Individual Stars of the Quarter Finals

Individual Stars of the Quarter Finals

Individual Stars of the Quarter Finals

📅07 July 2014, 11:25

The standard of all the teams in the World Cup quarter-finals was exceptionally high, but in the majority of the matches it was one player’s stunning performance that saw their team through to the next round.

Since the Netherlands won the penalty shootout against Costa Rica there has been a lot of discussion about the way in which Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal changed the goalkeeper at the end of extra-time.  He has since said that it was because of Tim Krul’s greater height and reach. It obviously proved to be the right decision as it was Krul’s two great saves that put the Netherlands through.

Everyone was expecting Messi to be the star of Argentina’s quarter-final and in many ways he was. However, it was Gonzalo Higuain who scored the only goal of the match to put his team through. Not only did Higuain score the only goal, but it was his first for the side in almost a year and truly remarkable when under such a huge amount of pressure.

While Brazil will is surely devastated to lose Neymar to injury they will take some comfort from the talent shown by David Luiz and his incredible free kick which secured their victory over Columbia. Luiz hit the ball from 25 yards out straight into the top left of the net to put Brazil two goals up and firmly in control.

It’s hard to pick an individual star from Germany’s victory over France. Mats Hummels’ early header proved to be the only goal of the match and enough to see the team through. However, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer also gave a faultless performance and in general it was an excellent team performance that held the French at bay.