Brazil have major injury doubts over midfield pair Kaka and Emerson ahead of Saturday night’s World Cup quarter-final with France in Frankfurt. Both players, key members of the starting line-up for the world champions, picked up knee injuries against Ghana in the last 16 match won 3-0 by Carlos Alberto Parreira’s side.
Kaka, along with Ronaldo, [...]

Can Sven-Goran Eriksson finally get the better of ‘Big Phil’ Luis Felipe Scolari in England’s World Cup quarterfinal clash with Portugal on Saturday?
"I said a long time ago that England will do a good World Cup.
"We are in the quarters - I think we can do better, play better and I think we will stay [...]

What a FIFA World Cup quarterfinal clash is in prospect when host nation Germany and South American powerhouse Argentina stake their claims for a place amongst the last four of the World Cup. There will be fireworks.
The stats based on past meetings between the two nations gives rise to how closely matched they have been [...]

Ukraine have reason to be proud, reaching the quarterfinal round of the World Cup in their first foray into the competition. However, the end of their run is nigh because Italy lie in weight in Hamburg on Friday.
Oleg Blokhin has done extremely well in guiding the eastern European side this far. Their defence looked disastrous [...]

Brazil vs France
Brazil still is having some problems in defense and Ghana had chances to score. But there’s always the feeling the defending champions can outscore any rival. And what happens when player of the year Ronaldinho gets going?
The French squeezed into the second round and fell behind Spain, then found their touch for an [...]

Germany vs Argentina
Germany has been one of the best teams thus far, inspired by being the hosts and by a defense that has performed better than expected. There is no lack of scoring and the midfield has been solid. Coach Juergen Klinsmann has the team playing aggressively from the opening kickoff.
If anybody was the overall [...]

England vs Portugal
Although they are in the quarterfinals, the English have not played particularly well, sneaking past inferior opponents. Portugal appear to be a stiffer test, but is without several suspended or injured players. England needs to apply more pressure with the ball and get Wayne Rooney more opportunities near the net.
Not good with Deco [...]

Italy vs Ukraine
Italy was fortunate to get a questionable penalty kick at the end of the Australia match. The defense has been solid, with Buffon spectacular at times, but the Italians need to find more in attack at some point. That point might not be this round against Ukraine.
The defense has recovered since the opening [...]

In the final Round of 16 match-up, France, another team to attract undue criticism for their early performances, got the better of Spain, shrugging off the shock of going behind to a penalty to score three of their own. It was knockout football at its best when one false move could destroy dreams for another [...]

Today the reigning world champions Brazil gained their pass as did the 1998 winners France and the teams will meet on Saturday in Frankfurt. Before then the football world pauses for breath after 19 frenetic, fascinating days. What lies ahead is truly something to savour.
Brazil advanced by removing Ghana, the last African representatives in the [...]