Germany vs Spain
What an exciting match to start the round with, it's the 2017 and 2019 DWC champions Germany against the 2018 champions Spain. These two have met at every DWC so far. In 2017 Spain won in the group stage, and a year later they knocked Germany out on penalties. Last year they met at this stage, and Germany came through 2-0 winners.
Germany don't make any changes, which means they field Álvaro Odriozola and Phillipe Coutinho start against the side they are effectively on loan from. Spain will be without Gareth Bale until after the semi final, should they make it that far. Fortunately, this coincides with Eden Hazard returning to full fitness, so he slots in for Spain's only change.
Germany's high-tempo game is playing into Spain's hands, as they keep regaining possession, allowing them to suffocate their opponents. Luis Suárez has a header held by Manuel Neuer whilst Marco Reus bends a free kick wide. Germany's best chance of the match so far comes in the 35th minute as Odriozola picks up an overhit cross, and his low shot is pushed behind by Jan Oblak. 10 minutes later the half ends. Spain haven't really converted their possession into chances, but whilst Germany have out-shot them 7-4 they haven't had any clear sights of goal.
Straight after the substitution Germany work the ball into the box from a throw in. Coutinho wriggles into some space, but his shot is charged down. It falls to Goretzka, with nobody in front of him, but his shot is tame and held by Oblak. Spain get down the other end, Gaya is left in acres of space thanks to a lack of tracking back by Serge Gnabry, and he drills a cross towards Luis Suárez, whose shot is blocked, as is Lionel Messi's follow-up.
In the 74th minute a bit of scrappy play in midfield is ended when Thiago plays a brilliant ball out of nowhere for Goretzka to run onto. He's not having his best game, and it continues as he dallies and allows Gerard Piqué and Oblak to smother the chance.
Germany can't break down Spain at all, and we find ourselves in added time. The holders muster one last attack. Timo Werner, on for Coutinho, drives into the German box and fires in a low cross. It ricochets into the path of fellow sub Jadon Sancho, but he can only find the side netting. The right back curse continues as Carvanjal strains his calf, but moments later the final whistle ends their defence of Germany's crown! Overall, that was a pretty terrible game, but Spain won't mind. They got the lead and never looked like relinquishing it.
Player of the match: José Gaya
Argentina vs Brazil
The two South American giants meet for the first time in the DWC itself. They have met 8 times before, with Brazil's win in the recent South American Championship final giving them the edge, as they lead 4-3 (with 1 draw). Both sides are in impressive form, with 7 wins from 8 games between them in this year's tournament.
Argentina are without Javier Mascherano and Milton Casco through suspension, whilst Iván Marcone is injured. This forces Argentina to move to a 4-2-3-1 with two CMs rather than two DMs, as Leonardo Jara, Enzo Pérez and Ignacio Fernández come in. Brazil have their own issues, as Gil is suspended due to his red card whilst Bruno Henrique (CM) is suspended due to two yellows in the tournament. Worse, they will be without the injured Everton until the final, if they get that far. Geromel comes in at the back, whilst up front it's a first start of the tournament for the controvertial Paolo Guerrero, with Gabriel Barbosa moving to RW.
Argentina have further chances go close from Juan Fernando Quintero and Frank Fabra, but Brazil look dangerous themselves. They get forward, and Filipe Luís plays it to Guerrero in the box. He smartly lays it off to Patrick, whose shot is blocked by Marcos Rojo, but the deflection lands in the path of Guerrero and he slots it away from point-blank range! A goal felt inevitable, and it's Brazil who get it!
It's nearly a quickfire double for Brazil and Guerrero, but the Peruvian striker is denied by Fábio one-on-one. Argentina try and strike back, Ignacio Scocco doesn't connect properly with a close-range header as a good chance goes to waste. Despite further chances, no-one can get the game's second goal before half time.
The lack of chances is to Brazil's liking, of course, and they nearly double their lead with another quick break, but Gabriel Barbosa's shot is charged down by Rojo. Salvio has been Argentina's main outlet, and in the 82nd minute he finds space to put in a dangerous cross. Walter Kannemann is across to stop it reaching Ignacio Piatti, but his header falls to Scocco who volleys Argentina level!
Can either team find a winner? In the 88th minute Argentina win a free kick on the right edge of the box. Quintero clips it in, and it finds Salvio. He lays it off to Javier Pinola, but Fábio makes a brilliant point-blank save! We go into added time, and two minutes in Brazil have a corner. It's cleared as far as sub Víctor Cantillo who crosses towards Geromel. His header beats Armani, hits the bar, bounces onto the line and bounces clear! We don't find a winner, and so we go into extra time!
