Brazil not going home next!

Brazil fans show their emotions as they watch the Brazil and Chile penalty shootout on the big screen ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil. Photo: Getty Images

From 32 countries, the World Cup comes down to eight. It's a D-Day for four teams-- Brazil, Colombia, Germany and France. And two of the four will head home when the daylight breaks in Bangladesh Saturday.

Brazil cannot fly home. Hosts should not afford to lose, even in the quarterfinals. Though Brazil faced tough opponents in group and round of 16 matches, the five-time World Cup winner didn't look all that impressive yet.

NEYMAR: "We are here to run to the end" @neymarjr #BRACOL #WorldCup - http://t.co/lubfxuIFSA pic.twitter.com/XTLus4dMkS

— FIFAWorldCup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 3, 2014

And Colombia, their opponents today, have played to date some superb football. After nearly losing to Chile in the last match, maybe Brazil just aren't the clear-cut favourites anymore. Brazil fans will go for sure through yet another adrenaline-pumping, nail-biting experience.

Players of Colombia run during a Colombia National Team training session at Sofitel Cardales on May 28, 2014. Photo: Getty Images

Though not in the world headlines much, Colombia appeared as a very dangerous team in the tournament. Colombia is a team, not a team of individuals. And the Team Colombia has plenty of attacking talent and seems to have fun playing with one another. That's crucially significant character of a side that promises to progress.  They outscored their opponents 11-2 in the four matches so far.

James Rodrigues of Colombia in action during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil round of 16 match between Colombia and Uruguay. Photo: Getty Images

James Rodriguez has been the breakout star of the World Cup who is capable of generating magic at a moment's notice. Jackson Martinez is very good at scoring, and Juan Cuadrado is dynamic on the wing. Colombians also have showed no glaring weakness, and will have an excellent chance of upsetting Brazil on their home soil.

Head coach Joachim Loew of Germany looks on during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Round of 16 match between Germany and Algeria. Photo: Getty Images

Brazil, on the other hand, played like a mis-joined team so far. The famous Samba rhythm through which the Selecao used to build up their attacks from the defence is still missing. Neymar has been the lone consistent threat upfront, the midfield hasn't been great, and the backline can still be caught too high. Coach Luiz Felipe Scholari should have done some serious work in getting together the three vital cogs--- the defence, midfield and attack-- in Brazil engine.  Colombians are going to test them badly. But, I think, Brazil will thrive on home soil, with Paulinho and Oscar playing up to their potential for the first time. I expect a 3-2 thriller in Brazil's favour.

Per Mertesacker of Germany challenges Karim Benzema of France during the international friendly match between France and Germany at Stade de France on February 6, 2013 in Paris, France. Photo: Getty Images

Who of the two-- German and France-- are going to stay? Germany looked like the most dominant side and France inconsistent. No coach in the World Cup seems luckier than Joachim Low. His team have world-class talent, world-class experience, excellent chemistry and dynamics. Germans will be very, very tough to be beaten. But France may have taken a lesson or two from Algeria, who came close to throwing Germany out of the tournament. So France, play like Algeria to prolong stay in Brazil.

Brazil's Neymar (L), Maicon (C) and Ramires during a training session for the World Cup 2014 in Teresopolis, Rio de Janeiro state. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

Neymar's penalty run up ?????? https://t.co/h9N1KCWFhg

— Just Football (@JustFutball) July 3, 2014