CONSIDERING THE stakes it was hardly surprising that Turkey and Croatia would serve up such a tetchy affair. But nobody could have predicted this finish.
That Turkey found another level of energy in extra-time was astonishing and a mark of their spirit. Overall, they deserved to progress at the expense of the unfortunate Croats.
Logic dictated that Turkey would suffer badly from fatigue after two late surges to beat the Czech Republic and Switzerland. Remarkably, they dominated possession and controlled the pace for long periods in Vienna last night. And all this despite being forced into five changes through suspension and injury.
True to form they were unable to maintain the standard they set in the first half when they had coped comfortably with Croatian attacks, Altintop and Topal largely neutralising the playmaker Luka Modric.
In the end substitute goalkeeper Rustu Recber atoned for his error for the goal.
The usual suspects are back in the knockout stages. Even Croatia, Turkey and Russia have pedigree in recent times but Italy and Germany followed by Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands always seem to find a route into the business end.
It gets even more predictable thereafter as Germany proved on Thursday night.
Of the traditional powers someone had to fall in the group of death and France deservedly finished bottom of the pile while England have been prone to occasional meltdown in qualification before. See the two 1970's World Cups and 1994.
Yet, all this predictability has in no way impinged on the superb footballing spectacle thus far.
Another valuable lesson worth repeating is that no major tournament can be won with a dodgy goalkeeper. The Czech Republic never would have thought this might be their downfall but Petr Cech's attack of the yips saw them sent packing. It just goes to show how unforgiving international football can be.
Ricardo, after past heroics, most recently versus England in 2006, let Portugal down against the towering Germans - whose own defensive deficiencies just about survived the test presented by Luiz Felipe Scolari's lightweight charges on Thursday.
Jens Lehmann, like Gianluigi Buffon, has arrived at this competition in a rich vein of form - surprising really considering his problems at Arsenal this season.
That aside, the Germans' force of character is legendary. With Philipp Lahm, Michael Ballack, Lucas Podolski and Bastian Schweinsteiger now leading the way, they are capable of creating goals from open play and set-pieces. It makes them formidable and edges them back into the favourites mantle they carried before matters got under way.
Today's quarter-final is the most intriguing match-up: Hollands outstanding attacking options (evoking memories of 1970s total football and the 1990s when Marco Van Basten led the line) pitted against a Russian outfit rejuvenated since Andrei Arshavin returned from suspension.
What a trump card Guus Hiddink possesses in the small number 10! Such has been Arshavin's impact that the 4-1 lashing by Spain in game one is no longer relevant. The Russians will have been completely cleansed of this mental setback.
Both teams are at their best when counterattacking (like the Italian and German goalkeepers, Edwin Van der Sar has kept his team afloat with some vital saves), with flowing passing movements and individual pace complementing some deadly finishing.
Russia are more solid defensively, with Sergei Ignashevich joining Denis Kolodin as the centre backs. But their excellent raiding fullbacks Anyukov and Zhirkov need to be more cautious if they are to deal with the Netherland's natural width.
Tactically, Hiddink's knowledge of his compatriots is invaluable but the midfield screen of Orlando Engelaar and Nigel de Jong may be enough to see the Dutch rearguard repel the promptings of Arshavin. Van Basten's use of Robin Van Persie and Arjen Robben as impact subs or in starting roles will prove crucial to breaking Russian resistance.
Having attended Italy's last two matches I've been unimpressed. Their reliance on the lumbering Luca Toni is mystifying for those brought up on ruthless Azzurri marksmen. The physical striker with ability in the air is an overrated specimen in our part of the world and it remains a surprise that the long pass to Toni is the primary Italian attacking option. Barn. Door. Hit. He can only improve.
The returning Spanish quartet of Torres, Iniesta, Xavi and Villa must surely exploit the absence of Pirlo and Gattuso but who would write off the wily world champions? Giorgio Chiellini and Christian Panucci appear to have sorted out any defensive fragility so expect a battening down of the hatches to combat the thus far exhilarating Spanish approach.
For the sake of the tournaments attacking philosophy, I hope the Spanish progress. But what was it Red said in The Shawshank Redemption? Ah yes, "Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane."
No better team than the Italians to drive their opponents to self-destruction.
