The quality of the matches, the number and quality of goals and the physical and tactical investments have been rarely witnessed at soccer's global showpiece.
Who is going to be crowned World Champion come July 13 2014? As we go to press there are eight teams left of the 32 that started the race on the 12th of June (Brazil, Germany, Argentina, The Netherlands, Belgium, Colombia, Costa Rica and France) and they have one incredible record-breaking similarity: They all won their groups and to get this far five of them had to win in extra time!
There really has not been one outstanding team at this stage and each team looks a bit shaky and prone to errors defensively.
I believe that is due to the fact that, for no known reason, everybody is playing a very open game and not just getting a behind a packed formation and waiting to prey on the opponents' errors.
Brazil have been disappointing and not really lived up to expectations but in Neymar they have found that "star player" to possibly lead them to the Promised Land.
Germany have not been imperial and seem fragile thanks to their now complete adoption of the 'Tiki-Taka' style of play and the fact that the national team's experiment of using Philipp Lahm in central midfield and not his renowned right or left back position has somehow gotten them out of sorts.
Furthermore, injuries to key players like the talented Marco Reus of Borussia Dortmund, among others, are proving a problem for the Germans as they struggle to find a suitable substitute.
The Netherlands started with a shower of goals on the Spanish and have radically changed their playing style since then. However, they showed serious limitations as they were minutes from elimination by the Mexicans but in the end found that individual class to claw their way back to a 2-1 victory.
Colombia, though relatively inexperienced, are showing real class and lack of an inferiority complex. They are championed on by the tournament's top goalscorer so far, James Rodriguez, and are playing as a team.
Many predicted Costa Rica would be home-bound after just two games, but not only did they top their group by sending home group favourites Italy and England, they also qualified for the quarterfinals by beating Greece on penalties after extra time and playing almost for an entire hour with one man less!
Belgium are a delight to watch and have introduced flair and fresh air to world soccer. They qualified over the unexpectedly competitive and talented United States of America side and could pay dearly for the "inhuman" high-class effort that they put in during this encounter
France, in my opinion, controversially beat Nigeria to qualify when they deserved to play one man less as Blaise Matuidi tackled and almost paralysed Ogenyi Onazi of Nigeria only to be shown a yellow card and Nigeria's lifeline in the midfield had to be 'stretchered' out. Shame!
Argentina have come this far riding on the exploits of its 'living legend' Lionel Messi and though they altered their defence line to a more cautious mode after the scare against Nigeria they beat an inspired Switzerland via the extraordinary dribbling and passing skills of Messi to set up Angel di Maria for the victory.
The team that is going to win this World Cup is going to be the team with the best medical and technical crew amongs these eight teams.
Why? After over two weeks of non-stop physical expenditure in these climatic conditions it will be inhuman to continue at this pace without replenishing all the vital lost body nutrients.
That team that plays like a team and can count on one or two superstars that will make the difference for the next three games will win it. I am tempted to shortlist Argentina, Brazil and Germany. And thanks to Paul Pogba, the French come into reckoning too!
Three matches to go, three wins and one of these eight teams mentioned above will be the new World Champions!
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