World Cup: Eight teams remain in hunt for glory
KANSAS CITY, United States — The World Cup is down to just eight teams, with a heavyweight lineup set to do battle in the quarterfinals from Thursday (Friday Manila time).
AFP Sport looks at the matchups, all of which are taking place in the United States.
France vs Morocco
Imperious France have lived up to its billing as World Cup favorite, sweeping through the group stage and swatting aside Sweden before edging past Paraguay in the Last 16.
It is difficult to see any team keeping Didier Deschamps' men quiet, given their embarrassment of riches in attack, including Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola and the wonderfully creative Michael Olise.
But unbeaten Morocco will not be fazed by facing the two-time world champion after seeing off the Netherlands on penalties and crushing co-host Canada, 3-0, in the Last 16.
The North African team will have revenge on their minds in Boston after they lost to France in the semifinals four years ago in Qatar.
The Atlas Lions created history by becoming the first African team to progress to the last four in 2022 and will be keen to match that feat.
Spain vs Belgium
In beating Portugal, 1-0, on Monday, Spain became the first team in tournament history to record six consecutive World Cup clean sheets.
Luis de la Fuente's European champion does not always set pulses racing but the team is strikingly efficient and comfortable on the ball.
Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has netted just once in five games but Mikel Oyarzabal has scored four times, including twice in a 3-0 win against Austria in the Last 32.
Belgium go into the match in Los Angeles on the back of a 4-1 thumping of co-host the United States.
That came after they rallied from two goals down in the Last 32 to beat Senegal, 3-2, in extra time.
The World Cup is likely the last hurrah for the remainder of the nation's so-called Golden Generation, including Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, who will be desperate to leave the stage on a high.
Norway vs England
England's defenders are used to facing Norway hotshot Erling Haaland in the Premier League — but whether they can handle him is another story.
Thomas Tuchel's men arrived in the United States among the favorites to win the tournament for just the second time in their history.
Captain Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have been the standout players so far, scoring 10 of the team's 11 goals, including all three in a gripping 3-2 win against Mexico.
England, reduced to 10 men, had to dig deep to see off the co-host in a result that will infuse them with confidence ahead of their meeting with Norway.
But they will come up against a team in Miami led by the irrepressible Haaland, who has scored seven goals so far as he chases the Golden Boot.
The Manchester City man has netted in each of his past 14 competitive outings for Norway — 27 goals in total — and is bound to create problems for England's shaky defense.
Argentina vs Switzerland
Lionel Messi's Argentina has come through two almighty scares to set up a quarterfinal against Switzerland.
The defending champion was taken to extra time by World Cup debutant Cape Verde before prevailing, 3-2.
Then in the Last 16, Argentina looked down and out when trailing 2-0 against Egypt before an astonishing comeback, with Messi at the center of the action.
Head coach Lionel Scaloni will know his team cannot keep testing fate as it chases a fourth World Cup crown, but it has shown it can never be counted out.
Now, Argentina faces Switzerland in Kansas City, which beat Colombia on penalties in Vancouver after a goalless draw.
The Swiss, who are into the Last Eight for the first time since they hosted the tournament in 1954, are an organized outfit and will likely be tough to break down.
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