What is the style and how the eight teams that will play the quarter-finals play: the details one by one, in a case where there is no room for errors

Start Other World Cup, between eight teams. A World Championship with four world champions, two runners-up, one who wants to surpass his best performance (third place) and a Cinderella.

Other A World Cup that will also define its greatest figure: Messi, Mbappé, Neymar, Kane, who wasn’t on the previous list?

This World Cup will no longer accept coupons and every detail will be important: the game, the tactics, the mind, the individualities.

East new The World Cup begins with four unmissable crosses.

Brazil-Croatia, Friday at 12 (Argentina time)

Brazil and Croatia will open the quarterfinals on Friday 9, at 12 in Argentina, at the Education City Stadium. Team Tite comes in as one of the big candidates. Here in Qatar he achieved three victories (2-0 against Serbia, 1-0 against Switzerland and 4-1 against South Korea) and one defeat (0-1 against Cameroon, at the end of the group). In the round of 16 match got Neymar back and in the first half they were already winning 4-0. Brazil is scary, but it’s not the only one.

Furthermore, with the return of Ney, the most offensive bet of this World Cup is back: Casemiro the only recovery midfielder, supported only by Lucas Paquetá, almost a striker. Next, Neymar, Raphinha, Richarlison (the scorer with 3 goals) and Vinicius Junior. An explosive 4-2-3-1, with a lot of talent combined.

On the other side comes Croatia, who finished runners-up to Morocco in Group F, after drawing 0-0 with Africa and Belgium and beating Canada 4-1. In the round of 16, they eliminated Japan on penalties after 1-1 in 120 minutes. Its goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic was the hero saving three shots.

The last runner-up in the world, still ridden by Zlatko Dalic, is unbeaten and is supported by the intelligence of Luka Modric, who is 37 but is still her ace of spades. In the centre, he is supported by Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic. Josko Gvardiol (20 years old), one of the revelations of this Cup, stands out in defense, while in attack he relies on the inspiration of Andrej Kramaric (his scorer, with 2 goals) or Ivan Perisic. It’s a classic 4-3-3. It seems little to worry Brazil, but the games must be played and this World Cup has already shown that he likes surprises.

In the World Cup they met twice, both in the group stage and with victories for Brazil. In 2006 it was 1-0 and in 2014 3-1 with brace from Neymar.

Argentina-Netherlands, Fridays from 4pm

In the second round on Friday, at 16:00 with us, at the Lusail stadium, the Argentine national team will seek the semifinal against a rival with whom they have already played in a final (1978), a semifinal (2014), a quarterfinal (1998 ) and two group stage matches (1974 and 2006). The balance gives only one victory and in extra time, as world champion, two draws to zero (with a victory on penalties in Brazil 2014) and two defeats.

But it will be a different story. Argentina arrives healed after a heavy blow to the first (1-2 against Saudi Arabia) and three consecutive victories: 2-0 against Mexico and Poland, 2-1 against Australia in the round of 16. Messi is his scorer (with 3) and much more than his undisputed figure. He is their boss. But he is not alone, he is surrounded by a team that has renewed his names to make headlines Enzo Fernández and Julian Álvarez and re-qualify as a candidate. Start with a 4-3-3 which is usually flexible.

He also has the security that Emiliano Martínez and Nicolás Otamendi give him from the back and a key player could return: Ángel Di María, who missed out against Australia with a muscle problem.

The Netherlands have not shone so far, but are one of the undefeated. In their group they defeated Senegal and Qatar 2-0 and drew 1-1 with Ecuador. In the round of 16, without showing off, they eliminated the United States with an exaggerated 3-1. His scorer is one of the appearances of this Cup: Cody Gakpowith 3 conquests.

your technician louis vangaal, the oldest in the competition at 71, is much criticized in his country because they say the team’s game is closer to the Italian catenaccio than to the Dutch A Clockwork Orange. Moreover, from his own offensive and revolutionary 90s Ajax.

Van Gaal focuses on a central three defense, where Virgil van Dijk commands. A midfield in which Frenkie de Jong is the axis and Denzel Dumfries’ climbs are a fundamental weapon. Above, in addition to Gakpo, he threatens Memphis Depay. It’s a 3-4-1-2 that delays the midfielders in defense to form a 5-2-1-2.

Portugal-Morocco, Saturday from 12

Curiously, Cristiano Ronaldo’s team shines without him. CR7 has arrived to play his fifth World Cup and break some records, but today he took the bench in a team that has many numbers: Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Rúben Dias and now, with his three goals against Switzerland, a little-known Si adds Goncalo Ramos, 21 years old.

