2022 Men's World Cup: Expert Predictions for the Quarterfinals
In what felt like the blink of an eye, the 2022 World Cup field has gone from 16 down to eight.
The quarterfinals are next and will feature the types of heavyweight matchups that produce global football legends.
All three pre-tournament favorites—Brazil, France and Argentina—are not just alive but also starting to thrive. Each looks dangerous, but the challengers they'll face possess no shortage of firepower. There are no easy matches remaining.
Read on to see who our expert panel is picking to survive and move on to the semifinals.
Croatia vs. Brazil
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Nick Akerman: Brazil
No surprises here; I fully expect to see Brazil dance their way beyond Croatia and into the semi-finals. Tite’s side only needed 45 minutes to obliterate South Korea before conserving their energy in the second half of a 4-1 victory.
On the flip side, an already leggy Croatia were forced to play 120 minutes in a battle with Japan that they could have easily lost. Zip is missing from their play, Luka Modrić is easily being cut out, and they lack threat up front. It's time for Brazil to set up that semi-final against rivals Argentina.
Shane Evans: Brazil
If you saw Brazil's display against South Korea on Monday, you may have an idea where I'm going with this prediction. That is to say, this is Brazil's match to lose—simple as that. It was breathtaking in the round of 16 and deserves all the plaudits for the sensational first-half display that saw them lead 4-0 at the break.
Croatia, while a better side than South Korea, particularly in defense, will struggle against this well-oiled and in-rhythm attacking machine from the Seleção. Look for more Neymar, more Richarlison and more Vinicius Junior in the convincing win to set up a mouth-watering semifinal with Argentina.
Meg Swanick: Brazil
Following a 4-1 rout of South Korea, Brazil are officially the most dangerous team in the tournament. Their creativity and flare is unmatched. Richarlison has scored the prettiest goals in Qatar, hands down. Neymar is back from an ankle injury, running at peak performance.
Croatia, on the other hand, relies on experience and old charms. The formidable Balkan nation of fewer than four million has done well to reach this round once again. But they’ll likely be bounced from Doha after watching the Brazilians dance.
Alex Windley: Brazil
There's no question that Brazil has to be the favorite for its matchup against Croatia.
Croatia went 120 minutes against Japan and will be fatigued. Brazil made light work of South Korea, putting the game away in the first 30 minutes.
Croatia will fight until the end, but Brazil has far too much skill and team camaraderie to let this match slip away.
Argentina vs. Netherlands
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Akerman: Argentina
This game feels impossibly tight to call. In such a situation, I’m going to side with Lionel Messi and Argentina. Lionel Scaloni’s side are slowly improving with each game, and that is often the precursor to achieving something big.
Rodrigo de Paul is finding form at the right time and has looked so much sharper in the last two games. The defence has also settled and only really seemed vulnerable once Scaloni made subs during the win over Australia.
Netherlands are pepped up by the goalscoring return of Memphis Depay, and Louis van Gaal is an excellent tournament manager who keeps finding the right solution, but it’s heart over head on this one: I’m sticking with Leo.
Evans: Argentina
Surely the Messi train rolls on into the semifinals despite facing a formidable and stubborn Dutch team? After beating Australia in the round of 16, Argentina has a much tougher task ahead in the Netherlands.
With stars of its own and an extremely experienced manager, the Oranje will cause problems for Argentina, but it won't be enough to stop the overwhelming wave of emotion dragging Leo toward another World Cup Final.
Swanick: Argentina
The world deserves a Brazil vs. Argentina semi-final, though it’s far from assured they'll get one. Against the U.S., van Gaal proved once more what an astute tactician he is. The Dutch can be clinical when called on and are only just beginning to hit that stride.
Argentina has had their share of brilliant strikes and Messi-anic miracles, but it comes in waves. This Argentina side is surmountable. But while it’ll be a close one, Argentina will pull it off with goals from Messi and his protégé, Enzo Fernández. Argentina will meet Brazil in the semi-final because we deserve it.
Windley: Argentina
You can never count out Messi. So long as he's on the field for Argentina, it has a shot at beating anyone.
