FIFA World Cup Power Rankings: Breaking down the remaining 8 teams
If the spherical of 16 was something to go by, then the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar needs to be spectacular.
The first spherical of the knockout stage produced many memorable particular person moments of brilliance, a pair of dramatic penalty shootouts and loads of highlight-reel objectives.
What will the following spherical convey? We rank the eight groups going into the quarterfinals.
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1. FRANCE
Path to the knockout stage: First place in Group D
Results: 4-1 win vs. Australia, 2-1 win vs. Denmark, 1-0 loss to Tunisia, 3-1 win vs. Poland
Next opponent: England (Saturday, 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT)
Les Bleus had been in cruise management of their victory over Poland, transferring one step nearer to reaching their bold purpose of turning into solely the third males’s staff to repeat as World Cup champions — and the primary since Brazil gained back-to-back trophies in 1958 and 1962. As sensible as Kylian Mbappé has been (with a tournament-high 5 objectives), he hasn’t been doing it alone. The PSG star has been abetted by a beautiful supporting solid, together with Antoine Griezmann and Adrien Rabiot, in a French facet that has one of the vital balanced rosters at this World Cup.
2. BRAZIL
Path to the knockout stage: First place in Group G
Results: 2-0 win vs. Serbia, 1-0 win vs. Switzerland, 1-0 loss vs. Cameroon, 4-1 win vs. South Korea
Next opponent: Croatia (Friday, 10 a.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT)
It took Brazil 4 video games to lastly get away in Qatar and present the world that joga bonito continues to be alive and prospering. With Neymar again within the lineup and Vinícius Júnior hitting his prime type, Brazil placed on an attacking masterclass within the spherical of 16. The South Americans’ destruction of South Korea served as a reminder to the remainder of the sector that they’re one of many groups to beat as we enter the business finish of this World Cup.
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3. PORTUGAL
Path to the knockout stage: First place in Group H
Results: 3-2 win vs. Ghana, 2-0 win vs. Uruguay, 2-1 loss to South Korea, 6-1 win vs. Switzerland
Next opponent: Morocco (Saturday, 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT)
How good is that this Portuguese staff? So good that they will bench Cristiano Ronaldo and depend on Gonçalo Ramos, who registered a hat trick and picked up an help as Portugal steamrolled Switzerland in solely his fourth look for his nation. João Félix and Bruno Fernandes have been excellent this whole match as a part of a harmful Portuguese assault that no person has but been capable of include in Qatar. It’ll be fascinating to see if supervisor Fernando Santos retains the religion with Ramos or goes again to Ronaldo within the subsequent spherical.
4. ENGLAND
Path to the knockout stage: First place in Group B
Results: 6-2 win vs. Iran, 0-0 draw vs. U.S., 3-0 win vs. Wales, 3-0 win vs. Senegal,
Next opponent: France (Saturday, 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT)
England’s three wins have come in opposition to lower-ranked nations, however it’s important to admire the way it has ruthlessly dispatched its opponents, counting on a core of thrilling younger attackers led by Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden. The Three Lions have hardly put a foot fallacious in Qatar, however a quarterfinal showdown with the reigning world champions will give us a superb indication of whether or not or not Gareth Southgate’s facet is a authentic contender or a pretender.
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5. NETHERLANDS
Path to the knockout stage: First place in Group A
Results: 2-0 win vs. Senegal, 1-1 vs. Ecuador, 2-0 win vs. Qatar, 3-1 win vs. United States
Next opponent: Argentina (Friday, 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT)
PSV winger Cody Gakpo has been one of many breakout stars of this World Cup, as he ranks among the many prime scorers with three objectives. But the Dutch have benefited from a balanced assault, sensational play on the flanks by Denzel Dumfries, and excellent goalkeeping from Andries Noppert, who solely made his nationwide staff debut within the Netherlands’ opening recreation of the match. A fervent Argentina, led by an in-form Lionel Messi, will simply be the staff’s largest problem in Qatar after it confronted a quartet of countries that failed to offer them any critical bother.
6. ARGENTINA
Path to the knockout stage: First place in Group C
Results: 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia, 2-0 win vs. Mexico, 2-0 win vs. Poland, 2-1 win vs. Australia
Next opponent: Netherlands (Friday, 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT)
If Argentina is to win the World Cup for a 3rd time, it gained’t be solely due to Lionel Messi. The 35-year-old has been sensible in Qatar, however so have his youthful teammates, particularly Alexis Mac Allister (23), Julián Álvarez (22) and Enzo Fernández (21), all of whom have made main contributions to the Argentine trigger. Still, that is Messi’s staff, and when Argentina has been in want of inspiration at this match, it has turned to the person sporting the No. 10 jersey. Can he preserve it going in opposition to the Dutch?
7. MOROCCO
Path to the knockout stage: First place in Group F
Results: 0-0 vs. Croatia, 2-0 win vs. Belgium, 2-1 win vs. Canada, 0-0 vs. Spain (PK win)
Next opponent: Portugal (Saturday, 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT)
Has there been a greater story at this World Cup than the Atlas Lions? They topped a bunch that included Belgium and Croatia and moved on to the quarterfinals after knocking off Spain. And they’ve performed it on the energy of an excellent defence that has solely been breached as soon as — and that was by way of an own-goal in opposition to Canada But the African nation goes to have its fingers full with a Portugal facet brimming with confidence. Portugal can overwhelm opponents with its unwavering and relentless assault.
8. CROATIA
Path to the knockout stage: Second place in Group F
Results: 0-0 vs. Morocco, 4-1 win vs. Canada, 0-0 vs. Belgium, 1-1 vs Japan (PK win)
Next opponent: Brazil (Friday, 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT)
With the exception of its win over Canada within the group stage, Croatia has underwhelmed in Qatar, its assault having but to shift into second gear. And but, right here it’s within the quarterfinals, its place among the many remaining eight groups secured on the energy of Dominik Livaković’s goalkeeping and the steely resolve of a defence that has given away little or no. But the again line will face its stiffest check to this point in Qatar when it’s tasked with making an attempt to cease a Brazilian facet that has found its prime type.
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John Molinaro is without doubt one of the main soccer journalists in Canada, having coated the sport for over 20 years for a number of media shops, together with Sportsnet, CBC Sports and Sun Media. He is at present the editor-in-chief of TFC Republic, an internet site devoted to in-depth protection of Toronto FC and Canadian soccer. TFC Republic may be discovered at https://www.tfcrepublic.ca/
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