Ranking the World Cup quarterfinal matchups: Is Norway-England No. 1?

A thrilling World Cup has boiled down to eight teams.

The first quarterfinal matchup will be a rematch of a 2022 semifinal. European powerhouse France will take on rising African side Morocco Thursday in what should be an intense affair.

Friday’s game will feature two European sides. Powerhouses Spain will put their flawless defensive record thus far to the test against long-time dark horses Belgium, which just routed USA 4-1.

Two games will be played on Saturday. Norway and England will meet in a battle of the newest dark horse and a European powerhouse on a trophy drought. Reigning champions Argentina will hope to keep its title defense running vs. Switzerland in the round finale.

So, which matchup is the best of the four? Let’s rank them from least to most entertaining:

4. Argentina vs. Switzerland

It’s not every day a Lionel Messi-led side is on the “least entertaining” side of things. But one matchup had to be here, and it’s La Albiceleste vs. the Swiss. Argentina are the reigning World Cup champions, but Messi has done more heavy lifting than he should’ve at this point. Argentina has been fortunate other major nations in its path have fallen early, as Cape Verde and Egypt each provided different challenges that ended in a narrow 3-2 result. Colombia would have been the side’s biggest test yet, but that won’t happen.

Switzerland can hang with the very best, but its lack of superstar quality is the reason this matchup is No. 4. Granit Xhaka will need to man the midfield, while goalie Gregor Kobel will need to prove why he’s one of the best shot-stoppers in the game. The Swiss will hope to get breakout forward Johan Manzambi back from a knock, too, as he possesses the individual brilliance to hurt Argentina’s defense that is more susceptible than usual.

3. Spain vs. Belgium

The names on paper make this an intriguing battle, but the on-pitch feel may be slightly different. Spain entered the tournament as one of the favorites for a reason. La Furia Roja have yet to concede a goal with Rodri returning to peak form in midfield. Where they’re struggling is in attack, as Lamine Yamal has not looked fully fit coming off a hamstring injury. Mikel Oyarzabal has four goals, but he’s left some on the table and backup left winger Alex Baena is not at the same level as Nico Williams, who’s nursing an injury.

Belgium’s golden generation has passed, but players like Thibaut Courtois and Romelu Lukaku are still playing key roles. They’ve been aided by Leandro Trossard, Charles De Ketelaere and Youri Tielemans, among others, while Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku have not impressed head coach Rudi Garcia enough. There’s definitely potential for a great game that could top No. 2 on this list, but that will rely on the Red Devils staying consistent in attack against an elite defense.

2. France vs. Morocco

The 2022 semifinal in Qatar saw the Atlas Lions fall short due to their lack of quality forwards. That’s changed now this time, with Brahim and Bilal El Khannouss thriving on the wings. The main worry will be Ismael Saibari’s fitness after coming off early vs. Canada with a hamstring injury. Morocco went onto win 3-0 thanks to its midfield, but Les Bleus are a whole different threat.

Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele are among the star attackers, while William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano have formed a tremendous center-back partnership. France should eventually go through like in 2022, but the quality of the matchup will likely be levels higher as Morocco maintains top intensity regardless of the opponent.

1. Norway vs. England

The sport’s most dominant scorer vs. a team full of Premier League players that know him well. That factor likely won’t stop Erling Haaland from getting on the score sheet again, but Norway’s dark-horse run will rely on him capitalizing on the moments with captain Martin Odegaard behind him. Haaland wasn’t involved much vs. Brazil until when it mattered most, while England are coming off an electric win vs. Mexico in Mexico City. Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka were vital in attack, with the defense stepping up after going down to 10 men.

Norway’s starting left winger, whether it’s Antonio Nusa or Andreas Schjelderup, will need to take advantage of England’s right-back problem. Reece James and Djed Spence have been battling injuries, while emergency option Jarrell Quansah received the red card vs. Mexico. Will the “Viking row” be in the spotlight once again or will the Three Lions be one step closer to bringing it home?