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While Africa, Asia and North America will not be represented, and that all hope of a revolutionary breakthrough in the final destination of the trophy will be lost, at least one of this year's finalists will not have reached the decisive title. Germany, Spain and Argentina have all left a tournament that has created a series of endless surprises, the draw has a distinctly unbalanced meaning in terms of talent weighing on each side.
In one half, England, which played its first final in 1966, and Sweden, lost to Brazil in 1958, will meet in Samara on Saturday with a clash against Croatia or Croatia. Russia was waiting for the winner.
Neither the hosts, whose best precedent was a single semi-final as the Soviet Union in 1966 or Croatia, which also reached the last four in 1998, had to challenge
from the [OntheothersideofthetableBrazilfivetimeswinnerwillfacetheBelgian"GoldenGeneration"andFrancetheFrenchchampionin1998willplayUruguaytwicecrownedinthetournament'sdebut
It is here that will take place the usual battle between the two dominant football continents, which have produced all the previous winners of the World Cup.
While this is the fourth time in the last seven tournaments that no team in Europe or South America the last eight, even this quadrennial conflict will reject its usual pattern.
Reversing preconceptions about the two main lands of football, this year's quarterfinals are throwing exciting and adventurous European teams against pragmatic, tenacious and defensive South American teams. opponents
Brazil, usually the great entertainers of the game, and Uruguay boast the most vicious defenses at the World Cup after conceding once in their four games.
France and Belgium are more focused on the disorder at the other end.
Uruguay avoided Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo in his 2-1 win in 16, as did France in four matches against Argentina at the same time. They play at Nizhny Novgorod Friday
MISERLY BRAZIL
The spotlight on Brazil is still stubbornly drawn to the Neymar talisman, which has been defined by his histrionics as much as his performances in Russia, yet the true heroes of their current The Brazil's defensive record under the coach Tite has been outstanding, with only six goals conceded in 25 games, and they were just as stingy in Russia
are the tournament's top scorers with 12 wins in a row in four, including their superb two-goal return to beat Japan in the last 16.
In Eden Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne, Belgium, who reached the semifinals in 1986, two of the most devastating creators of the game.
Yet, as they come out to face Friday the most powerful superpower of world football in Kazan, they might wish to play instead of Sweden. They lost their last group match in England, which was handsomely rewarded for finishing finalists with – on paper – what seems like a much easier way towards the final.
England manager Gareth Southgate will no doubt confirm his decision to field a second-tier team against Belgium in 1969.
If England pbades Sweden, whose football brand is not the easiest to watch, she will face either Russia or Croatia, who face Saturday in Sochi
No teams on this side of the table, including the team. England, would have started the tournament with realistic hopes of reaching the final.
The distant dreams are now closer to reality.
(Reportage of Toby Davis, edited by Christian Radnedge)
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