For four years, the long-awaited 2014 World Cup continues, with the quarterfinal battles coming to an end. "Eurofootball.com" provides a variety of championship news every day until the end of the tournament.
The news includes predicted line-ups, player and coach comments, various photos, news from Brazilian cities, and the most interesting World Cup facts.
Today, all participants of the semi-finals will be decided. At 19:00 local time in Lithuania, the national teams of Argentina and Belgium will meet, while in the evening match, the Netherlands and Costa Rica will clarify their relationships. Predicted starting line-ups:
Argentina: Romero, Basanta, Garay, Fernandez, Zabaleta, Mascherano, Di Maria, Gago, Lavezzi, Messi, Higuain.
Belgium: Courtois, Vertonghen, Kompany, Van Buyten, Alderweireld, Witsel, Fellaini, Hazard, De Bruyne, Mertens, Lukaku.
Netherlands: Cillessen, Blind, De Vrij, Vlaar, Depay, Wijnaldum, Martins Indi, Kuyt, Sneijder, Van Persie, Robben.
Costa Rica: Navas, Diaz, Umana, Gamboa, Acosta, Gonzalez, Bolanos, Tejeda, Borges, Bryan Ruiz, Campbell.
Brazil's national team defender David Luiz scored a crucial goal in the 2-1 victory against Colombia in the World Cup quarterfinals. Luiz thanked his genes and great legs for the impressive penalty goal he scored after the match.
"It's inherited in my genes, as I was born with these amazing legs. I was lucky today to hit the ball accurately where it needed to go. I'm very happy that I contributed to the team's victory in this way," joked the best player of the match, D. Luiz.
The 27-year-old footballer regretted that in the semi-final against Germany, the team leader Neymar and captain Thiago Silva could not play.
"We're very happy to reach the semi-finals, but it will be sad without Neymar. He's a great guy, a great person, and a great footballer. Everyone is sad, including me, he's like a younger brother to me. We'll also miss our captain, but there are replacements. We have Dante and Henrique, who dream of playing in the World Cup," said the hero of the match against Colombia.
Luiz did not hold a grudge against the opponent player Camilo Zuniga for the rough play that injured Neymar: "Am I angry? No, I didn't see the replay, I don't know how it happened. I never curse opponents because in football you don't think, you play, you are emotional. It would be sad if he did it on purpose, but if it was just a playing situation, there's no need to be mad – it's natural, it's football."
After Brazil's national team reached the semi-finals, fans in the streets of the city held a fiesta to celebrate the team's victory.
www.15min.lt. Brazilian national team fans celebrate their victory after reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup.
