World Cup 2018: Top 3 players of the quarter-finals

REUTERS/Lee Smith

It was knockout football at its finest. All four matches ebbed and flowed as eight sides battled it out for a place in the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup.

With one side of the draw holding arguably some of football's bigger names, two of those sides were guaranteed to fall. 

France passed a difficult test when they brushed aside a notoriously stubborn Uruguay side while Belgium showed their technical and physical superiority when they overcame a Brazil side that never hit top gear. 

On the other side of the draw, England's good form continued when they knocked out a Sweden side who had deservedly overachieved in Russia. The hosts' fine run was brought to a heartbreaking end when Croatia won their second penalty shootout in a row, after 120 minutes brought a 2-2 draw.

The semi-final picture is now clear but which three players stole the show in the last eight?

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