4) The Netherlands
The Netherlands’ performances at this World Cup are tough to analyse – but it’s hard to argue with a team who have won four out of four to make it to the quarter finals.
Since eviscerating Spain in the first game and, in doing so, producing perhaps the performance of the tournament, the Dutch seem to have regressed somewhat, despite Louis van Gaal’s tactical tweaks pulling it out of the bag against Chile and latterly Mexico.
Costa Rica is a kind quarter final draw and the Dutch will expect to be in the semi-finals but, with either Brazil or Colombia lying in wait, I am not convinced that their energetic but positionally indisciplined defence wouldn’t be led a merry dance by someone like Neymar or James Rodriguez.