The last DWC action we saw was relatively tame, as China and USA both overcame their opponents by a single goal to set up a tasty-quarter-final clash. And here is the line-up for the quarter-finals:
That China - USA clash will have to wait until tomorrow, we today we follow the two quarter-finals from the top half of the draw. Brazil are the only team left in this year's DWC that are still in this year's real World Cup, and they face Netherlands. Meanwhile, Portugal and Italy would be a fitting final, so their clash should be high-quality.
Brazil vs. Netherlands
Brazil come into this game with the best second-round result under their belt, a fantastic 5-0 victory over South Africa. Netherlands, meanwhile, beat Greece by a single goal to get here, which maintains a 100% record at this year's tournament.
Brazil now have Diego Barbosa available for selection after missing the previous two games with injury. He is selected ahead of Kannemann despite the latter having a fine game against South Africa (as did the entire Brazil side). The only chance made by the Dutch is bringing in second round match-winner Kasper Dolberg for Nicolai Jorgensen. All eyes will be on Luan and Hakim Ziyech, who are both in the tournament’s top five average rating list.
Brazil vs. Netherlands
Brazil come into this game with the best second-round result under their belt, a fantastic 5-0 victory over South Africa. Netherlands, meanwhile, beat Greece by a single goal to get here, which maintains a 100% record at this year's tournament.
Brazil now have Diego Barbosa available for selection after missing the previous two games with injury. He is selected ahead of Kannemann despite the latter having a fine game against South Africa (as did the entire Brazil side). The only chance made by the Dutch is bringing in second round match-winner Kasper Dolberg for Nicolai Jorgensen. All eyes will be on Luan and Hakim Ziyech, who are both in the tournament’s top five average rating list.
Guerrero whistles a shot just over the bar early on, but then the game enters a very dull phase. In the 35th minute a nicely disguised Ziyech pass puts Dolberg through, but his shot is the wrong side of the post – a bad miss, really. Soon after, Steven Berghuis is forced off. This is a big blow, as he is already covering for the injured Neres. On comes Jens Toornstra. Ziyech forces a save from Vanderlei and we reach half time goalless, but with Netherlands looking stronger.
In the 54th minute Brazil swing in a corner. Petros challenges for it, and it falls to Rodrigo Caio, who slams it home for a Selecao lead!
The Dutch are slow to get going again, and 12 minutes later they fall further behind – Arthur’s pass down the flank gives Fagner the chance to float a high cross in, and it’s nodded home by Luan for his fifth goal of the DWC!
Straight from the kick-off, Dolberg wrestles his way past Caio and lofts it into the box, where Hirving Lozano has the freedom of the box to place his shot. But he gets it totally wrong and it flies wide! What a miss! And that miss seems crucial as the Dutch spend the rest of the game failing to put Brazil under any pressure. In the 90th minute Matthijs de Ligt picks up his second yellow card, and the Netherland’s 2018 DWC ends is disarray – and Brazil go through to the semi-finals!
Before the match I highlighted Luan and Ziyech as the ones to watch. Well, whilst Luan got the goal that sealed the win for Brazil, Ziyech had a miserable game, with a poor 74% pass completion.
Portugal vs. Italy
Portugal know how to scrape through - they got out of the group stage with two dour 0-0 draws, before seeing England off with an excellent extra-time performance to win 2-1. Italy come into this game with arguably the best showing from the first round, as they trounced Neymar's France 3-0 with a dominant display.
Portugal are still without their injured players – Layun and Brahimi – but Gelson Martins is available again after his suspension ended. He replaces Acuna in the side, with Pizzi moving over to the left wing. Bas Dost’s star turn as substitute against England has earned him a start ahead of Vincent Aboubakar. Meanwhile, Italy are without Pjanic again after his latest knock. However, Hamsik was fantastic against France when he came on for the injured Bosnian, so it feels like less of a loss. Unsurprisingly, Italy make no unforced changes.
Portugal know how to scrape through - they got out of the group stage with two dour 0-0 draws, before seeing England off with an excellent extra-time performance to win 2-1. Italy come into this game with arguably the best showing from the first round, as they trounced Neymar's France 3-0 with a dominant display.
Portugal are still without their injured players – Layun and Brahimi – but Gelson Martins is available again after his suspension ended. He replaces Acuna in the side, with Pizzi moving over to the left wing. Bas Dost’s star turn as substitute against England has earned him a start ahead of Vincent Aboubakar. Meanwhile, Italy are without Pjanic again after his latest knock. However, Hamsik was fantastic against France when he came on for the injured Bosnian, so it feels like less of a loss. Unsurprisingly, Italy make no unforced changes.
Nianggolan flashes a shot wide from the edge of the box, as Italy start with more assurance. In fact, by the time Portugal have their first shot in the 33rd minute, Italy have already had 8 attempts... but Portugal’s is the one which brings the first goal of the game! It’s the two players added to the team who provide it, as Martins’ high cross finds an unmarked Dost to nod it beyond Buffon. Just before the interval Dybala rattles the woodwork with a powerful shot, but as the sides go in Portugal still lead.
