The round of 18 of the World Cup closes today. The last two matches scheduled are Argentina-Switzerland at 22 pm and Belgium-United States at XNUMX pm. The two winners will form the quarter-final from which the team will then emerge and in all probability will face the Netherlands in the semi-final, unless that Costa Rica does not carry out the umpteenth feat. So far all the favorites have managed to get through, but all have made an enormous effort, prevailing only at the last minute (Netherlands and France), needing extra time (Germany) or even the penalty lottery (Brazil) and in some of these cases obtaining the qualification in a fortuitous and not entirely deserved way.
In the end, the most convincing was Colombia, who want to go from outsiders to real pretenders to the title, while Costa Rica-Greece was a challenge that eluded any type of forecast. Instead, all the defeated teams sold their skin dearly and their resistance in some matches was heroic and almost touching. We will see today if the two favourites, Argentina and Belgium, will join the other six and, if so, if they will do so in a clear and convincing way.
The first to take the field, in San Paolo and with 60 fans in tow, will be Albiceleste and the obstacle, certainly not prohibitive, will be the Switzerland of the talented Shaqiri (but little else). Argentina which, despite falling into an easy group, has certainly not impressed so far, saved in all three previous matches by Messi's goals, but the impression is that if the other Pulce department mates, from Higuain ( the most disappointing) to Aguero, in addition to the various Palacio and Di Maria, Sabella's formation would really begin to scare and become, with Germany, the most serious antagonist of Brazil.
It is true that the defense and midfield are not at all up to those in front, but today on paper there shouldn't be too many problems against a Switzerland that relies on the usual Inler and Behrami in the middle of the field (show football is elsewhere) and that in his group he conceded five goals from France, managing to reach the round of XNUMX thanks to the lucky finish of the opening match against Ecuador.
Those who can have one of the strongest midfield departments in the tournament are Belgium, who in the evening match will have to overcome Klinsmann's USA if they want to become part of the best eight in the world, for many the minimum result that this national team must center. Hazard and his companions obviously start with all the favors of the forecast (even if in the last few hours the odds of the boomakers on the 1 mark have risen and not just a little), the goal is not to disappoint all those who see in them a generation of phenomena and one of the most beautiful teams to follow, with the possibility of challenging Messi then in the next round.
Belgium which obtained three successes out of three, but in none of the three occasions it has particularly shone, indeed it has perhaps taken more than it deserved, but above all many of its purest talents have not yet managed to become protagonists, however leaving the scene to others no less interesting elements. The best and most constant so far has been the Neapolitan Mertens, while Hazard went a bit in fits and starts and Lukaku just didn't show up, the curiosity to see them all at their best remains high and today's match could give important indications on the real value of the Wilmots gang.
On the other hand, the United States, which arrived here at the expense of two important teams such as Portugal and Ghana, will as always give a hard time, they will not let themselves be put down easily and will once again bet on the organization and on Dempsey's qualities up front. true team man, but perhaps for the first time in their history (apart from the home World Cup) they will also feel the push of the entire American population, close and passionate about this training as it has never been, with President Barack Obama first fan.
Argentina-Belgium would offer a spectacular quarter-final, all to follow, while for Switzerland and the USA, finishing in the top sixteen is already a great achievement, but this World Cup has taught us that before giving judgments it is better to wait all 90 minutes , if not 120.
