The World Cup Quarter Finals are over, as we are left with England, France, Belgium and Croatia as the winner of the 2018 World Cup.
Excitement is high as all of the big names have been eliminated, and there’s a great news story still wwaiting to be told.
But before the semi finals start its a good time to reflect on what happened in the World Cup Quarter Finals, to see if we learned anything to go with the woeful lack of sleep.
See what we can remember with our Five Points of Interest from the World Cup Quarter Finals.
FIVE POINTS OF INTEREST FROM THE WORLD CUP QUARTER FINALS
PAST REPUTATIONS MEAN NOTHING WHICH IS REFRESHING
Take a look at the four semi finalists, all of them had a negative reputation leading into the 2018 World Cup Quarter Finals.
First of all was England, who are meant to be the perennial chokers who were surely going to be eliminated on penalties by someone, most likely Germany. Then there’s France, who for many an off field implosion was being offered up as due any time. Onto Belgium who had a golden generation of players who hadn’t or accused of never likely to win anything, much like England’s golden generation. Even Croatia came into the World Cup on the back of a number of fans at home were not sure whether to support there team of not due to off field events involving a court case.
All had some kind of negative reputation heading into the tournament, while teams like Germany, Brazil, Argentina and Spain all rode in on great qualifying form and past reputation.
Happily for all of the sides that have made the semi finals all of those reputations have been answered and more. Meanwhile, a lot of the big names with storied reputations mentioned before have all fallen over by the quarter finals stage and before.
Hopefully it means that every World Cup from here onward that reputations are left at the door and hopefully more than a few teams can genuinely win.
MAYBE THE EPL IS THE BEST LEAGUE AFTER ALL
There’s always an argument which is the better league, but having a look at the Semi Finals, you can see that the English Premier League have provided the most amount of players.
Yes that is helped by the England side making it with 100% of their players coming fro the EPL, but they still provided 25% of all the players in the World Cup semi finals from teams not England. It is 43.4% if you throw in England.
We say it is because the EPL is so competitive that the players from these teams are used to the competition are are ready for anything, given it is a genuine top 6 teams, and any of the minnows can spring a surprise anytime.
Where as the other countries have big names like Messi and Ronaldo and bigger teams like PSG, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona, there is rarely any competition for them over a season. Perhaps a second or third challenger from time to time. But this means most of the other games in your division could be classed as a little weak, something you could never accuse the EPL of doing.
And then there’s the talk of the Winter break which hasn’t seemed to bother those playing.
FIRMINO AND NEYMAR AT THE HEART OF THE BRAZILIAN SOLUTION
The biggest shock of the World Cup Quarter Finals was the exit of Brazil at the hands of Belgium, and at the heart of that one of the architects of the win was the often maligned Marouane Fellaini. He and Nacer Chadli were the heroes of Belgium’s great escape against Japan in the Round of 16, and as a result were rewarded with a starting spot in the Quarter Final. Fellaini was tremendous and caused Brazil many problems in the World Cup Quarter Final, without grabbing the highlights of de Bruyne’s super goal, or the magnificent Eden Hazard.
Alternatively for Brazil, Roberto Firmino has been a substitute in their games, and has made quite the impact in all of the games he has got some time in. No offence to Jesus (the player or Son of God), but Firmino made Brazil look better in all the games he was on for, so why not start him. With the chances Brazil blew in the Quarter Final, Brazil could well have been well ahead with some more clinical finishing, which Firmino looked the most capable.
Another solution would be telling Neymar to stay on his feet, and stop the bullshit theatrics every game. Yes he was fouled way too much, but had he not reacted, maybe other teams who did would leave him alone more. If more effort was put into the on field action, not on the ground action, Brazil may well have been preparing for a semi instead of a flight home.
DECENT DEFENSE NOT DEFENSIVE SIDES PROSPER
Interesting fact that all of the teams that have reached the final four aka the World Cup Semi Finals have each conceded four goals.
At just under a goal per game, there have been better defensive sides that have exited at this stage and earlier, however England, France, Croatia and Belgium survive. It shows that the defense just has to be good, and able to withstand the occasional barrage, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it should be all about defense.
Belgium were regarded as many as way too weak defensively to handle Brazil, but they kept them to just one goal. It may say more about the wasteful shooting of Brazilians than Belgian defense, but they prospered just the same.
The other defensive lines of the sides that have made the semi finals have been questioned a little along the way at some stage, but have proven more than adequate.
Looking at a great defensive team like Spain, for all their defensive might and ultra slick passing, they couldn’t beat Russia. Meanwhile Belgium, England and France were all involved in game where they score 4 goals or more, and the quarter finals were as cagey as expected. Maybe it means that sides will ensure the attack works, and the defense is solid. Sounds like a box ticker for all.
PENALTY SHOOTOUTS ARE GREAT, BUT COULD WE GET RID OF THE EXTRA TIME BEFORE?
If you aren’t attached too emotionally to a team by the World Cup Quarter Final stages, then a penalty shoot out is a most entertaining way of deciding a football game.
But why do we have to wait 30+ minutes for the ultimate result.
If the teams knew a penalty shootout was coming straight after the 90 minutes + injury time, then perhaps teams may want to win it in regulation time.
Perhaps that is just selfish as a viewer from Australia looking for a little sleep in between the fixtures.
