FIFA World Cup 2014: Analysis after quarterfinals

Argentina – Belgium 1-0: An early goal sent Argentina back to defend the lead and enter the last 4.

Defence: 1,5 – 1

Midfield: 1 – 1

Attack: 1 – 0,5

Interplay: 1 – 1

TOTAL: 4,5 – 3,5

2. Garay (ARG) – 1,5

14. Mascherano (ARG) - 1

10. Messi (ARG) - 1

9. Higuain (ARG) – 0,5

4. Kompany (BEL) – 0,5

15. Van Buyten (BEL) - 0,5

Netherlands – Costa Rica 0-0 (4-3 pen): Van Gaal’s yet another substitution won the match: now the goalkeeper Krul!

Defence: 1 – 1,5

Midfield: 1,5 – 1

Attack: 1,5 – 0,5

Interplay: 1 – 1

TOTAL: 5 – 4

1. Navas (CRC) – 1,5

11. Robben (NED) – 1,5
10. Sneijder (NED) – 1
2. Acosta (CRC) - 1
16. Gamboa (CRC) - 1
3. Gonzalez (CRC) - 1

15. Kuijt (NED) – 0,5

2. Vlaar (NED) – 0,5

Three former World Cup winners and a three-time finalist is the starting line-up for the FIFA World Cup 2014 semi-finals. As it was the case in the Round of 16
, all of the favourites went through again. There are two South American and two European teams left. This is the first time for Brazil and Argentina to be in the semi-finals at the same time. There are four possible finals, and all of them are classics of the world football.

Brazil – Netherlands: The Brazilians never forget the World Cups, where their team loses. And especially the last one is still too fresh to forget. It was the Netherlands that defeated Dunga’s Brazil in the quarterfinals of the World Cup 2010. A possibility for revenge!    

Germany – Argentina: 1986 and 1990 World Cups ended with a final having the same participants – Argentina and Germany. These two matches were remarkable thanks to the level of tension. No couple has ever met in the World Cup final three times. Argentina will be more than motivated to get the Germans in the final, as they can get a chance to remind them Andreas Brehme’s controversial penalty of the 1990 World Cup final. Argentina can win its third World Cup title, thus getting equal to Germany.

Germany – Netherlands: This was Europe’s hottest rivalry after the World War II up until about twenty years ago.  Writing poems, punching each other on the pitch, cleaning ass with rival’s shirt and spitting on each other have been part of the rivalry between Netherlands and (West) Germany national football teams. In 1988 European Championship the Dutch not only equalized but also scored the matchwinner on the 88th minute of the semi-final in Hamburg, entering the final. They went on to win the tournament, but the trophy was hardly worthier than eliminating the Germans in their own turf. This historical match is considered to lessen the war-related anti-German sentiment in the Dutch society.

Brazil – Argentina: exactly what the whole South America dreams about. There is nothing sweeter than beating the archrivals, and doing this in the World Cup final is the biggest achievement in the history. This is why this final might become the most memorable in the World Cup history. Brazilians love to hate Argentineans, and Argentineans hate to love Brazilians. 

Most goals scored: Netherlands, Colombia (12 goals)

Least goals scored: Cameroon, Honduras, Iran (1)

Most conceded: Cameroon, Australia (9)

Least conceded: Costa Rica (2)

Topscorer(s): James Rodriguez (COL) (6)

Most assists: Cuadrado (COL) (4)

Top three most beautiful goals:

3. Tim Cahill (AUS) Australia – Netherlands 2:3, 21’

2. Robin van Persie (NED) Spain – Netherlands 1:5, 44’

1. James Rodriguez (COL) Colombia – Uruguay 2:0, 28’

The best teams of the round were Netherlands and Brazil, getting a mark of 5,0.

Overall, the best football of the tournament is played by Netherlands (28,0).

The top 10:

1. Netherlands – 28,0

2. Germany – 27,0

3. France – 26,5

4. Colombia – 25,5

5. Argentina – 25,0

6. Brazil – 24,0

7. Belgium – 23,5

8. Mexico – 20,5

9. Chile – 20,0

10. Costa Rica – 19,5

  

The teams getting the lowest marks for the round are France and Belgium (both - 3,5).

 

The best player of the round was 10. James Rodriguez (COL).

The following players have earned the highest marks for their performances in the first three matches:

11. Robben (NED) – 7,0
7. Sanchez (CHL) – 6,5

10. J. Rodriguez (COL) – 6,5

10. Messi (ARG) – 5,0
10. Neymar (BRA) – 5,0

Chances to win the World Cup

Argentina	27,53%	(+6,16%)
Germany	26,22%	(+11,81%)
Brazil	23,72%	(+0,75%)
Netherlands	22,53%	(+9,38%)