After a thrilling world cup round of 16, all the teams that are going to participate in the quarterfinals have been revealed. Fans talk as they wait through the short break between the rounds, and all conversations oscillate around the same question. Which four out of the great eight are going to move a step closer to the coveted trophy?
The first quarterfinal will be held between 2022 runners-up France and the most promising African team, Morocco. The match promises an interesting fight, and although I could see ways for either team to move through, I think France has a bigger chance of reaching the semis. After all, they are one of the undisputed favourites to win the whole tournament and have been playing quite well thus far.
This does not mean that Morocco should be dismissed. In their journey towards the quarterfinals, they have already knocked out some big teams, and they show no signs of stopping. Under favourable circumstances, and maybe with a bit of luck, they could do what few deem possible.
If someone had asked me to choose a winner of this quarterfinal game before the tournament began, I would have quickly pointed to Spain. Things are slightly different now that the team has played a few games on the international stage. Spain has been underwhelming in the group stage and has continued to play unremarkable games in the knockout phase. Their last showing against Portugal is, in many ways, the perfect example. Belgium, on the other hand, has looked rather solid, with their most recent game being a 1:4 victory against the US.
At the same time, something that should not be discounted is the Spanish defence. The team has yet to concede a goal in the tournament, a feat that no other squad has managed to achieve. I think they will continue the run in the quarterfinals and, despite their issues, defeat Belgium and advance into the next stage of the competition.
The quarterfinal set to be played on July 11th is shaping up to be quite an interesting one. As many have expected, England has been making slow but steady progress through the World Cup. They have been named as one of the favourites for the title, so their presence among the top eight is anything but surprising. The situation is different in the case of Norway. The team has not qualified for the tournament since 1998, and yet has moved through its stages with surprising efficiency. Their biggest achievement to date has been knocking out the hopeful Brazil after a game which they won 2:0.
While Norway can provide a surprise for the ages, I still think that England will be the team that will move to the semis. Whether liked or not, they have consistently proven why they are among the top teams, and their recent performance only confirms their good form.
In the case of the last of the four quarterfinals, the situation is more clear-cut. Although I do not want to diminish Switzerland’s skills, I do not see a world in which they beat the reigning champions. Argentina has been on a great run, and their most recent game, a match against Egypt, proved that they are incredibly determined to win the trophy once more. Its first part did leave a lot to be desired from the team, but the comeback they managed to perform in the last 15 minutes reminded the fans why they are a squad to be feared. Of course, the game was not without its controversies, but that does not take away from the work done by the players.
Switzerland played the longest and, in many ways, most disappointing round of 16 game. Their game against Colombia was goalless and settled only on penalties. The score does not mean that the team didn’t try, but it does put into question their ability to take on the hungry reigning champions.
Of course, predictions are just that, and in football, there is always room for surprises. The fate of the quarterfinals is by no means determined.
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