Feisty Morocco, Dogged Croatia Make Football's Final Four!

The ongoing FIFA World Cup in Qatar has been far from predictable since its explosive start. In keeping with this short but already history-making tradition, it rounded up two teams punching well above their weight to join two heavyweights, only one of which has been performing as expected ahead of the semi finals which should make it all the more interesting as three matches remain.

Stadium 974, made out of shipping containers in a one of a kind innovation, was not the only thing being dismantled at the end of what has been a fierce four quarter final match round. That round decided which four of the teams go through as football enters a narrow field in which only one can be crowned champion. Like the stadium, only a whiff of evidence will remain a week from now of what it looked like on the consecutive nights when eight teams fought and four prevailed.

The conclusion to the 2022 FIFA World Cup is likely to be history making one way or another. Defending champions, France, looking to make history by joining Brazil and Italy as the only teams to win back-to-back World Cups seem like the only team with a steady backbone amongst the staunchest favourites to win the tournament. And even they were stretched on the night they played the quarter final against England.

England's thirst for that elusive football glory World Cup, untasted since 1966, has now added another three years to the wait as Harry Kane's England had a bittersweet night, none more than the captain himself. A team full of young talents and superstars was forced to not only contend with a late goal flourish from France that put the current champions in the lead but also, saw the skipper himself win one goal from a penalty kick to equalise and fail to net another that meant that England had to swallow the bitter pill of a 2-1 loss to their European neighbours across the waters and return home yet again empty handed.

While some snidely eluded to the Euro finals when England lost the match on penalties in the penalty shoot out and their fans their reputation yet again in unbecoming behaviour, it still meant penalty was the bane of England though it did not get that far enough even.

The fact that half of the quarter final matches were decided on penalty kicks does not tell enough of a story of how some of the giants of the game were made to work. If France and England though they were toughing it out on the field, there was much for the goalkeepers in this World Cup to keep busy, the quarter finals being no exception.

It was a rude shock for the most passionate of England fans who genuinely believed this was their year given the way their team streaked through the tournament vis-à-vis their European counterparts. It was nothing compared to the way Morocco made sure they represented themselves despite not being given much of a chance and yet come to the party as the first African nation to feature in the final four of a FIFA World Cup after already becoming the first Arab nation to feature in the quarterfinals of a FIFA World Cup.

FIFA spoke about the significance of Qatar as hosts from the perspective of bringing a more global feel and confluence of interests in the Middle East in their own defence over a range of controversial issues. Although the hosts crashed out too early on the football field, Morocco are vindicating the fact as they continue to make waves, developing something of a reputation of being giant eaters, swallowing Portugal as they did Spain and Belgium before them.

The 1-0 margin of victory over Portugal does not reveal enough of the tenacity of the Atlas Lions, down to ten men at one stage as Portugal tried desperately for a foot through the door at the end, reeling under the controversy over Cristiano Ronaldo being benched in the last match and brought on in the match against Morocco when the team had their backs to the wall.

Saturday might have seemed a saner night only from the perspective that results were more straightforward, decided in the 90 minute time span. After all Friday saw both quarter final matches going above and beyond the allotted hour and a half, ultimately decided on penalties, albeit with the same outcome, tears on the floor – tears of joy for the victors and the drowning in tears of dreams disappearing from the eyes of teams like Brazil and the Netherlands.

Although the Netherlands have not been the team with the likes of Dennis Bergkamp, they played an unapologetic game that kept their feet on the ground throughout the tournament. And they nearly pulled off the unthinkable against Argentina, who it has to be said that despite their fan appreciation, have not always looked the part of being the outright favourites to lift the cup.

It took the game to penalties and the Netherlands would feel hard done on penalties after drawing the game 2-2 by the end of 90 minutes with thrilling late action that denied Argentina an easier win. Losing 3-4 on penalties is not bad for an underrated team that not only survived but also made it this far unlike past champions Germany and Italy who didn't even show up.