In the first round they beat Ghana 3-2 and Uruguay 2-0, but in the third match they reserved several starters and lost 2-1 to South Korea. In the round of 16 they beat Switzerland 6-1. His scorer is Ramos, with those 3 goals, and Bruno Fernandes leads the assist list with 3 assists. Coach Fernando Santos relies on a classic 4-3-3 formation, with Fernandes, a classic striker, launched on the right side of the attack.

Portugal’s World Cup history still awaits its best page. The limit so far is third place in 2006.

Morocco is undoubtedly the great revelation of Qatar. A team that fired its coach Vahid Halilhodzic three months before the start of the World Cup. His replacement, Walid Regragui, the first thing he did was recover Hakim Ziyech, who was fighting with the Bosnian coach. Then, convince the team. Just look at the hugs with which Regragui pushes his players before the match to understand that there is an emotional bond that is guiding the team.

Not only do Morocco go unbeaten, they also offer another revealing fact: they have scored just one goal in four games. They drew 0-0 with Croatia and beat Belgium 2-0 and Canada 2-1 to secure top spot in the group. In the round of 16, they gave the surprise by eliminating Spain on penalties, after a 0-0 draw in 120 minutes.

This is his best performance in the history of the World Cup, he had never gone beyond the round of 16. What’s wrong? An excellent goalkeeper, Bono, a figure of the Spanish Sevilla. A lot of defensive intensity, like the one shown against the Spaniards with a rigorous 4-1-4-1. On the right side comes the quality of Ahraf Hakimi. In the middle shines Sofyan Amrabat, a racing car that is always well positioned and that does not fail in passing. Up front, talent is provided by wingers Ziyech and Sofiane Boufal, behind in that second row of four. A figure that weighs heavily: it will be largely local, as it was against Spain. She is the Cinderella of the World Cup, she has already given a tremendous blow and she wants more. Will she do it?

We’ll find out on Saturday, starting at 12 in Argentina, at Al Thumama Stadium. At the World Cup, they met twice: in 1986 Morocco won 3-1 and in 2018 Portugal won 1-0, with goals from Cristiano Ronaldo.

France-England, this Saturday from 4pm

For the closing of the quarterfinals, on Friday at 4 pm in Argentina at the Al Bayt Stadium, perhaps the strongest dish will remain. A clash between world champions who have met only twice at the World Cup and a long time ago. England won those two matches, both in the group stage: 2-0 in 1966, the year they were champions, and 3-1 in 1982, when France already had Michel Platini among their other stars.

Today could be a semi-final or a final. France, the last world champion, arrives as another great candidate, especially for the magnet of kylian mbappe, who in Russia 2018 was chosen as the best young player and now, at 23, is seeking his definitive consecration. He has 5 goals (one more than in Russia) and 2 assists, so he was actively involved in 7 of his team’s 9 goals.

France won their first group after beating Canada 4-1, Denmark 2-1 and a 1-0 defeat by Tunisia, Didier Deschamps resting the starters. In the round of 16, he accounted for Poland with a 3-1 win, thanks to two great goals from Mbappé and one from Olivier Giroud, who has 3 in Qatar.

Deschamps’ team seems to have been renewed by obligation, given the injuries of Pogba and Kanté, compared to the last World Cup, and also suffered the last-minute defeat by Benzema. It keeps the same structure as the 4-2-3-1 but with more ball possession.

His greatest advantage is that it costs very little for him to score, with Mbappé.

England arrive undefeatedstarted with an impressive 6-2 against Iran and followed up with a 0-0 against the United States, a 3-0 against Wales and, in the round of 16, 3-0 against Senegal.

Gareth Southgate’s team shows many variations in attack, always under the guidance of Harry Kane. Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford (they have 3 goals each), Phil Foden or Jack Grealish can play to accompany the Tottenham striker, who has only one goal but 3 assists.

Another key to the England team is in the middle, where it shines Jude Bellingham, another great appearance of this World Cup. The midfielder is the only one in the squad who doesn’t play in the Premier League (he’s at Borussia Dortmund) but for a little while, he’s already in the plans of Liverpool and Real Madrid. In the last two games he has been assisted by Jordan Henderson, as well as the always well-placed Declan Rice. One more balance wheel and one less hitch (Mason Mount). Thus we went from 4-2-3-1 to the more classic 4-3-3.

Less to do. The all-or-nothing World Cup kicks off on Friday.