Argentina forward Lionel Messi warms up during a training session at Qatar University in Doha on Dec. 5.JUAN MABROMATA/AFP/Getty Images
After non-stop soccer for the past two weeks, the World Cup is taking a small break.
There will be two days of rest before the quarter-finals start in Qatar with at least one surprising team still in contention to win soccer’s biggest prize.
Morocco produced the latest upset in a tournament that has had its share of them, beating Spain in the round of 16 on Tuesday to become the first Arab nation to reach the World Cup quarter-finals. The Moroccans, who also became only the fourth African team to reach this stage, beat the 2010 champions in a penalty shootout.
Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are at a fork in the road in Qatar
“What they’ve done today is extraordinary,” Morocco coach Walid Regragui said after the match.
In the group stage, Saudi Arabia caused one of the biggest upsets in tournament history by beating Argentina in its opening match. Japan beat both Germany and Spain. The Germans and 2018 semifinalist Belgium both were eliminated before the knockout rounds.
Argentina, with Lionel Messi still looking to win a World Cup title, still made it through and then beat Australia to get into the last eight. Brazil, which had Neymar back in the lineup after an ankle injury, is there as well.
And so is defending champion France, with Kylian Mbappé seemingly unstoppable, England, Croatia, the Netherlands and, of course, Portugal – with or without Cristiano Ronaldo in the starting lineup.
Croatian midfielder Luka Modric, left, and Brazil striker Neymar will be the ones to watch out for in their quarter-final.GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images
CROATIA vs. BRAZIL
(Friday, Education City Stadium)
Five-time champion Brazil looks ready to go deep at this year’s World Cup, with Neymar recovered from an ankle injury and the country’s greatest player, Pele, an inspiration as he watches from his hospital bed.
The 82-year-old soccer great is receiving treatment in São Paulo as he recovers from a respiratory infection that was aggravated by COVID-19, but his presence can be felt among Brazil’s players and fans, with banners, flags and T-shirts bearing his image.
On the field, Neymar and Co. are serious contenders, beating South Korea 4-1 in the round of 16.
“They are bold, they try one-on-one moves, feints, they are aggressive. It’s impressive,” Brazil coach Tite said.
Croatia is an aging team but has the know-how at the World Cup after reaching the semi-finals four years ago.
Netherlands' coach Louis Van Gaal, left, and his Argentinian counterpart Lionel Scaloni will be at their tactical best in this explosive encounter.ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/Getty Images
NETHERLANDS vs. ARGENTINA
(Friday, Lusail Stadium)
Argentina has recovered from one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history and now faces the Netherlands for a place in the semi-finals.
For Argentina to win its third World Cup, expect Messi to provide the magic.
The problem is, however, Messi is no longer at his peak – even if his country remains as reliant on him as ever and he has managed to score three goals so far in Qatar.
Argentina’s fans have also played a part in inspiring the team.
“This is a unique moral boost. I’d like [it if] everybody could experience what a player feels when he sees all these people and thinks his country is behind him,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said. “They make you want to go out and celebrate.”
The Netherlands has been quietly effective in reaching the quarter-finals, winning Group A and then beating the United States 3-1 in the round of 16.
These teams have plenty of history in the World Cup, with Argentina beating the Netherlands in the final in 1978 and in the semi-finals in 2014.
It’s not clear if Portugal's star striker Cristiano Ronaldo will be recalled for the quarter-final against Morocco or if he will be asked to accept a reduced role.The Canadian Press
MOROCCO vs. PORTUGAL
(Saturday, Al Thumama Stadium)
Portugal has shown what it can do without Ronaldo after the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was benched in the 6-1 rout of Switzerland in the round of 16.
His replacement, Goncalo Ramos, scored the first hat trick of this year’s World Cup.
It’s not clear if Ronaldo will be recalled for the quarter-final match against Morocco or if he will be asked to accept a reduced role.
“I will use what I believe is the right strategy, as I have done my entire life,” Portugal coach Fernando Santos said.
That doesn’t bode well for Ronaldo, given the fluidity the team showed against Switzerland without him on the field.
Standing in Portugal’s way is the surprise team of the World Cup, Morocco.
“No one is giving up. Everyone’s playing with bandages, everyone is trying to raise their level of play and mentality,” Regragui said. “We succeeded in creating a family, and we feel there’s a whole country behind us.”
French forwards Olivier Giroud and Kylian Mbappe will be eager to extend their goal-poaching prowess against England.AFP Contributor#AFP/AFP/Getty Images
ENGLAND vs. FRANCE
(Saturday, Al Bayt Stadium)
Two of the best strikers in the world go head-to-head in the last of the four quarter-final matches.
Harry Kane, the leading scorer at the last World Cup, finally got off the mark in England’s 3-0 win over Senegal. But he has some catching to do if he wants to get close to Mbappé, who has scored five goals in the tournament.
“I think we still have not seen the best of Kylian,” France forward Olivier Giroud said of his teammate. “I hope [his best] is going to come soon and he will beat all the records. He is amazing and he is still young, which is scary because he still can improve his game.”
England has been getting its goals from a variety of places. Eight different England players have scored for the team in Qatar so far.
“They,” England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford said, “have got to be worried about us as well, our threat in attack.”