The last thing Italy can afford to do is concede again, and they just avoid it as Martins’ close-range shot is miraculously pushed onto the post by Buffon. Italy bring on Mauro Icardi for Khedira as they try and force something to happen, and it works perfectly as the substitute levels things in the 69th minute, poking home Alex Sandro’s low cross.
Now the momentum is with Italy, and Higuain nearly puts his side ahead with a strong volley from outside the box. Florenzi picks up a yellow that will rule him out of the semi-finals, but there’s still a match to be won, and Martins tests Buffon with a low drive to give a reminder that Portugal are still here. In the final minute of the match Portuguese sub Acuna hares down the wing and crosses it for Dost, whose header is narrowly over the bar. So, no-one has been able to find a winner... so we go to extra time! The second time in two games for Portugal.
Italy have a free kick high up the pitch. Dybala plays it to Naiggolan, who dallies and has the ball taken away from him. Portugal break, and eventually Martins crosses it in, where it finds Acuna – but his header is straight at Buffon who holds. A minute later, Italy’s corner is met by Higuain, whose header is flicked onto the crossbar by Barzagli! It’s a thrilling start to extra time, but things eventually settle down. Portugal’s terrible luck with wingers continues, as Martins is forced off injured – luckily they had kept a substitution in hand and Jonas comes on. Half time in extra time.
Italy have a free kick high up the pitch. Dybala plays it to Naiggolan, who dallies and has the ball taken away from him. Portugal break, and eventually Martins crosses it in, where it finds Acuna – but his header is straight at Buffon who holds. A minute later, Italy’s corner is met by Higuain, whose header is flicked onto the crossbar by Barzagli! It’s a thrilling start to extra time, but things eventually settle down. Portugal’s terrible luck with wingers continues, as Martins is forced off injured – luckily they had kept a substitution in hand and Jonas comes on. Half time in extra time.
The players seem dead on their feet now, and the second period of extra time flies by without a highlight. So to the second penalty shootout of this year’s DWC!
First, up steps Jonas... low to the bottom corner but parried by Buffon! (0-0)
Mauro Icardi... right into the top corner! (0-1)
Bas Dost, who has had a fantastic game... also into the top corner! (1-1)
Paulo Dybala, who hasn’t... but it’s a great penalty, stroked into the bottom corner! (1-2)
Jeremy Mathieu... down the middle and pushed away by Buffon! (1-2)
Ricardo Rodriguez... it’s a terrible penalty, soft and down the middle for Rui Patricio to catch! (1-2)
Bruno Fernandes... high, but pushed away by Buffon! (1-2)
It’s now match-point Italy, and up steps Claudio Marchisio... he goes top corner, but Patricio produces a fantastic save! (1-2)
After four saves in a row, Danilo Pereira has to score... and he does! A nice shot into the left side. (2-2)
Italy have one more chance to win this before sudden death, it’s Gonzalo Higuain... down the middle and saved! (2-2)
Bloody hell... so we’re onto sudden death now!
Ricardo Pereira for Portugal... also down the bloody middle, and also saved! (2-2)
Yet again, a chance for Italy to win. This time it’s Leonardo Bonucci... down the middle and saved! AGAIN!!! (2-2)
William Carvalho... down the middle and saved! What is going on? (2-2)
There’s now been one penalty scored in the last 9, can Alessandro Florenzi change that? He runs up... and scores! Italy finally win after the worst shootout I’ve ever seen!
First, up steps Jonas... low to the bottom corner but parried by Buffon! (0-0)
Mauro Icardi... right into the top corner! (0-1)
Bas Dost, who has had a fantastic game... also into the top corner! (1-1)
Paulo Dybala, who hasn’t... but it’s a great penalty, stroked into the bottom corner! (1-2)
Jeremy Mathieu... down the middle and pushed away by Buffon! (1-2)
Ricardo Rodriguez... it’s a terrible penalty, soft and down the middle for Rui Patricio to catch! (1-2)
Bruno Fernandes... high, but pushed away by Buffon! (1-2)
It’s now match-point Italy, and up steps Claudio Marchisio... he goes top corner, but Patricio produces a fantastic save! (1-2)
After four saves in a row, Danilo Pereira has to score... and he does! A nice shot into the left side. (2-2)
Italy have one more chance to win this before sudden death, it’s Gonzalo Higuain... down the middle and saved! (2-2)
Bloody hell... so we’re onto sudden death now!
Ricardo Pereira for Portugal... also down the bloody middle, and also saved! (2-2)
Yet again, a chance for Italy to win. This time it’s Leonardo Bonucci... down the middle and saved! AGAIN!!! (2-2)
William Carvalho... down the middle and saved! What is going on? (2-2)
There’s now been one penalty scored in the last 9, can Alessandro Florenzi change that? He runs up... and scores! Italy finally win after the worst shootout I’ve ever seen!
I’m glad that ended, for my own sanity! Italy progress to their second DWC semi-finals, whilst Portugal fall at the quarter-finals again. Both sides peppered the others’ box with crosses, but with the exception of Dost, there generally wasn’t much in the way of quality meeting the crosses.
Tomorrow's schedule
China vs. USA
Spain vs. Turkey
China vs. USA
Spain vs. Turkey