Gallery: World Cup - Day 24

Updated / Sunday, 6 Jul 2014 00:06
Even though Brazil had played the day before, fans of the host nation came out to support their side, in the wake of star striker Neymar's tournament-ending spine injury
Even though Brazil had played the day before, fans of the host nation came out to support their side, in the wake of star striker Neymar's tournament-ending spine injury

Take a look at the best pictures from the last two World Cup quarter-finals, featuring Argentina v Belgium and the Netherlands v Costa Rica.

While some Belgium fans channelled the spirit of Brazilian great Pele to cheer on the Red Devils
While some Belgium fans channelled the spirit of Brazilian great Pele to cheer on the Red Devils
Argentina fans soaked up the sun in Brasília ahead of the match
Argentina fans soaked up the sun in Brasília ahead of the match
And by half-time, Argentina supporters - sporting Messi hats no less - could celebrate their country's 1-0 lead, which Belgium would no doubt attack following the break
And by half-time, Argentina supporters - sporting Messi hats no less - could celebrate their country's 1-0 lead, which Belgium would no doubt attack following the break
Conditions were ideal at the Estadio Nacional, where temps held steady in the upper 20s
Conditions were ideal at the Estadio Nacional, where temps held steady in the upper 20s
Argentina decided to get the scoring started quickly - a strategy they had rarely employed so far in Brazil. Forward Gonzalo Higuain shot one off his right foot at only 8' to put his side up 1-0
Argentina decided to get the scoring started quickly - a strategy they had rarely employed so far in Brazil. Forward Gonzalo Higuain shot one off his right foot at only 8' to put his side up 1-0
And some of Red Devils - including a dejected-looking Kevin de Bruyne - prepared to resume play following the goal
And some of Red Devils - including a dejected-looking Kevin de Bruyne - prepared to resume play following the goal
And, the Belgians did the same
And, the Belgians did the same
Belgium keeper Thibaut Courtois retrieved the ball from the back of his net
Belgium keeper Thibaut Courtois retrieved the ball from the back of his net
The midfielder almost brought things level minutes later, with a shot on goal of his own
The midfielder almost brought things level minutes later, with a shot on goal of his own
Day 24 of the World Cup got started with a quarter-final clash featuring Argentina and Belgium
Day 24 of the World Cup got started with a quarter-final clash featuring Argentina and Belgium
Argentina's Lionel Messi played masterfully in the first half, forcing Belgium midfielder Axel Witsel to earn his pay-check covering the star
Argentina's Lionel Messi played masterfully in the first half, forcing Belgium midfielder Axel Witsel to earn his pay-check covering the star
The Argentina team looked on during the singing of their anthem
The Argentina team looked on during the singing of their anthem
Belgium coach Marc Wilmots looked on during the near chance
Belgium coach Marc Wilmots looked on during the near chance
In the second, Argentina continued to threaten the Belgium defence, as forward Ezequiel Lavezzi competed with Toby Alderweireld deep in the red side's half
In the second, Argentina continued to threaten the Belgium defence, as forward Ezequiel Lavezzi competed with Toby Alderweireld deep in the red side's half
The forward sent a clear shot on target, that just missed off the top of the cross bar
The forward sent a clear shot on target, that just missed off the top of the cross bar
Belgium midfielder Marouane Fellaini had a similar chance, which he also failed to convert
Belgium midfielder Marouane Fellaini had a similar chance, which he also failed to convert
Higuain added to his best performance of this World Cup at 53' when he zoomed up the middle of the pitch, making multiple players miss on his way to the goal
Higuain added to his best performance of this World Cup at 53' when he zoomed up the middle of the pitch, making multiple players miss on his way to the goal
Belgium fans lamented their team's inability to find an equaliser midway through the second
Belgium fans lamented their team's inability to find an equaliser midway through the second
While Argentina's keeper Sergio Romero kept a clean sheet on the other end
While Argentina's keeper Sergio Romero kept a clean sheet on the other end
Messi took a free kick from a dangerous position...
Messi took a free kick from a dangerous position...
Fellaini continued to work hard to slug through the Argentina back line
Fellaini continued to work hard to slug through the Argentina back line
While Messi flew across the pitch, keeping the ball firmly in control for his South American side
While Messi flew across the pitch, keeping the ball firmly in control for his South American side