The matchup against the Netherlands will be a tough one, though. The Dutch are very compact defensively and have speed up top in Cody Gakpo and Memphis Depay, who can hit on the counter.
In the end, the magic of Messi is hard to ignore. He's a game-changer and talisman for Argentina.
Morocco vs. Portugal
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Akerman: Portugal
I don’t want the Morocco story to end. They have been absolutely fantastic. But Portugal is a step too far, especially now Fernando Santos has done the brave thing and dropped a misfiring Cristiano Ronaldo.
They looked incredible without him and have the kind of cut-and-thrust that Spain were lacking in their shock penalties defeat to the North Africans. The constant pushing and probing of Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, João Félix and Otávio will prove too much...especially now they’ve got a striker in Gonçalo Ramos who can keep up with play.
Evans: Portugal
Without Ronaldo in the starting lineup vs. Switzerland, the Portuguese thrashed Switzerland 6-1 behind a hat trick for CR7's replacement, Gonçalo Ramos. Not bad.
Morocco, the Cinderella of this year's tournament, has the fans and the energy on its side (as well as being a very strong squad), but unfortunately, the fairy tale will end in the quarterfinals. Ronaldo's side will advance, with him on the pitch or not.
Swanick: Portugal
After a group stage littered with upsets, there’s one last Cinderella left at the ball. Morocco held off Spain from goal and trounced them in penalties 3-0 to reach their first quarter-finals.
But Spain’s style of play is far more vulnerable to Morocco’s approach than Portugal's is. Portugal’s multigenerational quality will be a tough test, Bruno Fernandes is churning out goal contributions at the top of the pack and they seem intriguingly most lethal without Ronaldo in the picture.
Portugal’s free-flowing goals will likely end the last of the Cinderella runs.
Windley: Portugal
Portugal looks more cohesive without Ronaldo.
I never thought we'd see the day so soon, but the Portuguese proved they could play well without him during their 6-1 win against Switzerland. Their first-half performance looked convincing.
They may not be one of the outright favorites to win, but if they play as well as they did against the Swiss, they'll have no trouble beating Morocco.
England vs. France
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Akerman: France
Kylian Mbappé. Two words that will strike fear into English hearts. While the Three Lions have the better squad, France possesses the world’s best player. The man who can single-handedly thrust his team to another World Cup title.
It would be the most English thing of all for Gareth Southgate’s side to get knocked out against the first team that realistically troubles them. I just can’t see England going the distance without a mistake or something catastrophic happening. Perhaps it’s the Englishman in me, but I’ll back France through teary eyes.
Evans: France
Separated by a waterway roughly 21 miles wide, England and France have been going at it, both on the football pitch and the battlefield, for damn near millennia. This quarterfinal matchup is the latest installment in this great rivalry. Both sides are coming off confident wins in the round of 16 and have two of the deeper squads in the tournament.
It'll come down to star potential, however, and France has the brightest star of them all leading the attack in Mbappé. Despite his not practicing earlier in the week, expect Mbappé to be in the lineup and scoring goals against the Three Lions.
Swanick: England
France has one of the tournament’s most dynamic players and prolific goalscorers in Kylian Mbappé. Olivier Giroud can put away golden chances too. But England has a wide spread of goalscorers, making its attack unpredictable. England’s 12 goals have come from Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Jordan Henderson and Harry Kane.
France’s nine goals have come from Mbappé (5), Giroud (3) and Adrien Rabiot (1). Should Southgate prove savvy enough to put a stop to Mbappé (out of training on Tuesday) while letting the likes of Bellingham, Saka and Foden roam free, England could put a stop to France. I think they do.
Windley: France
France may be my pick to win this game, but I firmly believe England will make it difficult. The Three Lions looked solid against Senegal, but Kylian Mbappé is a man on a mission for Les Bleus.
His two-goal display vs. Poland was exceptional. The biggest thing to watch in this game will be the French defense. Hugo Lloris had a couple of blunders during France's last game, and England will be quick to pounce on those.
However, Didier Deschamps' men will pull it off.
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