The Qatar 2022 World Cup quarterfinals are shaping up nicely. The Round of 16 which began last Saturday is going according to the script. No shocks, no upsets thus far. As widely expected, Louis Van Gaal’s Netherlands edged out USA 3-1, Argentina pipped Australia 2-1, France crushed Poland also 3-1, England see off Senegal 3-0, Japan bowed out to wily Croatia in penalty shootout and flamboyant Brazil demolished South Korea 4-1.
Today, it’s time for the final last 16 World Cup matches featuring Morocco vs Spain and Portugal vs Switzerland. I would not be surprised to see Morocco upset Spain. The Atlas Lions are one of the most tactical sides seen in this World Cup and they are well-organised and disciplined. Spain are a young team bristling with talent but I feel this Moroccan side would go one nudge further than their predecessors at the Mexico ’86 World Cup. That brilliant squad which comprised the gifted El-Badou Zaki, Abdelaziz Boudabala, Merry Krimau, Abdulaziz Khairi and the mercurial Mohammed Timoumi was the first African team to reach a FIFA World Cup knockout stage.
The other fixture involving Portugal and Switzerland would likely be a smooth sail for the team from the Iberian peninsula. Cristiano Ronaldo seems to always get an easy bracket.
After separating the chaff from the grain we are bound to watch some intriguing, mouthwatering fixtures in the tournament’s quarterfinals.
For the first time in World Cup history, England will face France in the knockout stages and this matchup portends of a football classic the world has seldom seen. Both teams are brimming with stars and the additional flavour to this fixture is the exciting prospect of seeing the World Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema in action for the first time in Qatar against The Three Lions after shrugging of a niggling injury.
The Argentina vs Netherlands quarterfinal match will be pitching two footballing giants at this stage of the competition. Both teams have a history of memorable clashes at the world stage. Our minds will easily go back to the 1978 World Cup final in Buenos Aires when the Mario Kempes-inspired Albicelestes defeated the Oranje 3-1 in an ill-tempered encounter. But the Netherlands had the better of the Argentines four year earlier in Germany when the great Johann Cruyff propelled the Dutch to victory over the South Americans in scintillating fashion on their way to the final in Munich. Again, Holland were once more triumphant over Argentina at the France ’98 edition when Patrick Kluivert and Dennis Bergkamp scored a goal apiece to ensure a 2-1 win in the quarterfinals.
Brazil will be facing Croatia in the World Cup for the first time since their nervy, exciting duel at the 2014 World Cup’s opening game which the Samba Boys won 3-1. Though this fixture does not have all the trappings of a repeat thriller, the zesty Brazilians seem champions designate by every passing game. However, the Croats, even though an ageing side, will prove stubborn for the World Cup favourites. Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic, Andrej Kramaric and Mateo Kovacic will definitely love leaving the world stage with a bang.
