While this summer’s World Cup has drawn great praise for the high amount of goals being scored in each game, the quarter-final matches have been much tighter affairs.
Argentina enjoyed a slim victory over Belgium, scoring early in their quarter-final clash and holding on for the rest of the game to claim a 1-0 win.
Netherlands and Costa Rica failed to score at all in their quarter-final outing. The game had to be settled by a penalty shootout, which the Oranje won in the end.
It was a single goal that saw Germany see past France to reach the World Cup semi-final for a fourth consecutive time in the prestigious tournament.
Brazil’s win against Colombia saw more goals being scored in their game than the rest of the quarter-final matches put together, but it was still a narrow win that sealed it for the host nation.
It means Brazil vs. Germany and Netherlands vs. Argentina are the 2014 World Cup semi-final fixtures.
While there’s only been a small selection of goals in the World Cup quarter-finals, there have still been some Goal of the Tournament contenders. Here, we recap all the goals scored in every quarter-final game, building up to the best goal of the last eight.
Brazil captain Thiago Silva couldn’t believe his luck when he opened up his World Cup account against Colombia at the Estadio Castelao.
The talented centre-back scored the opening goal in his country’s 2-1 win against their South American rivals, but it was far from pretty. A corner from Neymar on the left-hand side wasn’t dealt with by the Colombian defenders in the box, and Silva was on hand to bundle it in at the far post using his knee.
Letting the ball bounce in the area from a set piece is deemed a cardinal sin by football experts, and Silva’s goal shows exactly why.
Colombia’s failure to head the ball away while it was in the air led to the Paris Saint-Germain centre-back being unmarked at the far post, to gratefully put the ball into the back of the net using any part of his anatomy possible.
Colombia forward James Rodriguez, who has been arguably the tournament’s best player, scored a spot kick in the 2-1 defeat against Brazil, in what was his last involvement in this summer’s World Cup.
For the penalty, the 22-year-old fed substitute Carlos Bacca in the area, who rounded Brazil keeper Julio Cesar before being taken out by the Queens Park Rangers man.
Rodriguez sent Cesar the wrong way with his penalty to halve the deficit, but it wasn’t enough for Colombia, and the South Americans bowed out in the quarter-finals.
Germany defender Mats Hummels scored a brilliant headed effort against France to earn victory for the Eagles at the Estadio do Maracana.
The Dortmund centre-back fought off French defender Raphael Varane to cleverly steer Toni Kroos’ free-kick into the far corner via the crossbar.
His goal came in just the 12th minute, but it was an effort worthy of winning any game. Hummels had to fend off the strong attentions of Varane while ensuring he kept his composure to glance his header upwards to beat French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
Bleacher Report UK has the Vine:
Mats Hummels heads #GER in front https://t.co/7cRlB0Tex7
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) July 4, 2014 After going four games without scoring for Argentina in this summer‘s World Cup, Gonzalo Higuain’s first goal of the tournament was certainly worth the wait.
The 26-year-old opened his account with a brilliant volleyed effort against Belgium at the Estadio Nacional. In the eighth minute of the game, a deflected Angel di Maria pass inadvertently found its way to Higuain on the bounce in the area, and the Real Madrid striker volleyed on the spin into the far corner, giving Belgium keeper Thibaut Courtois no chance.
Higuain’s goal turned out to be a decisive one as Argentina booked their place in the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in 24 years.
Brazil defender David Luiz scored the best goal of the quarter-finals with a brilliant long-range free-kick against Colombia.
After a free-kick was awarded to Brazil for a foul on Hulk from Colombia’s James Rodriguez, David Luiz made him pay in the worst way possible.
The new Paris Saint-Germain centre-back was around 30 yards from goal in a central position, but the distance seemed too great to test the goalkeeper.
However, Luiz rejected such a notion and found the top corner with a trademark side-footed effort that rose above the wall and dipped in time to ripple the back of the net.
His celebration was as entertaining as the goal itself, and it will certainly be a Goal of the Tournament contender.