Final score: Argentina e2-1 Brazil
Player of the match: Ignacio Scocco
Turkey vs Italy
Italy beat Turkey in the second ever DWC match. But the following year Turkey pipped Italy to top spot in their qualifying group, with a 1-0 win in the final round of games. They haven't met since. Form is firmly with Italy, but Turkey continue to improve, their win over Switzerland their best performance so far this tournament.
Both sides made it through their second round matches without any suspensions or injuries, so they have the luxury of being able to name an unchanged XI.
Edin Visca has been Turkey's saviour this tournament, after initially not even being in the starting XI. He nearly gets them quickly level, but Samir Handanovic produces a spectacular save to tip his shot over the bar! From the corner it's cleared to Douglas Costa, who goes on a run into the Turkish box, but his shot is straight at Fernando Muslera.
Alex Sandro picks up a yellow that suspends him from the next match, if Italy go through. They nearly add the safety of a second goal when - from another set piece - Kalidou Koulibaly heads against the bar. But there are no more goals before we reach the break. Italy haven't been great, but they look very comfortable.
In the 81st minute Italy score from a set piece again, this time as Milinkovic-Savic heads sub Paulo Dybala's corner against the bar. Turkey break away and Visca crosses for Mario Lemina, but his shot is blocked.
Italy carve out half-chances for Alex Sandro and Milinkovic-Savic, but they are easy saves for Muslera. But it's more than Turkey manage to create, and the game ends with Ronaldo's early goal enough to see Italy through to the semi finals for the third time!
Player of the match: Gael Clichy
France vs Netherlands
This is the first time these two DWC ever-presents have actually met. France go in as favourites, partly due to ranking and partly due to the impressive way they overcame England. But Netherlands have moments of looking very impressive, not least in the last round against Greece. Alongside England, the Dutch are the tournament's highest scorers.
Youcef Atal and Marco Verratti both picked up their second yellows of the tournament against England, and so are replaced by Thomas Meunier and Dimitri Payet in the France team. Netherlands are without Joel Veltman for the same reason, with Edson Álvarez coming in.
Netherlands showcase their own attacking ability in reply, as they work it nicely for Hakim Ziyech, but he heads it straight at Keylor Navas. They keep up the pressure, but it's relieved when Neymar robs Donny Van de Beek in his own half. With Denzel Dumfries even higher up the pitch Neymar has acres of space to run into, he gets into the box and slams it in the same bottom corner! That's a wonderful solo goal and Netherlands are on the rocks just 13 minutes in!
Onana has to push an Ander Herrera shot around the post as France keep it up. At the other end David Neres dribbles through, but can't beat Navas from a tight angle. Neymar has a great chance to complete a first half hat trick when Payet's wonderful early cross finds him 7 yards out, but this time he shoots straight at Onana.
Just before half time France create a rapid counter-attack, with Neymar, Payet and Depay passing it around a Dutch defend struggling to cover. Payet and Depay's one-two plays in the former one-on-one, and he beats Onana with a low shot but it hits the post and is cleared! Still, they lead by two at the interval and they keep on making good chances.
On the hour mark France have a free kick on the halfway line. Thiago Silva plays it down the line for Mbappé to run onto. He fires a low cross in, and Memphis Depay is there to poke in France's third! It's deserved, and to borrow a phrase the game likes - France are making a real statement here!
Netherlands do keep plugging away. Neres plays it in for Dusan Tadic 8 yards out, but Thiago Silva makes a solid block. France win a corner at the other end. It's cleared but worked out to Payet, and he arrows a low shot into the bottom corner! It's four, and France are trampling all over poor Netherlands here!
In a sign of defeat, Netherlands replace Ziyech with defensive midfielder Jorrit Hendrix. But it doesn't stop the misery as Álvarez is penalised for a push on Depay in the box. Neymar steps up looking for the tournament's second hat trick... and takes it! A fitting cap on a wonderful game for him. At 5-0, this is level with the record defeat in a knockout game. Can Netherlands prevent taking the record outright?
Their hopes of surviving without any further damage are helped as France take off Neymar to protect him for the semis, and 15 minutes later the final whistle goes on a proper hammering. Ouch.
Player of the match: Neymar