FIFA World Cup 2022 Quarterfinals: Lionel Messi’s Argentina vs Netherlands, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal vs Morocco, all you need to know about last-eight matches

Photo: IANS

The FIFA World Cup 2022 knockout phase in Qatar will continue with the quarter-finals on Friday (December 9) and Saturday (December 10). Argentina, Netherlands, France, England, Portugal Morocco, Brazil and Croatia are the final eight teams standing in the World Cup 2022.

Here is all you need to know about the eight Quarterfinalists from Lionel Messi’s Argentina to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal. Check FIFA World Cup 2022 Quarterfinal schedule, when and where to watch, how to LIVE Stream for free.

ARGENTINA

Argentina beat off a frenzied Australia fightback to win 2-1 and reach the quarter-finals, where they will face the Netherlands on Friday. Captain Lionel Messi, who has said he intends to retire from the national team after the tournament, scored his first goal in a World Cup knockout round in his 1,000th match to beat Diego Maradona's tally of eight World Cup goals.

La Seleccion won the World Cup in 1978 and 1986, and reached the final on three more occasions, most recently in 2014 when they lost against Germany.

Group performance:

Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia

Argentina 2-0 Mexico

Poland 0-2 Argentina

Round of 16: Argentina 2-1 Australia

BRAZIL

Brazil stormed into the quarter-finals with an overwhelming 4-1 victory over South Korea, scoring all their goals in the first 36 minutes. They next face Croatia in the first match of the quarter-finals on Friday at 830pm IST.

The Selecao have lifted the World Cup five times and are the pre-tournament favourites to win a record-extending sixth title. Brazil have played in every World Cup since 1930 but have not reached the final since they last won the title in 2002.

Group performance:

Brazil 2-0 Serbia

Brazil 1-0 Switzerland

Cameroon 1-0 Brazil

Round of 16: Brazil 4-1 South Korea

CROATIA

Goalkeeper Dominic Livakovic saved three spot-kicks as Croatia beat Japan 3-1 in a penalty shootout after an enthralling 120-minute contest finished deadlocked at 1-1. The Croats will next face Brazil on Friday.

This is the sixth World Cup for Croatia, who reached the final in 2018 when they lost to France.

Group performance:

Morocco 0-0 Croatia

Croatia 4-1 Canada

Croatia 0-0 Belgium

Round of 16: Croatia 1-1 Japan (3-1 on penalties)

ENGLAND

England secured a spot in the quarter-finals with a 3-0 win over African champions Senegal in another emphatic victory after comfortably beating Wales and Iran in the group stage. The Three Lions are set to meet reigning champions France on Saturday.

England have won the World Cup only once in 1966, and finished fourth in 2018.

Group performance:

England 6-2 Iran

England 0-0 United States

Wales 0-3 England

Round of 16: England 3-0 Senegal

FRANCE

Another one of the bookmakers’ favourites to win the title, France beat Poland 3-1 to advance to the quarter-finals. Led by Olivier Giroud – who surpassed Thierry Henry as France’s all-time top scorer with 52 goals – and current tournament top marksman Kylian Mbappe, Les Blues will meet England on Saturday. France have won the World Cup twice, in 1998 and 2018.

Group performance:

France 4-1 Australia

France 2-1 Denmark

Tunisia 1-0 France

Round of 16: France 3-1 Poland

MOROCCO

Morocco reached the quarter-finals for the first time with a 3-0 penalty shootout win over Spain and will face Portugal on Saturday. Spanish-born Achraf Hakimi scored the decisive spot-kick for Morocco, following a 0-0 draw over 120 minutes.

They are playing in their sixth finals, having reached the last 16 once before in 1986. The only African side still in the running, Morocco failed to qualify for the knockout stage in 2018 with one point.

Group performance:

Morocco 0-0 Croatia

Belgium 0-2 Morocco

Canada 1-2 Morocco

Round of 16: Morocco 0-0 Spain (3-0 on penalties)

NETHERLANDS

The Netherlands advanced to the quarter-finals with a 3-1 win over the United States on Saturday, and will face Messi’s Argentina on Friday. The Dutch -- unbeaten in 19 games after their elimination at Euro 2020 -- have been the runners up at three World Cups in 1974, 1978 and 2010. This year marks their return to the global stage after failing to qualify in 2018.

Group performance:

Senegal 0-2 Netherlands

Netherlands 1-1 Ecuador

Netherlands 2-0 Qatar

Round of 16: Netherlands 3-1 United States

PORTUGAL

Portugal’s Goncalo Ramos netted a hat-trick on his first World Cup start in a 6-1 demolition of Switzerland, sending his side through to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2006. Coach Fernando Santos took the brave call to bench Cristiano Ronaldo and was rewarded with an artful display from his side as they set up a last-eight clash with Morocco on Saturday.

Portugal’s best World Cup result is a third place in 1966. Most recently, they won the Euro 2016 in France. The run-up to the last-16 match was marked with speculation regarding the future of Ronaldo, who left Manchester United by mutual consent last month, and his outburst following his substitution against South Korea.

Group performance:

Portugal 3-2 Ghana

Portugal 2-0 Uruguay

South Korea 2-1 Portugal

Round of 16: Portugal 6-1 Switzerland

How can I watch FIFA World Cup 2022 Quarterfinals LIVE on TV in India?

The FIFA World Cup Quarterfinal matches will be telecasted live on Sports18, Sports18 HD and MTV HD.

How can I watch FIFA World Cup 2022 Quarterfinals for FREE in India?

The FIFA World Cup Quarterfinal matches will be Live Streamed for FREE on Jio Cinema app and website.

(with Reuters inputs)