20 Things to Know About an Epic Final Four

For a few weeks, this World Cup belonged to the outsiders and newcomers. Cape Verde became the story of the tournament. Morocco made another run to the final eight. Nine of the 10 African teams advanced to the knockout stage. The expanded 48-team field produced more compelling underdogs, more competitive group-stage matches, and plenty of memorable moments. Even if none of the favorites were ever in serious danger, the opening weeks were like a party they were content to arrive late to.