After two rest days in Brazil, the World Cup is back on our screens with an exciting line-up for the first two quarter-finals, as this magnificent tournament continues on a blockbuster Friday.
Brazil 2014 has already delivered much more than it promised, following a largely flat showing on the pitch four years ago in South Africa, with 154 goals scored so far, plenty of thrilling comebacks, superb strikes, questionable defending and the agony and ecstasy of extra time and penalties.
More nail-biting tension is expected on Friday with the opening quarter-finals taking place in Rio de Janeiro and Fortaleza, with the eyes of the entire population of the host nation glued to events that will unfold at the latter.
Brazil, the host nation and tournament favourites, take on Colombia with the weight of expectation firmly on their shoulders, something which seems to be proving a heavy burden.
Several players burst into tears after their last 16 victory against Chile, including goalkeeper Julio Cesar, who sobbed openly during post-match interviews, and the team’s emotional state has proved a hot topic in the build-up to this game.
Many former Brazil legends, including Carlos Alberto, World Cup winning captain in 1970, believes the Selecao should save their tears until after they have lifted the trophy at the Maracana on July 13.
The hosts will need to hit their top form and be fully focussed against a Colombia side who have reached the last eight with a style and swagger largely missing from Brazil’s play.
The quarter-finals may be unchartered territory for Colombia’s players, but not for coach Jose Pekerman, who led his native Argentina to the last eight of 2006 World Cup in Germany, where on that occasion they also faced the hosts, but bowed out after losing on penalties.
While the host nation waits for their quarter-final encounter in the evening, European heavyweights France and Germany kick off the last eight of World Cup 2014 earlier in the day at the iconic Maracana in Rio de Janeiro.
Matches between these two sides in their three previous meetings at the World Cup have all provided great drama as well as a large dose of controversy.
Seventeen goals have been scored between them in those three encounters alone, with their 1982 semi-final in Seville was described by France legend Michel Platini as “my most beautiful game”, but it threw up one of the most controversial moments in the tournament’s history thanks to the horrific challenge by Germany goalkeeper Harald Schumacher on Patrick Battiston.
Germany’s current goalkeeper Manuel Neuer made headlines for all the right reasons against Algeria in the last 16 with a stunning demonstration as his side needed extra time to beat their African opponents.
Since pummeling Portugal in their opening match in Brazil, Germany’s form has steadily tailed off and they were hugely disappointing against the Algerians, but the Germans know how to perform at the crucial times in major tournaments and their clash with France could be that moment.
It has been a different story for the French this time around in 2014, after such a traumatic tournament in South Africa four years ago.
Didier Deschamps, who is still yet to suffer defeat at a World Cup as a player or coach, has a young and unified squad pulling together in the right direction and should pose a strong threat to Germany as both play for the right to play a semi-final against either Brazil or Colombia.
You can watch the finale to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil live across the BBC and ITV, with live streaming of every match available online across multiple platforms.
Visit our dedicated World Cup page – sport-onthebox.com/worldcup – for a full rundown of both channel’s comprehensive coverage of the tournament.
SOTB’s TV viewing guide to Day 20 of the 2014 FIFA World Cup:
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DAY 20: FRIDAY 4th JULY
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| QUARTER FINAL LIVE: 4.30pm-7.10pm Venue: Rio de Janeiro |
WATCH LIVE ONLINE via BBC iPLAYER
The first quarter-final match takes place at the Estadio do Maracana in Rio de Janeiro, venue for the final next Sunday, featuring two of European football’s heavyweights.
This is the first meeting between France and Germany at a World Cup finals since their infamous meeting in 1986, when they clashed in the semi-final for the second time in succession.
Germany were victorious on that occasion, as they were in 1982 in a penalty shootout after one of the all-time classic matches, and calling a winner this time is equally difficult.
Both struggled in their last-16 fixtures against Nigeria and Algeria respectively, looking distinctly second best until the second half, as their African opponents missed chances and ultimately lacked the experience and quality to cause an upset.
Germany needed extra time to secure a 2-1 triumph, while two late goals for France saw them through, and the winners of this tie will face Brazil or Colombia in the first semi-final on Tuesday.
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| QUARTER FINAL LIVE: 8.30pm-11.15pm Venue: Fortaleza |
WATCH LIVE ONLINE via ITV PLAYER
A nation holds its breath on Friday night as Brazil take on Colombia in the second quarter-final from the Estadio Castelao in Fortaleza.
The hosts put their supporters through the agony of a penalty shootout when they played Chile in their opening knockout fixture, with David Luiz’s goal cancelled out by Alexis Sanchez’s strike, and the match finishing 1-1 after extra-time.
However, the Brazilians held their nerve to progress to this fixture against a highly rated Colombian outfit, who have one of the stars of the tournament in James Rodriguez among their ranks.
The Monaco forward scored both goals in his side’s victory over Uruguay in the last round, and would further his burgeoning reputation even more if he can help to upset the hosts.
The pressure and expectation of a nation rests on the shoulders of the Brazilian player, who will need to cope with Colombia’s impressive and fearless attacking style if they are to stand a chance of progressing to the semi-finals. Failure for them is not an option.
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SPORT ON THE BOX’S COMPLETE WORLD CUP TV GUIDE
Friday 4th July FRANCE v GERMANY Quarter Final – Rio de Janeiro | Kick-off: 17:00 LIVE: 4.30pm-7.10pm BBC One BRAZIL v COLOMBIA Quarter Final – Fortaleza | Kick-off: 21:00 LIVE: 8.30pm-11.15pm ITV Match of the Day: World Cup Highlights – Quarter Finals 11.35pm-12.20am BBC One Match Replay: 1.05am-2.50am (Sat) BBC Two In the event of extra-time and penalties, TV times are subject to change.
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