Soccer·Poll

World Cup semifinals: How they got there

The FIFA World Cup is down to the last four teams: Netherlands, Argentina, Germany and host Brazil. Here's a look at how each of these teams made it to the final week of the tournament in Brazil.

Which team has had the toughest road?

Argentina's Lionel Messi takes a free kick during the 2014 World Cup quarter-finals between Argentina and Belgium at the Brasilia national stadium. Argentina narrowly got by Belgium and Switzerland in their two knockout-stage wins. (Damir Sagolj/Reuters)

And then there were four.

The FIFA World Cup is down to the last four teams: Netherlands, Argentina, Germany and host Brazil. All of them are powerhouses, with Germany the top-seeded squad at No. 2, according to the FIFA rankings. 

On Tuesday, Brazil plays Germany in Belo Horizonte (CBC, CBCSports.ca, 3:30 p.m. ET).

On Wednesday, it's Netherlands vs. Argentina in Sao Paulo (CBC, CBCSports.ca, 3:30 p.m. ET)

Here's a look at how each semifinalist made it to the final week of the Brazil World Cup:

Netherlands (5-0-0)

Group stage

  • Won 5-1 over Spain
  • Won 3-2 over Australia
  • Won 2-0 over Chile

Round of 16

  • Won 2-1 over Mexico

Quarter-finals

  • Won 0-0 (4-3 on penalties) over Costa Rica

Argentina (5-0-0)

Group stage

  • Won 2-1 over Bosnia-Herzegovina
  • Won 1-0 over Iran
  • Won 3-2 over Nigeria

Round of 16

  • Won 1-0 over Switzerland

Quarter-finals

  • Won 1-0 over Belgium

Germany (4-1-0)

Group stage

  • Won 4-0 over Portugal
  • Tied 2-2 with Ghana
  • Won 1-0 over USA

Round of 16

  • Won 2-1 over Algeria

Quarter-finals

  • Won 1-0 over France

Brazil (4-1-0)

Group stage

  • Won 3-1 over Croatia
  • Tied 0-0 with Mexico
  • Won 4-1 over Cameroon

Round of 16

  • Won 1-1 (3-2 on penalties) over Chile

Quarter-finals

  • Won 2-1 over Colombia