Argentina. Brazil. Germany. The Netherlands. After a tournament of so many shocks, it all seems very familiar.
And then there were four.
The Netherlands became the final side to enter the semi-finals of the World Cup with a penalty shoot-out win over plucky, brave, whatever-other-adjectives-you-fancy Costa Rica in Salvador last night.
Arjen Robben and his balls couldn't duck and dive their way to an opening for 120 tense minutes, with Keylor Navas almost single-handedly keeping the minnows in with a shout of a Messi-led dismantling next Wednesday.
The Costa Rican stopper was sensational throughout the tournament but it was another goalkeeper who made all the headlines, with Newcastle's Tim Krul pulling off two stops in the shoot-out despite only coming on for Jesper Cillessen in the final moments.
Oh Louis, and
your massive cojones.
http://youtu.be/F5mMQd-G7IU
Willian a doubt for semi-finals as Brazil still reel from Neymar injury
Willian was earmarked to take over from Neymar against Germany but now looks like a doubt after an accidental clash with Hernanes in training.
The Chelsea attacking midfielder was left holding his hip in agony and now Luiz Felipe Scolari is set to wrap Shakhtar Donetsk star Bernard in cotton wool before he's left with just Paulinho and Luis Gustavo to (gulp) provide some attacking impetus.
Neymar records message thanking family, friends and supporters
He may be speaking his native Portuguese, but there's no doubting the emotions of the man after he was ruled out of the rest of the World Cup with a back injury.
In this video, recorded less than a day after he was injured in a clash with Colombian Juan Zuniga, he says that Brazil can still go all the way in the tournament.
It would almost, ALMOST make you want to forget all the ugly football the Selecao have played in the tournament thus far, with Neymar himself the only highlight.
Almost.
http://youtu.be/UQHLPa8igeQ
