus far within the match. However that didn’t cease it from scoring one of many objectives of the match in opposition to the US. The workforce strung 20 passes collectively in a picturesque commercial of the gorgeous sport earlier than Memphis Depay stroked the ball dwelling.

The Netherlands had arguably the best path to the quarterfinal stage, and their resilience might be examined as they play a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina.

Group Stage:

Senegal 0-2 Netherlands

Netherlands 1-1 Ecuador

Netherlands 2-0 Qatar

Spherical of 16:

Netherlands 3-1 United States

According to Opta, Argentina has a 17.4% chance of winning the World Cup.

Argentina

In its first sport of the match, Argentina suffered arguably the most important upset in World Cup historical past as Messi and co. misplaced to Saudi Arabia. However since then, La Albiceleste has kicked into gear, comfortably successful its final three video games.

In what is probably going his last World Cup, Messi has slowly grown into the match, however in opposition to Australia he confirmed glimpses of why he’s extensively thought-about to be the very best to grace the sport. He scored a trademark purpose in opposition to Australia, curling dwelling a end with irresistible ease, and was at his inventive greatest as time and time once more he created probabilities for his teammates.

That is arguably the least glamorous Argentina squad of the twenty first century, however Lionel Scaloni’s aspect has a purposeful system that has served the workforce nicely. Just like the Netherlands, Argentina is dealing with its greatest take a look at of the match.

Group stage:

Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia

Argentina 2-0 Mexico

Poland 0-2 Argentina

Spherical of 16:

Argentina 2-1 Australia Cup

When: Saturday, December 10, 2 p.m. ET

The place: Al Bayt Stadium

According to Opta, England has a 18.83% chance of winning the World Cup.

England

The Three Lions have had the very best begin of any workforce in Qatar, preserving three clear sheets and dispatching African champion Senegal with ease within the final 16. Which begs the query: is that this the very best England workforce since 1966, when it final received thee World?

Underneath Gareth Southgate, England has develop into a match specialist, taking part in purposeful soccer and limiting its abundance of attacking expertise in favor of defensive solidity. However in opposition to Senegal, followers had been handled to a glimpse of what this England assault can do when given the house and alternative.

With the addition of Jude Bellingham to the midfield, England is now taking part in like among the finest groups on the earth, including objectives to a staunch protection. The one criticism of arguably England’s greatest ever supervisor is that Southgate struggles in opposition to superior opponents. There isn’t a larger take a look at of that concept than dealing with France within the quarterfinals.

Group stage:

England 6-2 Iran

England 0-0 United States

Wales 0-3 England

Spherical of 16:

England 3-0 Senegal

According to Opta, France has a 14.74% chance of winning the World Cup.

France

After a shaky first half in opposition to Australia, the French have rapidly dispelled any of the pre-tournament considerations that they might comply with the earlier three World Cup champions and make a group-stage exit.

Les Bleus have regarded irresistible at occasions, and bar their second-string workforce dropping a useless rubber to Tunisia, the workforce seems to be each bit pretty much as good because the one which dominated Russia in 2018. Olivier Giroud has develop into France’s all-time high scorer, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Adrien Rabiot have crammed the Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kanté formed gap in midfield, and ahead Antione Griezmann seems to be again to his greatest.

However this workforce is all about one man: Kylian Mbappé. The PSG ahead has regarded irresistible and the very best participant on the match. Whether or not he’s sitting defenders down, or curling in beautiful objectives, it seems to be like nobody on the planet has the instruments to deal with the mercurial expertise.

France faces its neighbor from throughout the Channel subsequent, however for England to go into the semifinals, it must discover a technique to cease the world’s greatest participant.

Group stage:

France 4-1 Australia

France 2-1 Denmark

Tunisia 1-0 France

Spherical of 16:

France 3-1 Poland

When: Saturday, December 10, 10 a.m. ET

The place: Al Thumama Stadium

Morocco

This Morocco workforce has been a revelation this match, defending valiantly and attacking with verve and is greater than deserving of its place within the quarterfinals.

In Achraf Hakimi, who scored an audacious ‘Panenka’ to win the penalty shootout in opposition to Spain, Morocco boasts a bonafide celebrity and the Paris Saint-Germain fullback’s boundless power down the fitting flank is the Atlas Lions’ biggest attacking menace.

Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech offers Morocco’s inventive spark, whereas Fioretina’s Sofyan Amrabat has undoubtedly been among the finest midfielders thus far on this World Cup.

Head coach Walid Regragui has instilled unbelievable perception and group into his workforce and Morocco will justifiably really feel assured it will probably beat Portgual and develop into the primary African workforce in historical past to succeed in a World Cup semifinal.

Group stage:

Morocco 0-0 Croatia

Belgium 0-2 Morocco

Canada 1-2 Morocco

Spherical of 16:

Morocco 0-0 Spain (Morocco wins 3-0 on penalties)

Gonçalo Ramos scored a brilliant hat-trick against Switzerland as he spearheaded a scintillating Portugal performance.

Portugal

A loss in its last group sport in opposition to South Korea raised questions on Portugal’s capacity to progress far into this yr’s World Cup, however its demolition of Switzerland within the final 16 answered them with aplomb. Fernando Santos’ aspect regarded unstoppable with 21-year-old striker Gonçalo Ramos bursting onto the world stage with a superb hat-trick.

The teen was changing Cristiano Ronaldo, who was dropped to the bench for the crunch tie. It’s not but clear whether or not the celebrity striker might be put in again into the beginning lineup for its quarterfinal tie, however Portugal definitely didn’t miss him on Tuesday.

Portugal faces a probably tough opposition, which has already crushed Belgium and Spain at Qatar 2022.

Group Stage:

Portugal 3-2 Ghana

Portugal 2-0 Uruguay

South Korea 2-1 Portugal

Spherical of 16:

Portugal 6-1 Switzerland