Argentina Play Croatia in Semi-Finals.

CROATIA played BRAZIL in the first game of the quarter-finals with high hopes that Brazil will beat Croatia. In the first half, both teams did well in attacking and defending and it was 0-0 after the first half. In the second half it was Brazil that did most of the attacking but they did not somehow have the finish that we are used to see. So the game ended 0-0 and into extra time. Brazil came out fighting in the first half and Croatia did have a couple of chances to go in the lead but it was Brazil that scored in the 105 minute by Neymar which is his second of the tournament. Somehow after their goal Brazil came off the boil and it was Croatia that put the pressure on and they equalised in the 117 minute of extra time through Petkovic. The result after extra time stood at 1-1. Penalties followed in which with another shock to the World Cup Croatia go through to the semi-finals 4-2 on penalties. Croatia are on a total of 6 goals which Brazil are out with a total of 8 goals.

Brazil have been in all of our nine World Cups and their best score came in the Korea/Japan 2002 where they netted a total of 18 goals and they became World Champions once again. In Russia 2018 they finished with 8 goals and went out the in quarter-finals. Their average total scored in a World cup is 10 goals. 

The NETHERLAND played ARGENTINA in the other game and the game started off in a more of a faster pace. It was Argentina that scored first in the 35^th minute from Molina and that’s how it stood at half time. Messi scored from a penalty in the 73^rd minute in the second half, which is his 4^th of the tournament. Netherland never gave up in this game and they started to come back at Argentina with a goal in the 83^rd minute from Weghorst. The Netherlands scored in the very last minute of injury time in the 90+11 minutes through Weghorst again to claim his second goal of the tournament. So the game ended 2-2 in a thrilling game. But someone has to go home and penalties followed. That team was the Netherlands as they lost 4-3 on penalties to Argentina. Argentina are now on a total of 9 goals and they will play Croatia in the semi-finals.

Netherlands are in their 7^th World cup with us and their best score in a World Cup is 15 goals in Brazil 2014. That was the last time that we had them in Golden Goals and they went out in the 3^rd/4^th play-offs, beating Brazil 3-0. The Netherlands average World Cup score is 9 goals.