After three dramatic weeks of soccer, the World Cup has entered the quarterfinal stage. After Tuesday’s heartbreaking loss to Belgium, the United States team is no longer around to root for.
But that doesn’t mean you should stop paying attention to the tournament. There are still eight teams — seven of whom have a legitimate shot of hoisting the World Cup trophy on July 13 — to throw your support behind.
Here’s a guide to picking your new team:
France vs. Germany
Friday, July 4, noon EST, ESPN2
Why to root for France:Â They get up and down. During the first two games of the Cup, France looked unstoppable, scoring goals at will. But over the last two, they’ve looked decidedly more earthbound. If they can regain their swashbuckling form, they can continue their pattern of alternating appearances in the final with first-round exits.
Why to root for Germany: A breakthrough. Just like their opponents, the Germans started out the tournament looking unstoppable in trouncing Portugal 4-0, but have sputtered since. The offense has been slow, and the team’s back line has looked poor at times (though goalie Manuel Neuer has provided plenty of insurance). But this is a team that routinely gets far in tournaments, even when things don’t seem to be going their way. Maybe this will be the year it all clicks and they claim their first Cup since 1990.
Brazil vs. Colombia
Friday, July 4, 4 p.m. EST, ESPN
Why to root for Brazil: With the exception of Neymar, the hosts have yet to play the kind of delightful football normally expected of the Brazilian national team. The main reason, according to coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, is that the players care too much about winning on home soil. Hard not to get behind that, right? Plus for fans of MTV’s “Catfish,” Max has made Brazil his team.
Why to root for Colombia: Colombia has proven itself a strong team over the last couple years, but their hopes took a major hit when their best player, Radamel Falcao, didn’t even travel to Brazil because of injury. But through four games they’ve looked far and away like the tournament’s best team, and 22-year-old James Rodriguez has supplanted Falcao as the nation’s best player in many spectators’ eyes. Root for the tournament’s breakout star.
Argentina vs. Belgium
Saturday, July 5, noon EST, ABC and ESPN2
Why to root for Argentina: They have the best player on the planet in Lionel Messi, but frequently, he’s been the only player to show up. While scoring goals in the group stage, and setting up Angel di Maria for the winner against Switzerland, Messi put the whole team on his back in order to advance. Throw in some support from what is actually a very strong supporting cast, and Argentina could just win it all.
Why to root for Belgium: Don’t be a sore loser. Sure, they beat the US, and haven’t played at the level that was expected of them, but Belgium is an easy team to like. Made up of young talents, the Belgians can run any team ragged (see: Tuesday’s game), and then bring on one of the Cup’s best weapons in striker Romelu Lukaku to put the game away. Add in the tournament’s best remaining goalie in Thibaut Courtois, and Belgium could win it all.
Netherlands vs. Costa Rica
Saturday, July 5, 4 p.m. EST, ESPN
Why to root for the Netherlands: Entertainment value. Even though they reached the finals in 2010, not much was expected of this team back home. Though they didn’t score until the dying moments of their Round of 16 game against Mexico, the Netherlands – spearheaded by Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie and Wesley Sneijder – have been all about offense this Cup. Sure, they may dive from time to time, but they’re guaranteed to put on a show.
Why to root for Costa Rica: Like underdogs? Not even the most ardent Costa Rica supporter expected the team to get this far. The team had never advanced past the Round of 16, and was given no chance of getting out of a group that included three previous World Cup winners. But the Ticos topped Group D, and after a thrilling penalty kick victory over Greece on Sunday, find themselves in uncharted territory.