The Road to the World Cup Semifinals

The Road to the World Cup Semifinals

NETHERLANDS | June 13

Robin van Persie latches onto Daley Blind's long cross with this diving header to beat Iker Casillas as part of the Netherlands' 5-1 win over Spain.

NETHERLANDS | June 18

Australia goalkeeper Matthew Ryan watches as Netherlands substitute Memphis Depay's game-winning goal goes into the net in their Group B clash.

NETHERLANDS | June 23

Netherlands substitute Leroy Fer heads home the opening goal as the Dutch topped Chile 2-0 to cement first place in Group B.

NETHERLANDS | June 29

Netherlands star Arjen Robben draws a penalty on Mexico captain Rafa Marquez in the dying moments of the round-of-16 clash, giving the Dutch the chance to win it from the spot.

NETHERLANDS | July 5

After coming on solely for the PK shootout, Netherlands backup goalkeeper Tim Krul makes one of his two saves against Costa Rica to play hero in the quarterfinals.

ARGENTINA | June 15

Lionel Messi evades multiple Bosnia-Herzegovina defenders en route to scoring the game-winning goal in Argentina's opening match of group play.

ARGENTINA | June 21

Lionel Messi celebrates after his stoppage-time goal against Iran snapped a 1-0 deadlock and gave Argentina another three-point haul.

ARGENTINA | June 25

Lionel Messi bends his free kick up and over Nigeria's wall as part of a two-goal showing in Argentina's 3-2 win to secure first place in Group F.

ARGENTINA | July 1

Angel di Maria watches his game-winning goal get by Switzerland goalkeeper Diego Benaglio in extra time of their round-of-16 match.

ARGENTINA | July 5

Gonzalo Higuain volleys home the lone goal in Argentina's 1-0 win over Belgium in the World Cup quarterfinals.

GERMANY | June 16

Thomas Muller scores one of his three goals in Germany's Group G-opening 4-0 rout of Portugal.

GERMANY | June 21

Germany's Miroslav Klose touches home an equalizer against Ghana to salvage a 2-2 draw, while tying Brazil's Ronaldo for most all-time World Cup goals (15) in the process.

GERMANY | June 26

Thomas Muller celebrates his spectacular strike in front of a dejected Matt Besler in Germany's 1-0 win over the USA to close Group G play.

GERMANY | June 30

Germany's Andre Schurrle watches his back-heel attempt open the scoring in extra time of a 2-1 win over Algeria in the round of 16.

GERMANY | July 4

Germany center back Mats Hummels heads home the only goal in a 1-0 win over France, which secured Germany's fourth straight trip to the World Cup semifinals.

BRAZIL | June 12

Neymar celebrates after scoring Brazil's first goal of the World Cup in a 3-1 win over Croatia in the competition's opening game.

BRAZIL | June 17

Brazil captain Thiago Silva's header is stuffed by Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who made six saves in a thrilling 0-0 draw in Group A play.

BRAZIL | June 23

Neymar slides a shot under Cameroon defender Nicolas N'Koulou to score in Brazil's 4-1 win, which secured first place in Group A.

BRAZIL | June 28

Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar makes a save on Chile's Alexis Sanchez during the teams' penalty shootout in the round of 16.

BRAZIL | July 4

Neymar is kneed in the back by Colombia's Juan Camilo Zuniga, causing teammate Marcelo to call for help and fracturing a vertebra that rules him out for the rest of the World Cup in the process.