Hosts Russia bows out, England and France march on
By virtue of a 4-3 penalty shootout after 120 minutes, this ended the fairytale of the host nation, who had exceeded all expectations to make it to the quarters.
Croatia 2-2 Russia
Croatia were six minutes away from a passage into a semi-final playoff against England until Russia struck late in the second period of extra time to level matters at two apiece on Saturday.
Scribes like me were rewriting the finale of the script over and over as fortunes changed in this epic encounter – not so much because of the quality of the play, but by the intensity of the battle.
By virtue of a 4-3 penalty shootout after 120 minutes, this ended the fairytale of the host nation, who had exceeded all expectations to make it to the quarters.
It was by far not a classic encounter, perhaps because of the prize at stake as much as the local belief that could not face disappointment.
24 hours ago…
The emotions of a nation captured at the #FIFAFanFest.#WorldCup pic.twitter.com/HdpxnnwGqF
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 8, 2018
Belgium 2- 1 Brazil
Brazil did the samba and Belgium did the quickstep.
And the attractive swaying was no match for the speedy attacking steps of the Red Devils.
The’ ball’room judges held up the final score: Belgium 2 Brazil 1.
There was little in it, in terms of the chances they created: in fact, Brazil had far more shots.
We have our Final 4! Don't forget to update your #WorldCupDreamTeam.
Who would be YOUR strikeforce?👉https://t.co/nDkmFFg1iN pic.twitter.com/wjFPZogPLP— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 8, 2018
England 2-0 Sweden
Striving to reach the promised land of a World Cup semi-final place, Sweden could simply not cross the Jordan.
Jordan Pickford, that is.
Any chance they might have had was thwarted by England’s goalkeeper – at this stage arguably the tournament’s finest shot-stopper.
Sweden’s opportunities were few and far between as the Three Lions dominated the clash, putting the result emphatically beyond the blue and yellows through headed goals from Harry Maguire and Dele Alli.
France 2-0 Uruguay
Goals from Raphael Varane and Antoine Griezmann were enough to see France into the semis.
And then, there was four…
TUE: #FRABEL
WED: #CROENG #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/a9q9bNx9oe— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 7, 2018
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