By the end of it, Argentina emerged victorious 1-0 on the back of Higuain's early goal. They will now advance to their first World Cup semifinal since 1990
By the end of it, Argentina emerged victorious 1-0 on the back of Higuain's early goal. They will now advance to their first World Cup semifinal since 1990
The last of this World Cup's quarterfinal matches saw the Netherlands take on underdogs Costa Rica
The last of this World Cup's quarterfinal matches saw the Netherlands take on underdogs Costa Rica
The Dutch team posed for photographers ahead of the match
The Dutch team posed for photographers ahead of the match
Costa Rica's supporters could celebrate earning a scoreless draw through the first 45' in a match that they were hoping to - somehow - pull off with a win
Costa Rica's supporters could celebrate earning a scoreless draw through the first 45' in a match that they were hoping to - somehow - pull off with a win
Netherlands star striker and captain Robin van Persie came out with good energy, but he couldn't create any magic in the first, as Costa Rica defender Giancarlo Gonzalez and company kept him in check
Netherlands star striker and captain Robin van Persie came out with good energy, but he couldn't create any magic in the first, as Costa Rica defender Giancarlo Gonzalez and company kept him in check
The Arena Fonta Nova set the stage in sticky Salvador
The Arena Fonta Nova set the stage in sticky Salvador
Costa Rica midfielder Celso Borges and Netherlands midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum flew around the pitch in something resembling a ballet
Costa Rica midfielder Celso Borges and Netherlands midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum flew around the pitch in something resembling a ballet
This Dutch fan didn't quite know how to feel
This Dutch fan didn't quite know how to feel
The other Dutch standout, forward Arjen Robben, faced similar difficulty in working through the Costa Rica back line. Here, defender Cristian Gamboa kept Robben away from the ball
The other Dutch standout, forward Arjen Robben, faced similar difficulty in working through the Costa Rica back line. Here, defender Cristian Gamboa kept Robben away from the ball
And Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas made some remarkable dives and four saves in the first, helping him to keep a clean sheet going into the half-time break
And Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas made some remarkable dives and four saves in the first, helping him to keep a clean sheet going into the half-time break
Remarkably, though, Costa Rica's defence kept the Ticos level with the Netherlands at 0-0, steering the match into a period of extra time
Remarkably, though, Costa Rica's defence kept the Ticos level with the Netherlands at 0-0, steering the match into a period of extra time
Yet, by the end of 90' Netherlands failed to convert on their closest chance of the second half, when Van Persie rocketed the ball into the box where it then ricocheted off no less than four Dutchmen before heading out of bounds
Yet, by the end of 90' Netherlands failed to convert on their closest chance of the second half, when Van Persie rocketed the ball into the box where it then ricocheted off no less than four Dutchmen before heading out of bounds
Here's just how close the men in orange came to stealing a victory in injury time
Here's just how close the men in orange came to stealing a victory in injury time
Navas was simply spectacular throughout the 30 minutes of extra time, keeping Costa Rica in it and securing his place as one of this World Cup's premier keepers - whether or not his side advanced
Navas was simply spectacular throughout the 30 minutes of extra time, keeping Costa Rica in it and securing his place as one of this World Cup's premier keepers - whether or not his side advanced
Following a dramatic end to the 120' of full time, the Netherlands and Costa Rica headed to a penalty shootout - an astonishing result for the underdog Ticos to hold off the Dutch for so long
Following a dramatic end to the 120' of full time, the Netherlands and Costa Rica headed to a penalty shootout - an astonishing result for the underdog Ticos to hold off the Dutch for so long
In the end, Netherlands keeper Tim Krul - who had been subbed on for the express purpose of defending the shootout - secured victory for the Dutch, by making two crucial saves
In the end, Netherlands keeper Tim Krul - who had been subbed on for the express purpose of defending the shootout - secured victory for the Dutch, by making two crucial saves
The Netherlands celebrated escaping their first World Cup penalty shootout with a score of 0(4)-0(3). They will now face Argentina in the semi-finals on 9 July
The Netherlands celebrated escaping their first World Cup penalty shootout with a score of 0(4)-0(3). They will now face Argentina in the semi-finals on 9 July

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