​The World Cup quarter-finals delivered drama, extra-time, outstanding individual displays and some tactical masterclasses. With the semi-finals now set, Dan Smith picks out the 11 players who impressed him most over the last round of matches.Goalkeepers did not have the best of luck in the World Cup quarter-finals, so the former Gunner did not have to do a great deal to make this XI.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBetween Argentina breaking the deadlock and Breel Embolo’s red card, the 33-year-old made three decent saves, including timing a one-on-one situation perfectly.Once Switzerland went down to 10 men, Martínez only had to worry about acting as a sweeper and claiming anything in the air.One of many Argentines who seems to become a different player when he wears his national shirt.Sometimes a defender does something so crucial that it is just as important as a striker scoring a goal.Just after half-time on Saturday, the ball was squared to Dan Ndoye, who looked certain to tap into an empty net. Out of nowhere, Martínez threw himself in to make a vital block. It was not his only crucial intervention across the 120 minutes.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHelped restrict his club team-mate Erling Haaland to just 21 touches in 105 minutes. The fact Haaland had to tell his manager he could not continue at that point suggests Guéhi won that battle.Many doubted whether the 25-year-old had the personality to take ownership of the situation, but he always seemed one step ahead of the striker, perhaps helped by knowing his game from training together at Manchester City.It felt like every time the Norwegian turned into space, before he could get moving, there was Guéhi.To put this weekend into context, the 32-year-old completed 90 minutes only once in the Premier League this season.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementYet somehow, in the intense Miami heat, he got better as the 120 minutes went on.He was selected for his leadership qualities and, bar one misplaced backpass, he and Guéhi tactically outthought Haaland.Both defenders zonally marked their own areas in the air.Their Manchester City team-mate had scored in every 2026 World Cup qualifier and every World Cup match he had started before Saturday.It is not the first time I have written this during the tournament and, most likely, it will not be the last.Spain’s ability to keep possession is crucial to their defensive record.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThey have conceded only once at this World Cup, yet it is not as though their goalkeeper or back four have had to be outstanding. If you do not lose the ball, you cannot get hurt.Rodri was central to that again against Belgium, controlling the tempo with his range of passing and finishing with a pass completion rate of approximately 93 per cent.With all the attacking talent France possess, it is difficult for a defensive midfielder to get noticed, but that is exactly what Koné is doing.On Friday, he broke up pot