Deep down some fans are already getting sad, because there are just over a week left and a handful of matches of what will be remembered – for balance and entertainment – as one of the most beautiful World Cups ever. But in reality it is right now that the top football competition for nations is coming to life: the magnificent eight are hunting for the final which will be played in Rio on 13 July.
Today the first two quarter-finals are being played, perhaps the most beautiful on paper: the hosts of Brazil, who have repeatedly struggled in their home tournament, await the revelation team of the tournament in Fortaleza. Not Costa Rica, which challenges the Netherlands tomorrow but which does not seem destined for the final victory (despite having defeated Uruguay and Italy), but Colombia of the generation of phenomena, orphaned by Radamel Falcao but led by a James Rodriguez in the ball version of 'Gold. Yes, the cafeteros seem to be able to aim for the final victory, even if they are on the toughest card side of the draw: in the event of a miracle against the green-and-gold, they will have to contend with the winner of the other luxury quarter-final, the one who sees France and Germany compete in the Maracana.
The Franco-German duel is a great World Cup classic, and has almost always seen the Teutonic side prevail: the bitterest defeat for Les Bleus remains that of the 1982 semi-final, when only penalties denied Platini and his teammates the grand final against Italy .
The forecast would say Brazil and Germany in the semifinals, but no one would be too surprised to turn on the TV on Tuesday evening and find France-Colombia live. Moreover, Pekerman's boys are, together with the Netherlands, the only team – of the 8 that form the final parterre – to have won all their matches so far (considering the 90 minutes). The Oranges, as mentioned, will challenge Costa Rica tomorrow, while Leo Messi's Argentina will face Belgium.
