Arjen Robben of the Netherlands tries to control the ball during a training session in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday (Brazilian time). Photo: IC

Germany's Thomas Mueller celebrates scoring against Portugal in a group-stage match during the World Cup in Salvador on June 16. Photo: IC

Brazil's Neymar strikes the ball to score during the penalty shootout after extra time in the Round of 16 match against Chile in Belo Horizonte during the World Cup on Saturday. Photo: AFP

Netherlands' Robin van Persie shoots against Mexico in a Round of 16 match in Fortaleza during the World Cup on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Argentina's Lionel Messi (center) controls the ball as he is surrounded by Switzerland's players in a Round of 16 match in Sao Paulo during the World Cup on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

 

It's taken a lot of work but the contestants for the World Cup quarterfinals can put their travails behind them and look forward to the prospect of a semifinal spot being just 90 minutes away. Whoever comes out on top, we should be in for fireworks on Friday and Saturday.

France vs Germany

The European neighbors have not met in a competitive international since the 1986 World Cup. Germany won that fixture as they did the ill-tempered ­meeting four years earlier. Times have moved on but the same traits remain in both teams: The Germans are an imperious unit well-versed in victory, while the French are capable of producing some glorious attacking soccer.

This German team has a squad that is arguably the strongest at the tournament but that has not produced the ­performances that the dismissal of Portugal in the opening game suggested. They have struggled to score goals since, but ­Thomas Mueller's finishing has been clinical and the win over Algeria, although late in coming, proved that others are ­capable of chipping in.

Germany have no proper fullbacks or pace at the back and that's a weakness that's magnified in their high defensive line. Goalkeeper Markus Neuer has played as sweeper more and more as the tournament has progressed.

France will look to exploit the space behind that line with their pacy counterattacking play. They have been devastating at speed, which may lead coach ­Didier ­Deschamps to opt for Loic Remy over ­Olivier Giroud in the starting 11. There will be added bite between these neighbors as Paul Pogba will want to prove that he is the equal of Germany's midfielders.

France will look to score early at the Maracana and make Germany work to get back in the game. This is key to their chances of progressing, otherwise it's the Germans who'll progress.

Brazil vs Colombia

The hosts were given a fright as Chile took them to penalties but they came through that only to face another South American side in their quarterfinal in ­Fortaleza, and the one that might be the form team of the tournament.

The irony is that for the first time at this World Cup, Brazil had played with the attacking intent and carefree abandon that the nation expects. That was until a schoolboy error at the back let Chile back in and nerves won over talent for the rest of the game.

Neymar was key to their attacking verve, as he has been in every game so far. This also brought him unwanted attention in the form of some tough tackling. The Colombians won't be shy in targeting the star man yet again to see if he has shaken off the leg injury sustained against the Chileans.

Colombia's own talents lie in their freewheeling, free scoring attack. James ­Rodriguez has been a revelation and ­never more than his match winning performance against Uruguay. He is the ­danger man, but Colombia can also call on ­winger Juan Cuadrado to terrorize Marcelo and Jackson Martinez to cause problems for Thiago Silva and David Luiz.

Brazil go into the game as slight favorites, but Colombia, having never gone this far before and really enjoying their run, are ready to rip up the script. Someone needs to step up and support Neymar for Brazil to fulfil their destiny.

Netherlands vs Costa Rica

Nobody, not even the Costa Ricans themselves, could have anticipated the ­Ticos still being in Brazil at this stage. They are and they deserve to be on the merit of some crushing counterattacking soccer and the heroics of Keylor ­Navas ­between the sticks. The Costa Ricans struggled somewhat against a Greece team equally happy to sit back and counter but will hope that the Netherlands come out to attack, in order to get Joel Campbell, Bryan Ruiz and Christian Bolanos in the game. Whether the pragmatic Louis van Gaal will play to his own team's strength going forward or try to negate the Costa Rican counter is the biggest question in this tie.

The Dutch finished off Mexico using a 4-3-3 formation that highlighted ­Arjen Robben's running and the winger, in the best form of his life, will be the most ­direct player that the Costa Ricans have faced so far.

The Netherlands should really take the spoils in Salvador on Saturday, but will have to watch out at the back where both defense and keeper have looked shaky.

Argentina vs Belgium 

The Argentines still hold out hope that come July 13 this will be known as the Messi World Cup and Lionel is ­playing like he owes his homeland the trophy. He's been instrumental to their wins, with both goals and assists, and that won't be lost on a solid Belgium team that has only conceded one goal from open play.

Messi has been supported by Angel di Maria and the Real Madrid man has grown into the role as the games have passed, but the rest of the Argentine camp has been disappointing so far. The defense is less than the sum of its parts, with Pablo Zabaleta, in particular, in desperate need of replicating his club form.

Belgium know all about being less than the sum of their parts at this World Cup. For all of their attacking talents, they have not scored a goal earlier than the 70th ­minute. However, they are miserly in defense and that is a solid platform on which they can wait for those in front to finally click. This can still happen and may do so in the quarterfinal but coach Marc Wilmots has managed to counter this with inspired substitutions, which have been responsible for most of Belgium's late goals.

It comes down to two attacks with a lot more potential coming up against very different defenses. The Belgian backline might be able to cope with Messi alone, but if the Argentina frontline that terrorized the qualifying round finally shows up to offer him a hand then Kompany and company will have their work cut out for them.