Quarter-final line-up: And then there were eight

Jun 28, 2006, 17:53 GMT

Berlin - From Brazil to Germany, from Argentina to England, the World Cup's last eight are mostly traditional football powers, with Ukraine as the only newcomers. A look at the teams:

GERMANY sailed through an unchallenging group, then made light work of Sweden in the second round. It's difficult to say if the hosts are genuine contenders or just haven't faced quality opposition yet. Argentina will provide the answer on Friday in Berlin.

Polish-born strike pair Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose have rattled in seven goals between them and with Michael Ballack pulling the strings behind them in midfield, the Germans have lit up the tournament with fast-flowing attacking football.

Overlapping full-back Philipp Lahm has been another plus for Juergen Klinsmann with his surging runs from left-back. But there are question marks in defence. Central defenders Per Mertesacker and Christoph Metzelder are potential weak links and both will be tested in the last eight.

ARGENTINA looked formidable in their 6-0 demolition of Serbia and Montenegro. But the Czechs and the Spaniards have already proved that one great group performance doesn't make you champions and the South Americans were less convincing when they needed extra time to beat Mexico.

They remain many people's favourites, however, as much for what they have on the bench as what they start with on the pitch. Lionel Messi has so far played just a cameo role but he is waiting to be unleashed and he could give Argentina that little bit extra to go all the way.

They look solid in defence, have free-scoring Hernan Crespo in attack, and Maradona cheering them on from the stands. It could be the recipe for their third World Cup triumph.

ITALY rode their luck against Australia, winning with the last kick of the match. Francesco Totti's penalty saw them through against the rank outsiders and the draw has done them another favour pairing them with Ukraine in the last eight.

Italy coach Marcello Lippi has defensive headaches with Alessandro Nesta out injured for Friday's quarter-final in Hamburg and his would-be replacement Marco Materazzi suspended.

Palermo defender Andrea Barzagli will partner captain Fabio Cannavaro in the centre of defence and that should be enough to see the Italians through. Up front the proposed holy trinity of Totti, Luca Toni and Alberto Gilardino has not clicked yet. It may get another chance against Oleg Blokhin's side.

UKRAINE had one foot on the plane home after their first 90 minutes when they were humiliated by Spain. But they bounced back by trouncing Saudi Arabia in their next match. And after a dubious penalty got them past Tunisia they beat the Swiss on penalties to progress.

Hardly the neutrals favourites - only against the Saudis have they managed to score in open play - they are proving a tough nut to crack with a well-organised defence. And they have an on-form Oleksandr Shovkovskyi in goal boosted by his two spot-kick saves in the penalty shoot-out against the Swiss.

Not many expect them to progress beyond Friday's meeting with Italy. But with former Serie A talisman Andriy Shevchenko leading the line and looking to add to his two goals so far, Italy will know not to underestimate them.

ENGLAND have bored their way to the last eight but there are reasons for the 60,000 fans, planning to come to Berlin for the final if Sven Goran Eriksson's team make it, to still be optimistic. Their best player Wayne Rooney is getting fitter with every game and the 4- 5-1 system that they only started using just before the tournament started is gradually beginning to click.

It's been a strange campaign for the English. Most supporters expected problems up-front with the attack lacking pace and key players like Rooney and Michael Owen not fit. But usually reliable performers like John Terry, Frank Lampard and Paul Robinson have been incapable of doing what they do week-in, week-out for their clubs.

David Beckham's delivery continues to be their most obvious route to goal. His free-kicks gave England their winner against both Paraguay and Ecuador and it was his cross that Peter Crouch headed in to end Trinidad and Tobago's brave resistance. England may need more though to get past Portugal on Saturday in Gelsenkirchen.

PORTUGAL stylishly played their way through their group and then courageously scrapped their way out of dog-fight with Holland in the second round. They carry the scars from that game into the last eight match.

Deco was sent off and will miss the game, and Cristiano Ronaldo has been struggling with a bruised thigh. But the winger should be fit and coach Felipe Scolari was boosted by news that Luis Figo will not be penalised for head-butting Mark van Bommel and will play.

Figo looked to have missed out on his last chance at international glory when Portugal were beaten by Greece in the European Championship final two years ago. But a low-key season with Inter Milan seems to have left him fresh and fighting fit for one more crack at a major tournament.

FRANCE have their own old dog still coming up with new tricks. The football obituaries were written for Zinedine Zidane ahead of the last-16 game with Spain but the Les Bleus senior citizen ran around like a spring chicken, took the free-kick that led to the second goal and then scored the third.

The maestro has his old Real Madrid team-mate Claude Makelele alongside him in midfield and Patrick Vieira is finally producing for his country.

France may have been dubbed the old men of the tournament but there is nothing geriatric about the lightning attacks of Thierry Henry and Marseille's Frank Ribery, who scored the first against Spain. He is emerging as one of the tournament stars. Fabien Barthez even looks reliable in goal. Having started at a snail's pace, France are up to speed with the Brazilians in their sights.

BRAZIL have broken records without breaking sweat so far in this tournament. Ronaldo became the all-time tournament top scorer overtaking Gerd Mueller, they have now won 11 on the bounce in World Cups and have reached the 200 goals mark.

Whether the teams they meet from here on will spare their less- than-watertight looking defence in quite the same way that Ghana did remains to be seen.

If they do start to concede they will need to keep scoring. Ominously for everyone else in the competition Ronaldinho is due a goal. The world's best player hasn't scored for Brazil for 12 months. If he finds his shooting boots and Ronaldo keeps his on, the reigning champions will be hard to stop.