Heading to the Quarterfinals of Qatar 2022; Argentina, France, Brazil and Portugal are the favorites

The curtain is closing on Arab lands. Qatar 2022 It is reaching the final stages and has given us surprises -at least so far- in each phase of the contest. Today we bring you a small preview of the Quarterfinals of the highest soccer tournament at the national team level.

The Netherlands has the enormous task of stopping Lionel Messi, England and France give us the match of the day, Morocco seeks to give more surprises although they have Cristiano Ronaldo and company, while Brazil wants to continue dancing and showing the “Jogo Bonito” that it has exhibited throughout the tournament.

Dates and times of the Quarterfinal matches:

Games on Friday:

– Croatia vs Brazil

• Venue: City of Education Stadium
• Time: 9:00 am Mexico time

– Netherlands vs Argentina

• Venue: Lusail Stadium
• Time: 13:00 pm Mexico time

Both encounters with a flavor of revenge.

Games on Saturday:

– Morocco vs. Portugal

• Venue: Al Thumama Stadium
• Time: 9:00 am Mexico time

– England vs France

• Venue: Al Bayt Stadium
• Time: 13:00 pm Mexico time

Croatia vs. Brazil, South American dominance against the Europeans

It would not be the first time that Croats and Brazilians face each other in a World Cup. The first time they did it was in the group stage of Germany 2006, when “La Verdeamarela” came as champion of the contest and defeated Croatia 1-0 with a goal from Kaká.

The most recent meeting was in Brazil 2014, in the opening match with a 3-1 victory for the South Americans with a double Neymar. Eight years later they are face to face again but now in a final phase, where Brazil is a strong favorite with 70% to advance to the semifinals, according to Nielsen’s Gracenote technology. On the other hand, Croatia will have to play a perfect match if they want to eliminate the five-time world champion.

Netherlands vs. Argentina, pending accounts for the Dutch

The rivalry between the Dutch and Argentines has already become a tradition in the World Cup, where the rivalry was born in the 1978 final when “La Albiceleste” beat “Clockwork Orange” 3-1.

The last precedent of these teams in the World Cup was in 2014. The team led by the then technical director of Argentina, Alejandro Sabella, defeated the Europeans 4-2 on penalties to advance to the final of the tournament.

For this match in Qatar, the balance is in favor of Lionel Scaloni’s men with a 58% chance of advancing to the semifinals, although they face an old sea lion like Louis van Gaal.

Morocco vs. Portugal, African surprise?

Now to end the Quarterfinals, the great surprise of the World Cup, Morocco, wants to continue breaking pools and eliminate Cristiano Ronaldo and company.

Fernando Santos’s team has gone from less to more in the tournament, only in the Round of 16 match they thrashed Switzerland 6-1 without problems. On the other hand, Morocco, the only representative of the African Football Confederation, eliminated Spain with grit and heart in the penalty shootout.

Don’t be surprised if we see “Los Leones del Atlas” advancing to the semifinals, which no African team has achieved in a World Cup, although the task looks difficult when you have a star-studded team in front of you, however, this World Cup It has shown us that names do not play on the field.

England vs. France, European classic in a World Cup

To close with a flourish, two world champions face each other: England with the enormous task of stopping Kylian Mbappe.

This would be the third time they meet in a World Cup, with a positive balance for the selection of “The Three Lions” with two victories. And it is that the rivalry was born in 1966, exactly in the group stage, in that match England beat France 2-0 without problems with a double by Roger Hunt.

The last duel in a tournament like this was in Spain 1982, with a 3-1 victory against the Gauls. Both teams have met 31 times, with England winning 17, losing 9 and drawing just 5.

The last meeting recorded between the two teams was in an international friendly at the Stade de France in 2017, “Les Bleus” beat the English 3-2.

Will Gareth Southgate have what it takes to stop Mbappe and the reigning world champion? Will it be the last meeting of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the World Cup? Will Croatia surprise Brazil? We will be able to answer all these questions this weekend when we meet the Qatar 2022 semifinalists.